Bel Esprit Asia 7 /05/09

ASIAN ANGLE - with Lyle Plumb
If you can hang your hat on your most recent success, Eliza Park Asia need to get a bigger hat rack following the events of recent weeks.
We have had Bondi Lad (Bel Esprit x Bondi Lass) win at Happy Valley in Hong Kong, not to mention Winning Storm carrying the flag for our new 2009 stallion Statue Of Liberty by winning his past two starts and taking his earnings to almost HK$3.5 million.
In Singapore, we should start by congratulating the connections of Rocket Man (Viscount x Macrosa), one of the best sprinters I have ever seen. He is set to meet Takeover Target and Sacred Kingdom in the $1 million Krisflyer Sprint on Sunday 17 May, and those horses had better bring their best form to the races, because he will be very hard to beat on home soil.
Rocket Man was purchased from the Fleming family’s Tyreel Stud draft for $60,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Winter Yearling Sale and it’s obviously a connection that provides us considerable interest in his climb.
Directly from Eliza Park, however, Bel Esprit has been represented by six winners (and two placegetters) from only 10 runners, including Mooring, the full brother to Group One winner Bel Mer, who took his 2009 record to three straight wins from four starts with a super impressive victory at Kranji in April.
Perfect Sky (ex Time Is Hope) won first up, taking his earnings to over $170,000, while Aranda (ex Orchid Lady) won easily again, taking his record to two wins and two placings from four starts in 2009.
Not to be outshone, the Eliza Park bred Good Days (Clang x Calm and Content) looked terrific in winning his two most recent starts, while Lago Bay (Delago Brom x Let It Ring) is now two wins and three placings from six outings.
Meanwhile, Tomahawk (Black Hawk x Decolettage) broke through at Penang, while Newfoundluck (Takbir x Island Account) kept the long standing relationship with Singapore trainer Dr Yeoh in good stead by winning and placing five times in seven starts.
It all points to good times ahead here in Singapore, and we are looking forward to the rapidly approaching feature meetings. The $3 million SIA Cup over 2000m looks like being a great race and, shortly after, the Singapore Derby will sort out the best of the upcoming brigade.
In what can only be deemed as excellent news, Singapore has relaxed the quarantine rules for horses imported from Australia. There is no longer a 21 day pre-export quarantine required, so horses that are in training can come here and race relatively quickly, chasing the great prizemoney on offer.Please feel free to phone me on +65 828 79737 or email lyle@plumbracing.net if I can be of any assistance.