Run, run, run as fast as you can. You’ll never catch me, I’m the gingerbread man. So the song goes – and how true it is.
On Friday night in Singapore the equine Gingerbread Man completed the three-year-old triple crown when he cruised home in the S$500,000 Group One Singapore Guineas (1600m).
While some queried his ability to run out a strong mile, Gingerbread Man never gave his supporters any worry – when asked to deliver in the home straight he did and did it with ease.
He pulled clear of Ato in the run home and Clear for Action nabbed that runner on the post for second to give Magic Millions graduates a dream quinella result.
Gingerbread Man has been a revelation for connections after being knocked down to Magic Millions bloodstock consultant and auctioneer James Dawson for $30,000 at the 2009 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Dawson purchased the son of Shamardal on behalf of Singapore based client Joe Singh – the proudest man on course at Kranji tonight.
The outstanding three-year-old now boasts eight wins from just 11 runs and he’s earned a staggering S$873,990.
“It is a great thrill,” trainer Bruce Marsh told reporters after the race.
“We all realise that there has been a lot of pressure with the horse going into the 1600 metres.”
“We had to forget his one and only failure which was out of character and I will take the blame as we probably pushed him too hard to get to Dubai but that is what racing is all about too.”
Marsh said Gingerbread Man would now be spelled and set his sights on stretching the colt to 2000 metres later in the year.
Winning rider Vlad Duric was not surprisingly a happy man in the winner’s stall.
“When he gets horses around him he wants to over race a bit, so today I had a plan to go forward on him and let everyone else see what they could do.”
“As it turned out I ended up in front which I did not plan on. I rode him like a track gallop and he had a good kick.”
“He is a classy three-year-old colt,” Duric added.
“Credit to Bruce and his staff as he is a quirky horse and he has had little problems here and there and they have done a super job having him spot on every time and my job’s much easier.”
Gingerbread Man’s dam, Quaffle will go under the hammer at the upcoming Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale at the Gold Coast.
Catalogued as lot number 754, the Hurricane Sky mare is a member of the Rothwell Park draft and heads to auction after being served last spring by star sire Lonhro.
Winner: Gingerbread Man (Shamardal-Quaffle)
Race: Singapore TC Singapore Guineas G1 (1600m)
Sold for: $30,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Rothwell Park (As Agent)
Buyer: Magic Millions as agent
Earnings: S$873,990
Owner(s): Gingerbread Stable
Trainer: Bruce Marsh (Kranji)
