Singapore Sling is fifth in G1 Champions Mile
– Singapore Sling finished a close-up fifth in the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Saturday.
The South African-bred gelding by Philanthropist, starting at odds of 8-1 for trainer Tony Millard and jockey Chad Schofield, was forced to race uncovered and wide on the turn, after starting from the outside gate in an eighthorse field. He was two lengths off the winner at the line and might have been closer with better luck in running.
The HK$10.5-million (R17million) race was won by 19-20 favourite Beauty Generation, trained by John Moore and ridden by Australian jockey Zac Purton, who led from the start. Second was 20-1 shot Western Express, ahead of Southern Legend (15-1) and Beauty Only (15-1).
Schofield said after the race that four-year-old Singapore Sling ran gamely up the straight and the big-race experience would be of benefit to him next season.
It was Beauty Generation’s third Group 1 win of the year and trainer Moore’s seventh victory in the event – which this year formed part of the Champions Day card.
The headline event at the meeting was the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, which went the way of famously quirky horse Pakistan Star.
Hong Kong
He was a pick-up ride for British jockey William Buick, who had flown in to Hong Kong to partner Blue Point for Godolphin in the big sprint race on the card.
Buick got lucky after Kerrin McEvoy was signed off with an ear problem. Buick discussed at length the idiosyncrasies in Pakistan Star’s make-up that have caused him to pull up and show reluctance to race on occasions. He explained: “He’s infamous for his antics and what he can decide to do, but to be honest he never gave me any indication of that.”
Trainer Tony Cruz was so pleased with the way Pakistan Star won by three lengths from 33-1 outsider Gold Mount that he will consider a visit to Royal Ascot in the UK in June. –