Al Valore
Al Valore signed off on a red letter day for the China Horse Club when becoming the third winner for the club today in Singapore. The China Horse Club only had four runners for the day in Singapore and saluted with Arrowhead, A La Victory and Al Valore while Hans Holbein finished second in the early hours of this morning in his seasonal debut in Ireland.
“It has been a fantastic day for our club and our members in Singapore. We only began racing in April 2013 so we haven’t been racing for two years yet so to enjoy three winners in one day at the same venue is very rewarding for our members and our club,” said Mr Teo Ah Khing, Chairman of the China Horse Club.
“Having our members enjoy weekends like this is what the China Horse Club is all about. We are a lifestyle club and we work to provide unique experiences. When you see members celebrating the wins of their horses with big smiles you know that great moments are being enjoyed.”
Al Valore made the Kranji Stakes D (1200m) his own when racing away to score by two and a half lengths. It was an encouraging return for the three-year-old who hasn’t raced since November last year.
Al Valore’s return to racing bolstered the China Horse Club’s three-year-old arsenal with A La Victory collecting his third career win in only seven starts in The Royal Turf Club of Thailand Trophy Graduation earlier in the program. The two performers were rated among the most promising early season three-year-olds from the Michael Freedman stable in 2014 and today’s displays showed the duo were back on track ahead of the first major three-year-old stakes races for the season.
“It was very rewarding to have Al Valore and A La Victory win today but for differing reasons,” said Freedman.
“Al Valore has always promised a great deal and he showed us what we have long thought he could do here. A La Victory still made mistakes but he raced more tractable and won in good style. Both are on the right track and it is very encouraging to have results like this for the China Horse Club.”
The first of the club’s winners was Arrowhead who was making his debut for trainer Desmond Koh. The four-year-old is a member of the China Horse Club’s Prince Racing which only began competing in 2015. The gelding traditionally takes a few runs to hit his straps but dug deep from well back in the field under the urging of Alan Munro to score by a neck in the Kranji Stakes D (1200m). It was the first run for Arrowhead under Koh’s guidance and augurs well for the rest of his preparation.