Australian bred mare Better Life captured her second Group 1 victory in the last month with a convincing victory in the Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on Sunday.

Better Life (4m Smarty Jones – Quiet Life by Sunday Silence) had won the G1 Kranji Mile on October 7.  Her connections also collected a S$50,000 bonus for winning the first two legs of Singapore’s Triple Crown.

Better Life cost $150,000 at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale when offered by Torryburn Stud.  Her earnings have now passed S$1.20 million from 6 wins in only 10 starts for the Suzuka Racing Stable.

Jockey Alan Munro had the top class mare travelling well within herself and, when given clear running in the straight, she swept past her rivals to score by a length.  “She’s got an engine,” said Munro.  “I got to the front probably too soon but I had them covered.”

By Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, Better Life was bred to southern hemisphere time and arrived in Australia ‘in utero’ with her dam Quiet Life in August 2008.

Trainer Hideyuki Takaoka said the mare will be set for the G1 Singapore Derby (2000m) in July 2013.  He won the classic in 2009 with Jolie’s Shinju.  “I’m just lucky this horse can handle any distance,” Takaoka said.  “It was a great ride by Alan and full credit to him.”

Better Life’s younger half-sister by High Chaparral will be offered from Torryburn Stud’s draft at the 2013 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  Quiet Life foaled a Bernardini filly last month.

Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality) retired to Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky after just missing out on the 2004 USA Triple Crown.  He was relocated to Pennsilvania last year and he also shuttles to Uruguay.

BETTER LIFE
Australian bred mare wins the G1 Singapore Gold Cup