New Zealand's reputation as one of the world's most prolific sources of Derby winners was again to the fore in Malaysia when Mr Ambassador became 15th NZ-bred Derby winner worldwide since 2010.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Mr Ambassador (Danasinga x Scotch and Water), trained by Tan Eng Tee Jerome, recorded the seventh win of his 37 career starts when he powered away to win the Listed Perak Derby (2400m).
Mr Ambassador has contested many of Malaysia's top level races, including the Selangor Gold Cup at his last appearance, but his Derby victory was his first from his last 10 starts in Malaysia.
The son of Danasinga began his racing career in New Zealand under the name The Embassy.
Trained by Chris Waller, the gelding won his debut at Te Aroha over 1400m and won a second NZ race four starts later before he taken to Australia in 2009 as a three-year-old.
The Embassy won four of his nine starts that preparation and came back as a four-year-old to win the G3 Randwick City Stakes (2000m) and place behind Precedence at his next start in the Listed Manion Cup (2400m).
At five the gelding had just five starts in Australia, placing behind NZ Derby winner C'Est la Guerre in the G3 Craven Plate, before being taken to Malaysia to race under the new name Mr Ambassador.
Bred by Martin Dalgleish, Mr Ambassador was purchased from The Oaks Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 Karaka Select Sale for $46,000. He was then offered at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 Ready to Run Sale where he was purchased by Frontier Bloodstock from Curraghmore Stud for $100,000.
Racing in three countries, his 37 starts have returned seven wins and four placings for over $400,000 in stakes.
Mr Ambassador is the 15th New Zealand bred Derby winner worldwide since 2010, and the fourth this season.
Karaka graduate Sangster (Savabeel) opened the 2011/12 account with a stunning victory in the G1 VRC Derby at Flemington last spring.
Sangster's triumph was quickly followed by Fay Fay (Falkirk) who became the 6th NZ bred and/or sold winner of the Hong Kong Derby in the last nine years.
Silent Achiever (O'Reilly) provided the third success when she powered away to win the G1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March.
