With only Singapore Gold Cup winner Tropaios in the exclusively CHC-owned nine-horse field as the familiar quantity within local circles, precious little was known about the rest. But some low-down was available about Parranda, a six-year-old mare by English Channel, who was the highest rated on 111 points, can stay the trip and would have some residual form from her Grade 3 win in the Marshua’s River Stakes (1700m) in January.

The fact that the Christophe Clement-trained mare had settled in well since her arrival in Singapore on February 11 and will be ridden by world-class jockey Christophe Soumillon probably swayed the market towards her as she started as the even-money favourite – and in the end, logic was respected.

Parranda (Christophe Soumillon) sprints away to a brilliant win in the CECF Singapore Cup on Sunday.

Settled in a beautiful spot behind surprising pacesetter Summer Surprice (Hugh Bowman), a French mare who is noted to be a backmarker in her races, Parranda travelled relaxed on the usual long bridle afforded by European riders.

Behind, the small field of eight (reduced from nine following the late scratching of the Australian colt Auvray at the barriers) was well strung out, with third-positioned horse Ming Zhi Cosmos (Manoel Nunes) a gap of three lengths away.

Then came US mare My Option (Corey Brown), Auvray’s stablemate Orbec (Tommy Berry), Tropaios (Darryll Holland), Australian Group 2 winner Zululand (Craig Newitt) while the third US mare Bajan brought up the rear.

Summer Surprice tried to give the slip at the top of the straight but she soon folded despite Bowman’s urgings. Soumillon needed no second invitation as he allowed Parranda to roll with Ming Zhi Cosmos not leaving her an inch on the outside, giving hope for a sibling showdown as she is trained by Clement’s elder French-based brother Nicolas.

But as soon as Soumillon turned on the heat, Parranda went full steam ahead by kicking clear by two lengths with the winning post clearly in their sights.

Zululand, who was thought a touch suspect at the distance first-up from a four-month break, was the one who was motoring home the best from the back to lay down the law. 

But Parranda kept on well in the able hands of the Belgian maestro, with Zululand just holding Ming Zhi Cosmos at bay by a nose to prevent the Clement brothers quinella. The winning time was 1min 48.53secs for the 1800m on the Long Course.

Jockey Christophe Soumillon and trainer Christophe Clement’s son Miguel beam after Parranda takes 
out the first edition of the CECF Singapore Cup.

No Clement 1-2, but it was still the winning tale of two Christophes, though the trainer could not be on hand to see the race unfold live, having to attend to the comeback of his star horse back home, Tonalist, famous nemesis of Triple Crown hunter California Chrome in the Belmont Stakes last year.

Aside from Parranda’s CHC principal owner Li Xu Dong (pictured on top) who was ecstatically waving a China flag at the winner’s area, Clement would surely not mind the better-known Christophe basking in the limelight on his behalf, especially as the star jockey had surprisingly never ridden at Kranji before.

“I’m not surprised she won as she was the best filly in the race and we had a dream run right through the race,” said the international rider.

“She jumped quite quickly from her gate and we were able to land in a good position, staying behind the leader (Summer Surprice). She was very relaxed and there was no pressure coming from anybody.

“I thought someone would give us a hard time, but she was able to come out and go after the leader who was weakening when we turned for home. 

“She then just lengthened up very well. She did look around at the 100m mark but she kept going all the way to the line for a very solid win.

“I’m very happy I won at my first ride in Singapore. I was very surprised I got the opportunity to ride for an American trainer but I suppose it’s his son (Miguel) who had a say in that.

“The China Horse Club is doing a lot for racing and I’m happy to be a part of it today.”

Clement’s assistant-trainer Thomas Brandebourger was one of the key players behind a well-orchestrated plan that was hatched in the United States. The Frenchman was the one who was assigned the job of keeping their US duo (My Option is also trained by Clement but could only finish fifth) in good order in Singapore and the delight and relief on his face was plain for all to see.

“We didn’t really know how the race would go as it’s so hard to judge the overseas form on a different track. I just left it to Christophe as he’s one of the best jockeys in the world,” said Brandebourger.

“There was an opportunity to have Christophe and there was only one option which was to put him on Parranda. There is no need to tell him anything; all I wanted was not to be too far behind and be close enough to be able to sprint home in the last bit. 

“He rode the mare very patiently and we got a perfect trip all round. The other mare came to challenge but our mare is tough and very genuine, and she kept straight at it all the way to the wire.”

One person not part of the winning team, but who was smiling with satisfaction after the race was Michael Freedman whose Tropaios stayed on well for fourth, just over six lengths off the winner.

“Tropaios went into the race with some hope on local form, but not on class as the other horses obviously had superior international form,” said the Australian trainer.

“But he’s done very well to run fourth. He’s done us really proud.

“But from a future perspective, what really pleased me was the fact he ran relaxed as he had been his worst enemy lately when he starts overracing.

“That tells me he will hopefully be back to his best when the longer distance feature races come up later in the year.”

As an anecdotal side-note to the similar winning names to the Singapore Cup, the other local $200,000 spin-off race, the Group 3 Singapore Prestige Classic (read other report) was captured by Kiwi Karma, who is trained by Kranji trainer Michael…Clements. 

Those uncanny similarities were perhaps just mere coincidences who brought unrelated farflung people on the same platform in tiny Singapore, but in this festive period, nothing like some good feng shui as a recipe to a successful day and to keep everybody happy.

fonte : Singapore Turf Club