SINGAPORE: Ronnie Brown Impresses All With Debut Win

Monday, 13 August 2012: Owners dream of finding that good horse and when it’s their first it is even more special.

Ronnie Brown gets off to a perfect start on Friday. Photo by Singapore Turf Club

First time owners, as a part of the Mummify Stable, landed their first success with their first runner in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1000m on the Polytrack on Friday night.

Ridden by Stephen Baster, first starter Ronnie Brown , the $9 favourite, scored a four-and-a-half length victory over Pure Tactics  (Oscar Chavez) with Idealistic Moment  (Zuriman Zulkifli) a length-and-a-half away third.

Justin Knight, spokesman for the new band of owners, said the team was ecstatic at having their first runner come home an impressive winner.

“This is an Anzac horse with a few Poms thrown in as well,” said Knight. “The horse was born in New Zealand and claimed by Australians.

“We are all from different fields of work here in Singapore and are a group of mates that thought it time to get together and race a horse in Singapore.

“We went to (trainer) Michael Freedman with a budget and he doubled it but here we are with a winner.”

Explaining the “brown suits” that members of the partnership were decked out in, Knight said: “We just wanted to put a bit of the sexy back into racing.”

He added: “We’ve been waiting for 20 months for this day and we are very excited with the win.

“We had a few hints along the way that he was going quite well, but Michael had said not to get too carried away.

“Next time we’re here we will probably tone it down a bit.”

James Peters, assistant trainer to Freedman who is currently on holidays, said the team had taken their time Ronnie Brown making his way to the racetrack.

“There had been nothing wrong with him,” said Peters. “He’s quite a big horse and we’ve just taken our time with him.”

Baster said it was good to see people out there enjoying there first-up success.

“It’s great to see people enjoying their racing and what better way to start with a win with your very first horse,” said Baster.

“His trials had been good but we didn’t know what would happen once we let him go.

“He’s got to keep improving to make it to the next stage but he had two soft trials leading into the race and I’m sure he’ll keep getting better.

“Put it this way, I’ll be happy to stay on him.”

A three-year-old by Darci Brahma  – the same sire as Freedman’s star galloper Super Easy  – from the Bianconi  mare Leigh Valley , Ronnie Brown was a NZ$170,000 yearling purchase and following Friday night’s success has returned connections around $35,000 in prizemoney.