Tropaios is the China Horse Club’s first G1 runner
Tropaios became the first G1 runner and placegetter for the China Horse Club when rocketing home from near last for an eye-catching third in the G1 $S1.15 million Singapore Derby at Kranji Racecourse today.
The performance of the gifted but eccentric chestnut has the CHC and trainer Michael Freedman eagerly planning for the future which may include some of Singapore’s most lucrative and high profile events later this year.
Tropaios, purchased in France specifically for the Singapore Derby, looked on target for the Asian feature when winning over a mile at only his second career start but those plans were dealt a double blow after a wayward performance in his derby lead-up and then a horror barrier draw that forced him to jump from barrier 16 of 16.
Yet after extensive planning between the CHC and trainer Michael Freedman and an astute ride from South African hoop Greg Cheyne, Tropaios produced the run of his career to weave between rivals from the point of the turn and loom as a live chance. So fast was his turn of foot in the straight that he was held up for a distance after running into the rump of eventual runner-up Wild Geese before re-gathering his stride to claim third. It left onlookers with a ‘what if’ feeling had he drawn a more favorable marble.
The former French based gelding has been seen as the talisman of the CHC’s Singapore stable and his Derby performance left little double that he is deserving of such lofty esteem. Aside from himself the CHC’s Singapore stable includes two promising two-year-olds in Arrowhead and Rite of Spring. The duo is also in the care of Freedman who oversees the training of all of the CHC’s stable in Singapore.