A multiple Group placegetter in Germany, Singing has finally cracked it for a stakes win in Australia, taking out the Listed Gosford Cup for trainer Kris Lees, jockey Glyn Schofield and his loyal owners, an Australian Bloodstock syndicate.
Singing had his first start for Lees in July 2016 and has been in the stable ever since as the trainer works to manage his persistent feet problems.
“He is a horse who has had a lot of issues, a lot of feet problems,” Lees told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He has been in the stable for 18 months. I don’t spell him spell him.
“I wanted to geld him and the owners talked me out of it.”
Singing was sent out the $2.90 favourite for Thursday’s 2100m-race ahead of Red Excitement ($4.40) and Mighty Lucky ($4.80) and they finished in that order.
Glyn Schofield kept Singing rolling along and he asserted his authority on the race in the straight, holding last year’s winner Red Excitement by three lengths.
“He got no peace early but once the pace settled I made sure I kept him rolling,” Schofield said.
“He is an easy horse to ride and he will win better races.”
In the other Listed race on the program, the Hawkes Racing-trained Bella Martini ($1.90 fav) picked up where she had left off in Melbourne to score a tenacious short half head win over Island Missile ($2.70) in the Gosford Guineas (1200m) in her first right-handed start.
The filly has won four races overall and her past three in succession.
“She got a bit lost on the corner,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“It’s a big effort to come from Melbourne but she’s a winner.”
