Fairway's Turf Online

Captain McCaw scores in Kranji debut

SINGAPORE: Apr 19, 2013

CAPTAIN McCAW collars SHIPPING FORECAST for a narrow
win in his Singapore debut - SNTC photo

A group of kiwis went to 31,000 guineas to secure CAPTAIN McCAW as a yearling and named him after All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

But they failed to find success with the gelding in England. Instead, the English bred was an instant hit in Singapore after trainer Laurie Laxon secured him for 10,000 guineas at the conclusion of his two-year-old season during which he started five times for a second over 1207m at Wolverhampton.

Now raced by three of his former owners and Laxon, CAPTAIN McCAW, ridden by Joao Moreira, showed fighting qualities when he wore down the front-running SHIPPING FORECAST to win by a head in his Kranji debut in the Initiation - 1200m sprint on the polytrack here tonight.

CAPTAIN MCCAW is by the former Australian sprinter EXCEED AND EXCEL from the English mare OUR SHEILA which coincidentally is the name of Laxon's wife. OUR SHEILA herself failed to win as a two-year-old but blossomed at three, reeling off four consecutive wins.

Now, CAPTAIN McCAW has started his three-year-old campaign off to the best possible start. "He’s a smart type of horse and he did a pretty good job tonight," said Laxon.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	FLY FREELY	D Hill	B Vorster	1
	(6 b.nz.g Occidental Tourist - Acoustical by Famous Star)
5	Fumiko	O'Hara	Suhaimi	2
11	Roma	H Takaoka	A Munro	3
3	Sahoro	D Kok	D Bonilla	4

2	INITIATION - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
10	CAPTAIN McCAW	L Laxon	J Moreira	1
	(3 ch.e.g Exceed And Excel - Our Sheila by Bahamian Bounty)
7	Shipping Forecast	C Brown	J Powell	2
1	Lucky Come	T Kieser	Chavez	3
4	Exquisitely Sweet	O'Hara	T Rehaizat	4

3	KRANJI STAKES C - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	TOUCH OF GOLD	H W Tan	J Moreira	1
	(4 ch.nz.g Captain Rio - Sangeeta by Faltaat)
5	Eclair Flyer	D Koh	T Rehaizat	2
11	Eatons Gold	M Walker	R Shafiq	3
4	Boundless Glory	S Burridge	Kellady	4

4	KRANJI STAKES D - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
3	IRISH FLASH	B Dean	J Moreira	1
	(5 b.am.g North Light - Time Is Money by Gilded Time)
8	Street Legal	B Marsh	Z Zuriman	2
1	Beautiful World	D Koh	T Rehaizat	3
7	Slayer	M Freedman	A Munro	4

5	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6	REVERSE TAKEOVER	M Yusof	T Rehaizat	1
	(6 b.nz.g Danske - Victoria Bay by Kingdom Bay)
8	Solid Wood	S Baertschiger	R Hasri	2
7	Sir Fleetwood	L Laxon	T H Koh	3
5	Mr Patron	P Shaw	H Amin	4

6	BENCHMARK 97 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	VALEVOLE	P Shaw	B Vorster	1
	(5 b.brz.g Our Emblem - Garland Queen by Ghadeer)
6	Texan Takeover	M Freedman	A Munro	2
3	Rapido Star	L Dragon	J Moreira	3
8	Lago Bay	S Baertschiger	Sam	4

7	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
2	CAUTION	S Chua	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(5 b.a.g Kempinsky - Flight To Fantasy by Bluebird)
9	Starstruck	B Dean	Z Zuriman	2
4	Gypsy Magic	Khoo	M Firdaus	3
1	Spanish Train	D Hill	L Q Kek	4

8	KRANJI STAKES C - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
8	FIRST SCOOP	D Koh	T Rehaizat	1
	(4 ch.nz.g Faltaat - Milord A Lady by Lord Ballina)
4	Greenstone	P Shaw	J Moreira	2
9	Quinta De Lago	L Laxon	B Vorster	3
2	The Rude Warrior	D Kok	I Santana	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
2	ARAPUNI	L Laxon	J Moreira	1
	(8 b/br.nz.g Cape Cross - Waimarie by Foxbay)
9	Hero Success	D Koh	Soo	2
3	Jet Ace	S Chua	K A'Isisuhairi	3
4	Not Simple	Z L Mok	W L Tan	4