Waikato Wins Group 3 In Singapore (July 12 2010)

Laurie Laxon has labelled the rising 7YO gelding Waikato (NZ) (Pins) as ‘one of his all time favourites’ following the running of the SG-3 SAAS Fee Stakes (1400m) in Singapore last night.

Formerly dubbed as the ‘Singapore Sprint Sensation’, Waikato (NZ) sat handy to the pace and when popped the question by jockey Joao Moreira, pulled out the stops to score by a length and half.

Trained and owned by Laxon, Waikato (NZ) has netted a smart record of 15 wins and 11 placings.

Awarded the Champion Older Sprinter in Singapore in 2008 & 2009 & the Champion Older Miler in 2009, Waikato (NZ) has shown his best form from 1200m-1600m, winning such black-type events along the way as the Sgp-1 Singapore TC Kranji Mile, the Sgp-3 Singapore 4YO Sprint, the Sgp-3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (twice) and as of Sunday, the Sgp-3 Saas Fee S.

Netting S$1,865,966.56 (approx NZ$1,492,774) for these exploits, Waikato (NZ) has paid handsome dividends for the master conditioner, who purchased him from the Highview Stud draft at the Premier Yearling Sale in 2005 for NZ$50,000.

“He’s not done with yet either,” Laxon told the Singapore Turf Club. “He’s still in the prime of his career.

“If you look at his record all his early racing was kept to 1200m. I didn’t race him beyond that because I thought he was too weak.

“But he’s a lot stronger now and older and he’s shown me that he can get up to 2000m which he did in the SIA Cup.

“I would love a stable full of horses like him. I’m very proud of him.”

Bred by Amadi Park Ltd, Waikato (NZ) is by the proven Gr.1 sire Pins (AUS) and is out of the now deceased racemare, Skywalker Wilkes, the dam of six winners from seven to race and the daughter of the Gr.1 Golden Slipper winner, Vivarchi (Wilkes).

Courtesy of New Zealand Thoroughbred Marketing