Otaki trainer Andrew Campbell is excited about the prospects of his promising juvenile Singletary, and he is looking forward to kicking off his career in the Vets On Riverbank Two-Year-Old (800m) at his home track on Friday.
The Satono Aladdin colt was purchased by Campbell and his primary owner Tommy Heptinstall out of Rich Hill Stud’s 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 2 draft for $125,000, and he is living up to his price tag.
He has impressed Campbell with his two trials to date, including victory over 850m at Foxton last week, and he is confident of a bold showing in his debut run where he will come up against just three other runners.
“He was pretty impressive at the trials the other day,” Campbell said. “He is such a big striding horse.
“There’s a question mark about the track (rated a Heavy10 on Wednesday morning), but we are going to start him because he is going to go to the paddock regardless.”
Karaka Millions eligible, the $1 million 1200m showpiece at Ellerslie in January is Singletary’s primary objective, and Campbell is hopeful of adding some money to his kitty this weekend to help qualify him for the race.
“The ultimate goal would be the Karaka Millions,” he said. “We are going to get a bit of stakes money on Friday and I would love to think it is the thicker end of it.
“Then we will put him in a paddock, bring him back for two or three races into the Karaka Millions, if he is good enough, but he certainly shows enough promise.”
While Singletary is an assured starter, Campbell said track conditions will dictate whether Croupier steps out in the New World Otaki Handicap (1200m).
The Ace High gelding showed a lot of promise as a three-year-old, winning two of his three starts in New Zealand before a two-run campaign in Queensland.
The enigmatic gelding has pleased Campbell with his progression this preparation, but his first-up tilt could be saved for another day.
“He trialled up well the other day,” Campbell said. “We are just worried about the track and whether we are going to start him or not. It’s a Heavy track so it might be a bit of an ask first-up, but I am happy with him.”
Croupier holds a nomination for the Gr.3 Join TAB Racing Club Mile (1600m) at Riccarton in November alongside stablemate Cocobill, who is looking for a better track than the Heavy10 he faced in his New Zealand debut at Woodville last month.
The four-year-old son of Vadamos was initially trained in Australia by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, for whom he won three and placed in one of his nine starts.
He returned to New Zealand in search of his more favoured wet tracks, but as his connections found out last start, he doesn’t like it bottomless.
“We thought he might have needed quite a heavy track because his form over there was on wet tracks, hence why he came back to me,” Campbell said.
“We started him at Woodville, thinking he would thrive on a heavy track, and he just couldn’t go an inch in it.
“It’s 50/50 whether he starts, but he is working well and I think he just needs the cut out of the track and not a bottomless track.
“He will keep, he has got a few more wins left in him yet on the way he works.”
Campbell’s racing team on Friday will also include Perfect Pete, who he is expecting to feature in the Aquashield Roofing Maiden (1600m).
“It is probably his day in the sun,” Campbell said. “He has got a half decent draw (7) this time, a good, strong rider (Jonathan Riddell) and a wet track.
“He is well, I galloped him this morning and it’s his best gallop this time in. I would be very disappointed if he wasn’t in the first three.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
