What’s New was back in action for the Casino Prince connection at Kranji on Friday night.
Showcasing her trademark will to win, What’s New scored a gutsy victory over 1400m under Michael Rodd. It was the 4yo mare’s fourth win in 11 starts for Cliff Brown’s Tarnpirr Stable.
Vinery sire Casino Prince has been a go-to stallion for Singapore owners and trainers with a sensational 78% strike-rate. His Aussie import Lim’s Cruiser has been voted Singapore’s Champion Sprinter for the last two years following dual victories in the Lion City Cup Gr.1.
“She’s a ripper…a real delight to ride,” Rodd said after returning to scale on What’s New. “She’s push-button and can go forward or drop back. And she has the right attitude with a great turn of foot.”
Casino Prince served her British-bred dam Pussycat Dream in his first book at Vinery. And it was the mare’s first cover out here after making 40,000gns to the bid of Paul Moroney at the Tattersalls Autumn Sale. She had won a Nottingham maiden on debut in July 2011.
Pussycat Dream (Oasis Dream) is owned by Vinery partner Greg Perry and transferred across the Tasman to foal What’s New in September 2014. She hails from a NZ stakes-winning family that detoured off-shore in 2004.
Second-dam The Cat’s Whiskers (Tale of the Cat) had won at Arawa Park before moving to England. She foaled two winners over there and was also repatriated to NZ where her first delivery was Ellerslie stakes winner Tavy (Tavistock).
Casino Prince continued the winning run on Saturday when Divine Dice cruised to a comfortable victory in the TAB Hcp at Eagle Farm. “He’s been racing well without much luck,” former Singapore trainer Chris Meagher claimed. “He was fourth in the QTIS Magic Millions and there should be a few more Saturday races for him before the handicapper catches up.”
Divine Dice cost $22,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions March Sale and has earned $257,350. His dam Loves Attention (Taimazov) is a half-sister to Written Tycoon and she has a Dissident filly catalogued as Lot 283 for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The Inglis Classic Sale starts next weekend with two colts and two fillies by Casino Prince. Lot 875 is a half-brother to Countess de Galvez (All Too Hard) who won first-up for Ben Currie at Toowoomba on Saturday evening.
Lot 888 is the Casino Prince – Honeymoon Suite filly with the right pedigree and right numerals stuck on her hip. Her dam’s half-brother Mr Stunning won the G1 Hong Kong Sprint Gr.1 at his penultimate start and was last seen finishing a neck second in the Centenary Sprint Cup Gr.1 on January 20.
WHAT’S NEW