Two in a Row for Mr Whitaker


Last start winner Mr Whitaker (Darci Brahma x Felenic) claimed a second successive win in the S$60,000 Class 4 (1200m) in Singapore on Friday.

Trained by Laurie Laxon, Mr Whitaker has competed in four races, winning two of them and placing third in another. His last start saw him win at the beginning of May, also over 1200m.

Mr Whitaker began the race strongly for Michael Rodd, a regular rider on the Darci Brahma gelding, to find a position fourth from the leader. He crept up outside Cash Box (Shamardal) as the race progressed which lead to him pushing out wider on the turn for home.

Entering the home straight, Mr Whitaker fought off two challengers and battled out the finish with Cash Box, sweeping to victory by one-length over Cash Box and Eclair Sensation (Street Sense) who finished in third.

The three-year-old gelding increased his prizemoney to S$78,310 for owners the Oscar Racing Stable.

Laxon purchased Mr Whitaker at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$100,000 from Pencarrow Stud.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, the son of Darci Brahma is out of stakes-winner Felenic (Cape Cross), winner of the Listed Warstep Stakes, and is a half-sister to stakes placegetter Pavan (Centaine), runner-up in both the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks and the Group 1 Australasian Oaks.