Primera Espada wasted no time getting back into the winning groove in Singapore. The Stromberg Carlson gelding had been off the scene for nine months but the long lay-off didn’t blunt his brilliant turn of foot.
Primera Espada (4g Stromberg Carlson – Aback by Marauding) was an eye-catching winner of a Class 4 Sprint (1100m) at Kranji last Friday night. He cruised in the slipstream of front runner Dragon Gate before peeling off heels and accelerating to a winning lead in the straight.
Trainer Douglas Dragon has always rated the Stromberg Carlson gelding. He is raced by Aspyre Stable after changing hands twice on the Gold Coast in 2008.
Raheen Stud sold him to Paul Beamish Bloodstock for $34,000 at the Magic Millions Summer yearling sale and he was pin-hooked for the Magic Millions 2YO HIT Sale late that year to make $53,000.
Sent to Singapore, he was placed behind Twin Ace and Zac Nirvana before flying home for a third to Mary’s Success after suffering interference.
Primera Espada looked ripe to break through in an Initiation Stakes at Kranji in June and he replied with a win that impressed jockey Jaoa Moreira.
Singapore’s champion hoop was back on board last Friday night and will stick like glue going on that first-up performance.
Primera Espada’s dam Aback was a Hawkesbury winner from six starts in the second half of 1995. She is a half-sister to Flemington winner Twisted Heart, a rare southern bred daughter of Distorted Humor.
Aback foaled Brisbane winner Nicolo Sequalo (Sequalo) a year before Primera Espada and her latest is a Publishing colt born in October.
Stromberg Carlson’s latest crop of juveniles are up and winning this season.
Jeonseong Sidae (2c Stromberg Carlson – Jessie’s Journey by Crown Jester) was the first to salute with a half-length win on debut in South Korea last Friday. He defeated the more seasoned USA bred 3yo fillies Geumteduri (Pleasant Tap) and Lemonissima (Lemon Drop Kid).
Singapore based Divine Power looked an early winner for trainer Steven Burridge on Sunday. He was also facing the starter for the first time at Kranji and the run would have encouraged connections.
Divine Power (2g Stromberg Carlson – Balaka by El Qahira) raced up to the leaders at the top of the straight and challenged briefly before running out of gas at the furlong.
Stromberg Carlson flag-bearer Sound System gets his chance to bank some black-type in the LR South West Breeders’ Classic at Bunbury on Sunday.
Sound System (3g Stromberg Carlson – Sarani by Sanction) has been runner-up at his last three starts and was beaten a lip by The Regulator at Ascot on February 26.
He carries top weight in the $95,000 Classic and has drawn wide again but looks great each-way value at $8 in pre-post markets. Post time is 4.16pm (WA).