5 days ago
Pools' Pride and joy in Sydney
Sydney racing was the latest international venue to honour Singapore Pools at one of its metropolitan meetings on June 7.
The Singapore gaming company has been regularly named after races from around countries where it offers horse racing wagering in the last two years.
After Korea Racing Authority, Hong Kong Jockey Club, 4Racing of South Africa and Perth Racing, Tabcorp was the next to host Pools' delegation at Royal Randwick.
The Pools team comprised board member Lee Kwok Cheong, who was accompanied by his wife Sachiko Tamamura, chief product officer Simon Leong and senior manager (product content) Steven Tan.
"Singapore Pools is pleased to partner with Tabcorp to bring more variety and quality racing content to our customers," said Leong. "With Tabcorp's extensive simulcast rights across Australia and key global racing jurisdictions, this collaboration enables us to deliver a richer and more exciting racing experience for fans in Singapore."
As per custom, a race was picked to commemorate the collaboration. The ninth event on the card of 10, the A$160,000 (S$134,000) BM94 (1,300m) was named the Singapore Pools Handicap.
"We would also like to thank Tabcorp for naming a race in honour of Singapore Pools," added Leong.
"It is a gesture that affirms the strong and long-standing partnership between our organisations."
The race was not without its fair share of drama when favourite Whinchat bombed the start.
As Whinchat has won all his six races by leading, backers knew they had burned their fingers.
Jockey Jay Ford tried to salvage the situation by restraining Whinchat at the rear instead of playing catch-up with the early pace, but it was to no avail. He beat one home.
With the main threat out, $16 second-elect Headley Grange won.
Under jockey Adam Hyeronimus, the Exosphere four-year-old dashed to the line a slashing 3/4-length winner from outsiders Green Shadows (Braith Nock) and Dark Glitter (Molly Bourke) to knock in his seventh career win.
The win also brought up the middle pin of a treble for trainer Joseph Pride, who sensationally swept the last three races on the card.
Earlier, the Warwick Farm handler took the A$200,000 Listed Bob Charley Stakes (1,100m) with $9 favourite In Flight (Ford).
Not content with a running double, Team Pride recombined with Hyeronimus in the last, a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1,000m), to wrap up the day in style with Storm The Ramparts ($15).
Up north at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Pride had less joy with his sole runner at the Queensland riches, Lekvarte, who was well beaten by Adiella in the Magic Millions National Classic (1,400m).
The three rained-off Group 1 races from last weekend went to an assortment of squads.
The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar (James McDonald, $8) was the only favourite to salute, nabbing Zarastro late in the A$1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m).
You Wahng (Tommy Berry) then won the A$700,000 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) at $114 for trainer Kris Lees. Maison Louis (Ryan Maloney, $194) sent more favourite backers licking their wounds in the A$1 million Queensland Derby (2,400m) by beating better-fancied stablemate King Of Thunder (Mark Zahra) for a John O'Shea and Tom Carlton quinella.
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