DELAGO BROM IS UNPICKABLE

Super win at Kranji last night (3 April) by Delago Brom first starter, Unpickable. We'll let 'Johnny on the spot' Michael Lee (courtesy of the Singapore Turf Club's website) tell the story below, but first our congratulations to Tasmanian hall of famer Dr Graham McLeod who bred Unpickable from his Never Quit mare Quit Smokin'.

Indeed, the 'Doc' is responsible for three generations of the family, breeding both Unpickable's dam and grandam (Smokey Locks). Although Graham obviously didn't put too much thought into naming Quit Smokin', this is one GP who found a new way to promote abstinence! Quit Smokin' certainly helped too by winning two stakes races in Tassie and hails from the immediate family of Blue Diamond-G1 winner Canonise.

Graham is also the breeder of Gai Waterhouse's multiple stakeswinner Bank Robber and his two half brother Kwassa Kwassa (by Distant Music) who has now won two in town for Shane Stockdale.

Well done Doc - we don't even mind that Unpickable nudged out the Eliza Park bred Newfoundluck!

Debutant Unpickable probably had punters scratching their heads as to whether his name meant he should not feature in any selections, or he could not be picked up by his opponents in the home straight, writes Michael Lee from the Singapore Turf Club.

Luckily for his connections, it was the latter that came to the fore on Friday as the son of Eliza Park stallion DELAGO BROM got the better of a valiant Dollars & Cents before staving off a determined challenge from raging favourite Newfoundluck inside the last 50m to score at debut.

After a tense duel with Dollars & Cents (John Powell) down the home straight, Unpickable with Danny Beasley up got the ascendancy to go and score by 1.5 lengths from raging favourite Newfoundluck (Saimee Jumaat).

Trainer Steven Burridge for one was pleased with the way Unpickable hit the line in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden-2 (2&3YO).

“He’s not a big horse and Danny told me he probably felt a little underdone today,” said Burridge. “He’s had a few problems when he came to me and I didn’t want to push him.

“His trials were pretty good but though I thought he would run well, I wasn’t sure he could be a winner. “But he showed plenty of guts to win at debut and I think he’s got a nice little future here.

“It’s great for his owners who also own Happiness Come. They’re not big owners but they are very enthusiastic about racing.”

Unpickable who started at $16 for a win was allowed to settle in second position outside leader Dollars & Cents only to issue his challenge at the 300m while Newfoundluck looked a little boxed in on the rails.

Dollars & Cents was however not giving up so easily and it had to take all of Beasley’s persuasion to lift his mount over the line.

Newfoundluck found the line late after angling out wide to settle for another second, 1.5 lengths away.