It was a good weekend for Laurie Laxon, Joao Moreira and Pencarrow Racing in Singapore last night, with Quinta de Lago and Gordon Roberts both taking strong wins over middle distances at Kranji.

The $55,000 1700 metre class 4 saw Quinta de Lago (Encosta de Lago x Slip Sliding) put in a big effort, coming from the back of the field at the top of the straight to post a three-quarter length victory over French Irish.

The win was a major achievement for jockey Joao Moreira as the victory took his season tally to 100 wins. Last season Moreira achieved the century on September 26 and set a new riding record when he notched up 116 winners for the year.

Quinta de Lago’s victory takes his Singapore tally to two wins from 16 starts with three additional placings for just shy of $100,000 in stakes.

A top class yearling, Quinta de Lago was purchased for Pencarrow by David Ellis from Curraghmore Stud for $725,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2007 Karaka Premier Sale.

Continuing the winning combination, Moreira and Laxon claimed their second victory of the meeting with Gordon Roberts (Encosta de Lago x Gordons) winning the $75,000 Kranji Stakes over 1900 metres.

The five-year-old led all the way in the race, kicking away from the field at the 800 metre mark and holding his rivals at bay in the straight. The win also brought up victory number 50 for Laurie Laxon who continues to lead the Singapore Trainers’ Premiership by a narrow margin with Patrick Shaw sitting on 49 wins.

The win was Gordon Roberts’ third from 17 starts for over $140,000 in stakes and both Laxon and Moreira have a high opinion of the horse, with Moreira commenting after the race that he is a very genuine horse and is always tough to run down.

“The good thing about Gordon Roberts is he can handle any type of track and can stay all day,” said Laxon. “We’re working towards the Singapore Gold Cup with both horses.”