Kilgravin Graduate Scores International Group 1

GREEN BIRDIE (NZ) TAKES KIRSFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT                                

By Rob Burnet   
Coutsey of Thoroughbred News                                                                                                            17 May 2010

The New Zealand-bred and Hong Kong trained, Green Birdie (NZ) won the S$1m, Group One, KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) at Kranji on Sunday night to make it back to back sprint wins in the race by Hong Kong horses after Scared Kingdom (AUS) won last year.

Green Birdie, ridden by Mark Du Plessis and trained by Casper Fownes, defeated the local sprint king Rocket Man (AUS) and Robbie Fradd, after running down the leader Gold Trail (AUS) and Michael Rodd.

The Kranji track had been dosed with a thunderstorm for two hours before the race and the going was changed to yielding to reflect the conditions and light rain fell throughout the race.

As expected Gold Trail and Rodd were out very quickly from barrier two and Rocket Man and Fraad were over from barrier six to sit outside and cover the Warwick Farm trained speedster.

Behind them were Mexican Rose (NZ) and Green Birdie racing on the rails tracking the two in front.

Coming off the bend for the 425m run up the straight Rocket Man came up to race alongside Gold Trail and the two straightened together. Rocket Man did not corner well going wide and Gold Trail licked again.

Gold Trail was leading with 200m to run and it looked as if an upset was coming up with the very firm $1.40 NSW TAB favourite Rocket Man not managing to bridge the gap.

Du Plessis had taken Green Birdie off the rails coming off the turn and there was a large gap between Gold Trail on the rails and Rocket Man racing in the middle of the track. Du Plessis did not need and invitation to use it and Green Birdie commenced making ground from the 200m mark.

Gold Trail tired rapidly over the final 100m and his 2L lead collapsed as Green Birdie claimed him and then forged ahead for the line. Rocket Man (AUS) was still trying hard outside, and then Happy Zero and Darren Beadman arrived with a strong late run.

At the line Green Birdie had a head over Rocket Man with 2 1/2 L to Happy Zero (Danzero). Gold Trail, in his first race left handed, was a brave fourth after making all the pace, the margin a neck. The time was 1.09.62.

“My horse was very well and I thought leading into the race he really picked up. He was knocking his food off and he was very settled prior to the race,” said Fownes.

“He has travelled so well I would like to take him to Australia for a couple of races,” he said.

“Mate I tell you, he is a tryer,” exclaimed a happy Gary Portelli, trainer of Gold Trail.

“I thought coming to the corner it was like a dream to be 4L in front of a horse like Rocket Man and of course you are always waiting for the last 100 when you have kicked away like that.

“That was sensational and I think we went enormous. He is such a great horse for us,” he said.

Portelli said the connections would decide on if they would continue onto England as the first three in the race would receive expenses for the trip, fourth did not qualify, but there were indications from the connections that a trip might be on.

“If we can get him to Ascot he will give them something to think about over 1000m,” said Portelli.

David Hayes, trainer of the unplaced Eagle Falls, said that the wet conditions contributed to the failure and he would not spell the horse.

Green Birdie is a six-year-old gelding by Catbird out of the Last Tycoon mare Mrs Squillonaire adn he was bought out the draft of Whakanui Stud for NZ$230,000 by Willie Leung at the 2005 New Zealand Bloodstock Ltd Sale Premier Sale at Karaka.

Owned by Roger Li Ka Chun Green Birdie has raced 30 times for six wins and eight places with stakes now in excess of $2.5 million.

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