By Alan Carasso
Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous {Aus}), one of the top sprinters of either sex in Singapore, could be on track for a start in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on the Dubai World Cup undercard after posting a visually impressive two-length victory in a 1200-meter Class 1 over the Kranji turf course Friday evening (video).
Away neatly from the three hole, the 4-year-old filly chased from second behind a loose leader and was ridden quietly on the turn by Manoel Nunes. She steadily reeled in that front-runner with about 300 meters left to travel and scampered clear to win comfortably in the finish to take her record to six wins from 16 career outings.
“There is still quite a way to go to race in Dubai, but she is a step closer to that goal now,” winning trainer Michael Clements reported. “We've actually already booked her ticket and have already organised stables for her in Dubai.”
A three-time pattern winner while forced to face males in Singapore, Kiwi Karma looked a winning chance at the 200-meter mark in the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint last May, but was outfinished and finished under four lengths behind the victorious Hong Kong raider Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) in fourth.
“We actually toyed with the Dubai idea after the KrisFlyer,” Clements said. “She will obviously need to run again a couple of times before it all comes off. I will probably look at another 1200-meter race in three of four weeks' time and then the Merlion Trophy on Polytrack [1200 meters, Mar. 6].”
Singapore is not without success on World Cup night, as Rocket Man (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}) made history when winning the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in 2011. El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nancho {Arg}) won last year's Merlion Trophy ahead of a good fourth in the Golden Shaheen.
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