Walcha based breeding
operation Elswick Park Stud only produce a small number of yearlings each year
so when one of them achieves international fame and fortune such as superstar
Singapore three year-old Top Knight it's a cause for celebration.
The son of Zoustar won the Singapore Guineas Sng G1 at Kranji last weekend
taking his overall record to six wins from nine starts.
Trainer Michael Clements admitted he was a relieved man after the race.
"It's been a long way to get Top Knight there as he raced some time ago.
He had a beautiful prep and he's such an easy horse to train," said
Clements.
"He took a bit of time to wind up and was looking to make hard work of it,
but he quickened up good and was very strong to the line.
"He's definitely looking for longer distances now. It was fantastic to win
a Group 1 on such a big night."
The Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) is the third Leg of the Singapore
Triple Crown series and will be run on November 10. Having won two Legs of the
Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, Top Knight also picks up a bonus of $50,000
on top of the $470,000 first prize cheque.
Bred by Elswick Stud, Top Knight is the seventh and final foal of the pensioned
Nero Cavallo, a half-sister to Group II winner Dynamic Love and stakes-winner
Key Bar Nights from outstanding producer Huntington Girl.
Top Knight was sold by Elsworth Park as a yearling at the Magic Millions Gold
Coast March Sale for $65,000 and was then pin-hooked successfully through the
Magic Millions 2YO's in Training Sale where he was bought for Singapore for
$130,000.
"Top Knight has already won two of the three legs in the 3 year old Singapore
challenge and ran 2nd in the other making him Champion 3 year old for 2019,"
said Elsworth Park's Tim Lambert.
"He is trained by Michael Clements, who hosted our principle Norm Bazeley on
Saturday night for the race.
"For a small farm based at Walcha, a town with a population of 1500, that only
runs a handful of mares and breeds three or four foals a year it was a huge
thrill!"
Elsworth Park are breeding on with two of Nero Cavallo's daughters in Calzini
Bianchi and Mocha Miss, who is in foal to Deep Field.