FLEMING FLYERS

The 2009 Kris Flyer International at Singapore was always going to be hard pressed to top last year’s ding dong battle between Takeover Target and Magnus, but still managed to come up trumps with world champ Sacred Kingdom collaring local hero, Rocket Man, by a neck and breaking the track record in the process (a record which had been set by the runnerup!).

Correspondingly, the Fleming family had quite a deal of interest in the outcome too. In one of the early broodmare buys shortly after Eliza Park was formed, Lee Fleming purchased the Sir Tristram mare, Morlin Maid, the dam of Love of Mary and Courtroom Sweetie, in turn the dam of Sacred Kingdom.

Lee’s brother Dean is the breeder of Singapore sensation, Rocket Man, while their father - the late, great Jim Fleming - bred another of the Kris Flyer runner in Lim’s Fighter.

Fairly impressive when one family plays such a prominent role in an international field.

Speaking of Singapore, the Bel Esprit pair of Aranda and Mooring will have a showdown in the $S250,000 Singapore 3YO Challenge at Kranji tomorrow (Saturday).

Both trained by Michael Freedman, the Bel Esprit pair have really flourished in Singapore with Mooring winning three from five and Mooring two from six.

The Eliza Park bred, Newfoundluck, is seeking his second win in Singapore, and Eliza's Asian representative Lyle Plumb reckons he should "go close".