Singapore, May 17 – Yarraman Park sires were in the limelight at the weekend with a an international Group One double as Albert the Fat took the BTC Cup in Brisbane followed by Green Birdie tasting success at the highest level in Singapore.
The loss of ill-fated Golden Slipper winner Catbird was again highlighted when his Hong Kong based son Green Birdie claimed the biggest win of his career at Kranji on Sunday when taking out the Group One Krisflyer International Sprint in driving rain.
The Caspar Fownes trained Green Birdie, ridden by Mark Du Plessis, scored by a neck over home town favourite Rocket Man with Aussie bred HK trained Happy Zero two-and-a-half lengths away third.
Green Birdie, who is raced by Hong Kong owner Roger Li Ka Chun, clocked the time of 1 min 09.62 secs.
Rocket Man finished second in the same race last year to another Hong Kong raider in Sacred Kingdom and while he was brave in defeat, nothing could be taken away from Green Birdie.
“It’s my biggest win,” said Du Plessis. “I won the Singapore Gold Cup here a couple of times but this race is an International Group 1.
“I only got the ride when Brett (Prebble) couldn’t ride him and I hope now that I might be able to stay with him, but that will be a decision to be made by the owners.”
He added that to win the race for Caspar Fownes was a special moment for him as the trainer had been inspirational in lending a helping hand.
“To win for Caspar is such a great feeling,” said Du Plessis. “He has been a great support for me in Hong Kong and to repay him in this way is just fantastic.
“He usually gets back, but I rode him where he was comfortable. He travelled that good and he gave a good kick.
“Before coming up from Melbourne he had shown form on wet ground, so the ground wasn’t really a concern for me.
“He handled it really well.”
Trainer Caspar Fownes could not contain his delight in landing an International Group 1 sprint and at the same time defeat the horse recognised by many as possibly the best sprinter in the world.
“I’m very excited! To come all the way here and beat the best sprinters in the world – wow!” said Fownes.
“I’m very happy for Mark and the connections as well. It’s a big win for all of us.
“The horse has always had some hoof problems but at his last race, he ran with a normal shoe, and everything’s been coming along since.
“Look, on paper we had to respect Rocket Man, but my horse was very well. My staff has done a wonderful job with him.
“He’s been knocking off his food and had settled very well. The rain was a bit of a concern but he’s handled it very well in the end.”
Trained formerly by Brian Jenkins, Green Birdie had seven starts in Australia for two wins and was beaten a length by champion mare Miss Andretti when second in the Group Two MVRC Moir Stakes, as well as running fourth to Gold Edition in the Group One VRC Ascot Vale Stakes.
Bred and offered for sale by Whakanui Stud, the NZ bred Green Birdie fetched $230,000 at the 2005 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale and is the third foal of superbly bred mare Mrs Squillionaire.
A daughter of renowned broodmare sire Last Tycoon (IRE), Mrs Squillionaire is a sister to Group Three winner Palia (dam of Group One winner Onemorenomore), also stakes-winner Just Awesome and stakes-placed Lady Capel, dam of Group One winner Casino Prince.
Green Birdie’s sire Catbird sadly passed away prematurely in 2007 and his final crop of foals are two year-olds.
