New Zealand bred gelding Mecca Star will be set for the Singapore Derby after opening his account over 1400m at Kranji on Friday night.

Mecca Star (4g Zabeel – Desert Ace by Desert Sun) was having his second start in Singapore and stormed home to score a half-length victory over Brudder (Honours List) and Urban Dancer (O’Reilly).  He had won over 1400m at Awapuni on Anzac Day last year before transferring off-shore.  

Prepared by former Kiwi conditioner Mark Walker, Mecca Star is a member of Te Akau Racing’s upsized stable in Singapore.  “He’s a nice horse and one that we always had in mind to bring up here,” Walker said.  “He should keep getting better with an increase in distance and then we will see if he develops into a Derby hope.

Champion sire Zabeel got the winner from Desert Ace who was a G3 winner of the 1999 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie.  She is also the dam of Zabeel mare Saheel who is still active for current Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman with wins at Hastings (2), Ellerslie and Awapuni.

Desert Ace died after foaling an O’Reilly colt in September 2008.