Exciting two-year-old Pitstop ermerged as one of the new stars of Singapore racing with a thrilling win in Friday night’s Group Two Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) at Kranji.
As well as winning the lion’s share of the $325,000 purse on offer – Pitstop won his connections a $135,000 bonus for being an eligible Australian bred and sold runner in the field.
The first stakes winner for freshman sire Zizou, Pitstop is trained by Steven Burridge – the trainer who ran second and third in last year’s inaugural running of the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe.
“He’s had an interrupted preparation and it’s great to see him win tonight, but I have a special thought for Darren (Murphy) who broke his leg recently,” Burridge said after the win.
“He was the one who rode the horse all the time. I rang him this morning and I told him – ‘mate, I think we can get the money.”
“I’d also like to thank Wade for buying the horse. He always had a high opinion of his ability.”
“He drew wide at his firt run and had to go around runners. He couldn’t get a run on the inside, and switched to the outside which was not the best part of the track, but it wasn’t Azhar’a fault.”
“He’s obviously trained on and tonight we decided to ride him quiet and have the last crack at them. He’s only a small horse but he’s a bulldog.”
Aboard Pitstop in the Golden Horseshoe feature was seven time champion Malaysian rider Azhar Ismail – a long time friend of Burridge.
“He was a little unlucky at his last start when he ran into a wet patch on the outside,” Azahar said.
“In the home straight, he didn’t know what to do for a while, but when a run came up on the inside, he finished very well.”
“He’s only a small horse but he’s got a big heart. I don’t think it mattered if he was on the rails tonight as he’s got such a big heart and would have worked home from wherever he is,” Azhar summed up.
Pitstop was originally purchased for $21,000 from the draft of Turangga Farm at last year’s National Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.
He was then placed into training and made $100,000 to the bid of his Singapore connections when offered by Attunga Stud at the National Horses in Training Sale at the Gold Coast last October.
Turangga Farm will present a full brother to Pitstop at next month’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. The chestnut colt has been catalogued as lot 1543 in the auction which also produced Singapore champion Rocket Man.
The colt is one of 11 yearlings by Zizou at the National Sale. The sire is also represented by nine lots in the National Weanling Sale, while 17 mares head to the National Broodmare Sale after being served by the sire last spring.
Winner: Pitstop
Breeding: Zizou-Pottinger (Al Hareb)
Race: Singapore TC Aushorse Golden Horseshoe G2 (1200m)
Sold for: $21,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Turangga Farm
Buyer: Michael Spitza
Sold for: $100,000
Sale: 2011 Magic Millions National Horses in Training Sale
Vendor: Attunga Stud
Buyer: William Ho
Earnings: S$327,205
Owner(s): Steven Burridge
Trainer: Steven Burridge (Singapore)
PICS – Singapore Turf Club.
