Waikato Wins Jumbo Jet

Waikato Wins Jumbo Jet

Karaka Premier Sale graduate Waikato won his 11th race on Friday night in Singapore, with a gutsy run to win the Listed Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m)

Encountering plenty of traffic problems in the race, the tenacious five-year-old took the 1400 metre event in the closing stages to beat Fantastic Owners and Lim's Fighter by a half-length. Waikato (Pins x Skywalker Wilkes by Skywakler) was purchased by his Singapore-based Kiwi trainer, Laurie Laxon in 2005 from Highview Stud for NZ$50,000.

The speedy son of Waikato Stud's Pins was bred by Maurice McLeod's Amadi Park has now won on 11 occasions from 18 starts for S$784,215. Pins has sired 21 stakes winners including the multiple Group 1 winner El Segundo and NZ Oaks and Kelt Captial Stakes winner Legs.

It was his second win at Listed level having beaten a class field in the Singapore 4YO Sprint earlier this year. His regular rider Saimee Jumaat described Waikato as a superstar with a great will to win and said 'I don't like comparing horses with each other, but he would have to be right up there with the best horses I've ridden. He's got this amazing will to win. They say good horses know where the line is and riding this horse I would say that is true.'

Also successful on the night was Karaka graduate Daring Youth (Bertolini x Ebony Pearl by Ebony Grosve) who broke maiden ranks when winning the first for the Lucky Rich Stable. Initially sold by Hallmark Stud to Robert Roulston Bloodstock at the 2007 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$30,000 he was then bought by Mr Kah Wui Lim at the Ready to Run Sale for NZ$62,500 from Timberlee Thoroughbreds.

Ex-pat Kiwi Stephen Gray took home the eighth on the card with the 2006 Karaka Select Sale purchase Imperial Green (Senor Pete x Geneva by Warsaw Pact). Now raced by the SH Stable, he has won four of seven starts and was initially an NZ$8,000 buy from Raffles Farm.

ENDS

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