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It was fitting that the first four horses across the line in Sunday’s Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Centenary Stakes – the second leg of Singapore’s Aushorse Golden Horseshoe Series – were all Australian-bred.
Star Witness youngster Rocket Star lived up to his name with a powerhouse display over the 1100m at Kranji when he scored by nearly three lengths.
It was just the second run for Rocket Star who debuted with a second behind fellow Australian-bred Big Hearted in the first leg of the Golden Horseshoe on 19 May.
The connections of Rocket Star protested unsuccessfully against Big Hearted but there was no need for the flag to go up on Sunday although Rocket Star copped a check as they turned for home.
Rocket Star was originally offered at the 2018 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale before being snapped up by trainer Ricardo Le Grange and Rudy Mendoza for $130,000 at the Magic Millions 2YOs in Training Sale.
Declaration Of War 2YO Admiral Winston finished second ahead of Strong N Powerful (Golden Archer) and Life After U (I Am Invincible).
All four were offered at Australian sales.
The Aushorse Golden Horseshoe Series – now in its 9th year and leading toward the S$250,000 Group 2 final on 19 July – is designed to boost 2YO racing in Singapore.
In Macau the only three Australian-breds in the Listed Lisboa Challenge at Taipa on Sunday filled the first three placings when Tagmaster proved too strong for Golden Victory and Oneofthegreats.
It was an impressive performance from Tagmaster, who raced five times in Australia as Global Impact before heading to Macau.
Closely related to brilliant 2YO Catnipped, Tagmaster becomes the third stakes winner for Northern Meteor’s G2 winning son Eurozone, who joins Bellereve Stud near Canberra after five seasons at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley.
Eurozone’s best runner Krone is a multiple stakes winner at two and three and was runner-up in the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes last spring.