3 minute read

2016 has been a year of new stables making their presence felt on the tracks in Singapore and as the season draws to a close, a new stable has quickly showed it is here to share in the spoils too.

The Elite Performance stable tasted success with Elite Excalibur last Sunday and it took the honours in the first race with Elite Takes All, who made a winning debut in Singapore, in the $35,000 Open Maiden race over 1000m.

Trained by Cliff Brown and partnered by Michael Rodd, he was not fancied in the market, but delivered a knockout blow to take out the evening opener. Chatting to Michael Rodd, who coincidentally won his 50th local race of the season aboard him, he had this to say about the winner, "He had not shown much at the trials here. He began well and travelled strongly in the running, but what was good was that once I gave him a reminder he really took off and found the line well.

"Cliff had him turned out very well and on the strength of that victory he should go on to take out a few more races. It was a bit of a surprise, but he is a good mover and that was a pleasing effort." Michael Rodd said.

The winner was first identified after winning a trial at Cranbourne back in February this year, Josh McLoughlan, who has been involved in the selection of not only him, but other members of the stable, takes up the story.

"The trial form has worked out to be really strong and it showed with this first up performance. He hadn't shown much at the trials, but the winkers seemed to do the trick.

"A big thank you to Cliff and his team on a good training performance. Elite Stable is a new stable in Singapore and Alyious and his team have really put their faith in the horses we have put forward to them.

"Paying for quality and sticking to the motto of quality over quantity are what we have agreed upon from the onset and Alyious and his team are starting to reap the rewards early in their racing career.

"Elite Excalibur, who won last Sunday, is hugely talented and will be heading to Dubai around the 15th of December. He will target a race in January and what he does after that is dependent on how he performs. We do have an eye on the 4 year old series for him next year too! He is really exciting and brings proven Group 1 form into the system here. Keep an eye on The Elite Performance stable, it looks like it will have a big 2017!" quipped McLoughlan.

The winner is a 4 year old son of Gonski and this was his career first start.

Other news to emerge was that Jay Eff Express, a gallant 2nd in the EW BARKER trophy behind Lim's Cruiser, will also be making the trip to Dubai in mid-December.