ELIZA PARK'S SINGAPORE SLING

Amid the tropical ambiance of the Asian island-state Singapore, horse racing has always held a prized part of local culture, never more so than now where the quality of bloodstock has galloped ahead to be world class.

One Australian farm in particular, Eliza Park Stud, is actively establishing valuable relationships and promoting our thoroughbred on the world stage.

In tandem with the inception of an internationally televised racing scene and spiralling prize money, Singapore has become a major focus for racing enthusiasts and industry heavy-weights the world over, but principally by its close neighbour Australia who recognise the considerable opportunities that abound.

In the past few years alone the demand for the Australian thoroughbred, particularly in the $50,000 to $80,000 price vicinity has significantly risen, with Australian-breds contributing up to 50% of the runners in Singapore in recent years.

Australian-bred horses are highly sought because they are so well suited to the style of racing and climate in Singapore.

This year’s Australian-bred Gr1-winning superstar Rocket Man tells the tale, being undefeated from his first 7 starts and regarded as the greatest horse to ever race in Singapore.

With the opportunities abundant, Victoria’s innovative stud farm Eliza Park has capitalised on this burgeoning industry, launching its Asian operation and subsequently opening an office in Singapore last year.

The move is primarily to supply top quality bloodstock into Singapore including yearlings and tried horses, as well as leasing horses to Singapore owners.

Eliza Park has also appointed former successful jockey, trainer and stud manger Lyle Plumb (above) as their Asian representative, who has a close association with many of the ex-pat trainers and owners and is now establishing new relationships within the region.

Eliza Park’s CEO Cameron Croucher explains, “His (Lyle’s) primary focus is on developing relationships with trainers and owners and marketing our business to new participants and growing our client base in the region as well as attracting wealthy ex-pats from the USA, Australia and England to encourage participation in racehorse ownership in Singapore.”

Eliza Park also has an affinity to the region having shared the Fleming family success of racing horses in Singapore, like in this year’s Kris Flyer International, where the family was represented by three outstanding individuals in Sacred Kingdom (Lee Fleming bred the dam of Sacred Kingdom), Rocket Man (bred by Dean Fleming) and Lim’s Fighter (bred by the Fleming’s late father Jim).

The main agenda is to promote the Eliza Park brand and showcase their stallions which are already experiencing considerable success throughout Asia.

A good example is Bel Esprit’s 3YO Mooring (above), a Gr3-winner in Singapore and Delago Brom’s Ecstatic Macau, a Gr1 runner-up in the Macau Derby.

Another of Delago Brom’s progeny, 3YO Lago Bay recently smashed the 1000m track record at Singapore’s Kranji racecourse, stopping the clock at 59 seconds dead.

Croucher adds, “So far the plans seem to be working well with Eliza Park having exported 44 horses to Singapore in 18 months.

Singapore imports approximately 450 horses annually from Australia and it is our aim to be the supplier of 10% - 15% of the market within 2 years.” It’s an immense task, but Eliza Park is in a great position to undertake this venture as they boast the essential facilities to break in and pre-train their stock and obtain barrier certificates through their in-house licensed trainer, Sue Ellis.

The unrestrictive nature of transport between Australia and Singapore and the existence of simple quarantine protocols means the export process is streamlined and presents minimal interference to a horses’ training regime.

All in all it is a well-structured system, which promotes the growth and supply of Australian-bred horses.

Furthermore, Singapore racing is based on southern hemisphere age classification, which further adds to the desirability of Australia’s stock.

Gaming and racing in Singapore is currently experiencing major growth, with increasing revenue giving rise to support for key infrastructure.

The Singapore Turf Club alone is currently building 300 new stables due for completion in September 2009 as well as starting mid-week race meetings to provide another 35 race meetings per year.

Horses will be in short supply, which means access to quality bloodstock will be critical to maintaining and expanding the calibre of racing which already exists.

Singapore offers unsurpassed returns to owners, with substantial prize money, relatively low training fees and significant subsidies provided by the Singapore Turf Club.

Additionally, the existence of the secondary market into Malaysia and the potential to be a future provider into the developing Chinese market in the medium to long term is quite lucrative.

With his eye on the future, Croucher states, “We want to be part of that growth and want our clients, new or old, to have the opportunity to prosper through our involvement”.

Written by Merissa Borg and reprinted courtesy of Breeding&Racing magazine.