El Roca made his presence felt in Singapore at the weekend with a winning double while associate sire Swiss Ace struck another blow in Hong Kong.
The former’s sons Rook’s Gambit and Combustion opened their Kranji accounts with victories over 1600 metres and Lost Child was impressive in landing Class 3 honours at Sha Tin.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Rook’s Gambit had previously placed on four occasions before he broke through for trainer Richard Lim and rider Jamil Sarwi.
He was purchased out of Westbury Stud’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in 2021 by Singapore’s Everest Racing for $20,000.
Rook’s Gambit is a son of the late Orientate mare Romantic Glow, an unraced half-sister to the G1 Kingstown Town Classic winner Perfect Reflection and the G3 La Trice Classic winner Ideal Image.
Combustion was bred by Lanford Investments and raced in New Zealand as I’m On Fire for Cliff Matson.
He placed in five of his eight starts for Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott before his sale to Singapore interests and initially joined the stable of Mahadi Taib before relocating to Lim’s quarters.
Combustion is the last live foal produced by the Captain Rio mare Bead Of Courage who was successful on five occasions.
Her dam Morton Babe is a half-sister to the Champion New Zealand Three-Year-Old and Champion stayer Silent Achiever, a four-time Group 1 winner.
Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Lost Child continued his strong run of form at Sha Tin with a classy performance to score over 1400 metres for trainer Michael Chang and rider Ben Thompson.
He had placed in both lead-up outings and had no trouble delivering a third career success.
Lost Child was initially bought out of breeder Westbury Stud’s 2021 Ready to Run Sale draft by Queensland horsewoman Kacy Fogden for $40,000 and trialled twice at the Gold Coast before relocating to Hong Kong.
He is a son of the General Nediym mare Loch Leven, whose grand-dam Tartan Tights won twice at Group 1 level in the New Zealand Oaks and New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Four of Loch Leven’s five foals to race have been successful and she also has a yearling colt by El Roca and is back in foal to the son of Fastnet Rock.
