The Darley connection dominated in Singapore on Friday evening with the first three winners on the Kranji card.

Redpacketday (China Visit) began proceedings with a narrow victory in Race 1.  He was bred in India and is by a Kingmambo horse who won the 2000 UAE Derby for Sheikh Mohammed.  China Visit also finished sixth in that year’s Kentucky Derby behind Fusaichi Pegasus.

China Visit is based at Usha Stud near New Delhi and his daughter Moonlight Romance completed the Indian Oaks – Derby double last month.

Movie Goer (Country Reel) won for the third time on the Singapore – Malaysian circuit in Race 2.  Her sire Country Reel is a Darley homebred and was a G2 winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at York.  He shuttled to Darley Australia for two seasons until 2006.

“Movie Goer has done a good job considering he’s still not 100%,” trainer Brian Dean said.  “He relaxed behind the leaders and hit the line very strongly.  He cost only $14,000 the Adelaide Magic Millions.”

Country Reel who shuttled out here for two seasons until 2006.  He is a son of Danzig and has sired 27 Australian & NZ winners at a healthy 66% strike-rate but none of them have graduated to a black-type victory.

Stablemate Gateaway brought up a double for Dean in Race 3.  Gateaway (Shamardal) broke through for a three length win after failing to run a drum in seven previous starts at Kranji.

His sire Shamardal has been a revelation for Darley siring 26 stakes winners world-wide with his oldest only four year-olds.  The sireline is already looking to the future his G1 winning sons Loup de Vega (Patinack Farm) and Captain Sonador (Raheen Stud) already signed to stand at stud later this year.