3 minute read
Not many Kranji racegoers would know Zip A Dee Doo Dah is now pursuing his racing career in New South Wales, Australia.
Even fewer would have heard of the Kempsey Cup.
Racing is such a beautiful game because the former handy Leslie Khoo-trained stayer whose name put a smile on many dials whenever it was uttered has popped up in a small town 350km north of Sydney to win the Kempsey Cup (1450m) on Friday!
Unbeknownst to many, the former four-time Kranji winner between 1200m and 2000m and who had a few stabs at Group glory, albeit without success, was retired from the Kranji scene by owner Joe Singh one year ago. The lack of staying opportunities in Singapore was the reason behind the move to go further afield.
Zip A Dee Doo Dah’s last race came in the 2017 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) when he beat one home, around 15 lengths off the winner Quechua.
On Friday, ridden by comeback jockey Darryl ‘Digger’ McLellan, Zip A Dee Doo Dah, who was not in owner Joe Singh’s purple silks but Lees’ orange and black maltese cross silks, came down on the outside to defeat favourite Try ‘N’ Run A Muck (Ben Looker) by 0.58 length.
“There aren’t enough staying races in Singapore. He left for New Zealand one year ago to rest and then I moved him to trainer Kris Lees in Newcastle, Australia,” said Singh.
“There are a lot more staying races in Sydney, and I was familiar with Kris as I had horses with him before, like that good mare Me No Marsh Potato who won four from 10 starts and is now a broodmare with two foals by Adelaide.
“At his first start for Kris, Zip A Dee Doo Dah ran very well, he finished fourth (in a 1250m race at Taree on October 19), losing second place by a short half head, and then he won the Kempsey Cup on Friday.
“I still own him 100% but he ran in Kris’s colours because my other horse with him, Proud Captain (x Captain Sonador) ran in my purple colours in Ipswich – and won with the great Jeff Lloyd. I will have to send Kris another set of colours!
“I wasn’t there, but I saw the Kempsey Cup race replay. It’s worth A$35,000, but it’s still a buzz to win a Cup race no matter how small it is.”
Singh is of course no stranger to Group success in Singapore with the likes of Gingerbread Man (now a successful stallion) in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge in 2011 and Countofmontecristo in the same series last year.
The Singaporean has in the last few years cast his racing interests beyond just owning horses at Kranji. Besides spreading his ownership base overseas to Australia (mainly Perth and Sydney) and New Zealand (where he has around 20 yearlings), he is also in breeding, and even sponsored the Group 1 Giovanni Racing Charity Bowl (previously Patron’s Bowl) in June.
“My two Gingerbread Man mares in Perth have both done very well, Gingerella and Bahama Mama,” said Singh.
“They will soon race in Singapore. Gingerella (one-time winner from five starts) is already here while Bahama Mama (three-time winner from four starts) is on her way – Michael Clements will train both of them.
“I have another Gingerbread Man three-year-old who has just had his first start, Giovanni Racer.”
