Big Run by Big Maverick in Singapore Derby


Pencarrow-bred Big Maverick (O’Reilly x Ajfan, by Woodman) put up a big performance to run second in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (2000m) on Sunday.

Drawn widest, the four-year-old gelding was dropped back by Saimee Jumaat from the gates, the only real option for the big bay.

Travelling well throughout, Big Maverick had plenty of ground to make up as the field pushed and shoved their way into the straight. Jumaat got working on the son of O’Reilly and immediately he responded with the turn of foot that had seen him win four stakes races in Singapore in the past two seasons.

His big late run was creditable but the winner, Jolie’s Shinju (Jolie’s Halo), was well on the way to the winning post by the time Big Maverick was sighted.

His second placing earned S$190,000 and took his total stakes tally to S$1,206,000 for seven wins and eight placings from twenty starts.

Purchased for $87,500 by leading Singapore trainer Laurie Laxon at the 2006 Karaka Premier Sale from Pencarrow Stud, Big Maverick has shown extreme versatility in Singapore winning and placing in feature race events ranging from 1200m to 2000m.

His dam Ajfan was a superior racemare having placed in both the Group 1 English 1000 Guineas and the Group 1 Ascot Fillies Mile. Having visited the likes of Storm Cat, Danzig, Nureyev, Red Ransom, AP Indy and Danehill in the breeding shed, Ajfan has left six winners from eight to race with Big Maverick her best performer to date.

In 2006 Ajfan produced a colt by Tiger Hill which was bought at Karaka 2008 by Willie Leung’s Magus Equine for $135,000. Her latest foal is a filly from the first crop of Cambridge Stud’s Lucky Unicorn (Redoute’s Choice).

Under Pencarrow Stud policy the filly will be retained to race and she will be the first daughter of Ajfan to wear the blue and white hoops.