Parranda, My Option Eye Rich Singapore Race
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Three U.S.-based stakes winners, including China Horse Club's U.S. multiple graded stakes winner Parranda, are set for the first running of Singapore's richest race, the CEFC Singapore Cup, Feb. 22 at Kranji Racecourse.
The 1,800-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) event, which will offer a S$3.05 million (US$2,248,316) purse, is a joint effort between the China Horse Club and the Singapore Turf Club. It is one of the highlights of the CECF Singapore, the first international lifestyle, social, business, and Thoroughbred racing event designed specifically for a Chinese audience.
Christophe Clement trains 6-year-old Parranda, a daugher of English Channel who was a three-length winner of the Marshua's River Stakes (gr. IIIT) Jan. 10 at Gulfstream Park in her most recent outing. She will start from the outside post with French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon.
Parranda has an 11-2-2 career line from 29 career starts that also includes wins last year in the Royal Heroine Stakes (gr. IIT) and Wilshire Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita Park, and Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIIT) and Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes at Gulfstream Park, a second in the Rodeo Drive Stakes (gr. IT) and a third in the Gamely Stakes (gr. I), both at Santa Anita.
Also representing Clement in the race is grade III winner My Option, an Illinois-bred 5-year-old Belong to Me mare who is looking for her first win since taking the Chicago Handicap (gr. III) in June at Arlington International Racecourse. Also owned by China Horse Club, she will break from post 5 with Corey Brown.
Parranda and My Option will both carry 125 pounds. Both are being overseen by Clement's assistant trainer Thomas Brandebourger, who also is overseeing U.S. stakes winner Bajan (123), third in the 2014 Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I). The 4-year-old Speightstown filly will be making her first start for Newmarket-based trainer Roger Varian. Jamie Spencer will ride her from post 6.