- Wrap-up

Indigenous finishes third in SA International Cup, Olympic Express fourth

Frankie Dettori, salutes the crowd at Kranji Racecourse as Grandera scores a two length success at the Singapore Airlines International Cup.

Indigenous earned connections another big international pay cheque with a fine third placed run behind Grandera and Paolini in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Gr.1-2000m), the third leg of the World Series Racing Championship. Olympic Express, the other Ivan Allan-trained runner in the S$3 million showpiece, finished a very creditable fourth.

Following his excellent third in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup last month, Indigenous' terrific effort at Kranji means that the veteran campaigner is now in fourth place in the World Series standings on eight points. The Godolphin-trained Grandera leads the table on 14 points with Street Cry and Eishin Preston tied on 12 points apiece.

Western Pride cut out early speed in the Cup as Indigenous settled about four lengths behind on the fence with Olympic Express a couple of lengths further back and three wide. Off the home turn Paolini came out of the pack to lead, but Grandera soon overhauled him and shot clear to register a two lengths success with another two and a half lengths and two and a quarter lengths back to the Hong Kong runners. The time of the race was 2 minutes and 1.3 seconds.

"I'm very pleased with both my horses," said trainer Ivan Allan. "Olympic Express is improving. Last year he would have finished lengths behind Grandera but his performance shows he is closing the gap. Indigenous has run another very honest race. I would love to be able to put his heart into a three-year-old."

The Hong Kong contingent headed by Mr. Lawrence Wong, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, in the paddock at the Singapore Airlines International Cup Meeting.

Allan added that Indigenous would contest the ING Hong Kong Champions & Chater on Sunday, May 19. A decision on the participation of Olympic Express in the final leg of Hong Kong's Triple Crown has been deferred. Both horses will return to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Indigenous' jockey Olivier Doleuze said: "They went fast through the early stages and I just followed the pace. He couldn't match the winner and the runner-up in the straight but he has a very big heart and he has given me everything. He raced like a four-year-old! I'm very proud of him."

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director of Racing, was "very pleased with the result."

He said: "That a nine-year-old like Indigenous can perform like that against some of the best horses in the world is remarkable. Olympic Express deserves credit also having been forced to race wide and come from behind. This young horse will continue to progress."

Introduction

The third leg of the World Series Racing Championship, the S$3 million (HK$12.6 million) Singapore Airlines International Cup (Gr.1-2000m), like the Hong Kong International Races is one of the most important race meetings in Singapore's racing calendar. The 2002 SAI Cup will be held on Saturday, May 11 2002 at Kranji Racecourse. The inaugural Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Sprint is another highlight of the day.

Indigenous and Charming City join HK team for Singapore

With their excellent performances, Indigenous and Charming City have been invited to Singapore for the Singapore Airlines International Cup meeting on May 11.

Hong Kong will now be double-handed in the S$3 million (HK$12.6 million) Singapore Airlines International Cup (Gr.1-2000m), with the Ivan Allan-trained pair, Olympic Express and Indigenous. Following his fast-finishing third behind Eishin Preston in the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (Gr.1-2000m) on April 21, Indigenous is joint fourth in the WSRC Series at present with four points, and if he wins in Singapore he will go to the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Charming City (David Hayes) and Firebolt (Ivan Allan) will line up for the S$1 million (HK$4.2 million) Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Sprint (Gr.3-1200m) on the same card.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has decided to simulcast and conduct betting on both Singapore Airlines International Cup and Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Sprint. Win, Place and Quinella pools will, as usual, be in operation and provided there are no more than 14 starters in each race, Double, Tierce, Trio and Quinella Place pools will also be available.