Headline horse Debt Collector has been pulled out of the Emirates Singapore Derby with “recent runs falling below expectations” cited as the main reason for the decision.
The third and final Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge had long been pencilled in as the 2016 Singapore Horse of the Year’s main mission this prep, but Brown, in close consultation with the owner, Barree Racing Stable’s Glenn Whittenbury – who flew in on Sunday to be on hand for the Patron’s Bowl race - has aborted those plans.
A winner of eight races in a row, including three at Group 1 level, the son of Thorn Park has suffered four consecutive defeats at his last four runs, including the Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) and the first two Legs of the 4YO series, the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1400m) and the Group 1 Patron’s Bowl (1600m) last Sunday.
Brown just felt that lacklustre form did not warrant pressing on with the Derby campaign.
“He’s just not going well enough,” said the Australian handler who won one Singapore Derby with Clint in 2011.
“The Derby was his main goal but it won’t happen. I spoke with Glenn and we decided to not run him in the Derby.
“He will go for a break and we will work out when to bring him back in due course.
“All’s not lost because I still have two entries in the Derby; Elite Excalibur and Magstock. Michael Rodd will ride Elite Excalibur and Vlad Duric will ride Magstock.”
Rodd has first refusal on Brown’s horses. In the Patron’s Bowl, he logically stuck with Debt Collector while Duric rode Elite Excalibur, but it was the latter who fared better with a cracking short-head second to Alibi while Debt Collector lacked bite to his finish to run sixth.
With Debt Collector out, Elite Excalibur will surely be the stable’s first-elect for the $1.15 million Group 1 race on July 9. Rodd, who partnered Elite Excalibur at his first two local starts (both won), as well as two (unplaced) of his five runs in Dubai, is therefore handed the reins back on the former Coolmore-owned Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper (when known as River Wild) in the Derby.
