News

Zac Influence proves he’s one to watch

2nd Dec 2011

The final stakes race in Singapore for year, Group 3 Proinn Construct Stakes (1700m), was run on Friday evening with top level gallopers lining up against exciting up-and-comers, and it was Cliff Brown’s striking entire Zac Influence who proved he is one to watch into the future.

Having his first try over 1700m on the Kranji polytrack, ZAC INFLUENCE ($60,000 2009 Easter, 4h Rock Of Gibraltar-Kidman) settled back from his wide gate before being unleashed by leading apprentice Shafiq Rusof at the 700m, quickly rounding the field and racing away to victory over Group 1 placed gallopers Flying Fulton and Parfumier.

Purchased by his trainer Cliff Brown from the draft of Newhaven Park Stud at Easter, Zac Influence is the third foal of Group 2 placed Kidman, who hails from the family of the Kelly Family’s former stallion Zeditave.

Brown has always had a high opinion of the four-year-old entire, purchasing his three-quarter brother by Flying Spur from this year’s Easter Sale from Newhaven for $140,000. 18 days later Zac Influence showed a glimpse of his potential finishing 2nd in Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m.

The son of Rock Of Gibraltar has netted S$335,000 in career prizemoney to date for Andy Wong’s Zac Stable, who had a large group of friends on hand to celebrate the victory.

“He [Zac Influence] deserves this feature win”, said Brown’s foreman Tim Fitzsimmons.

“He has always run in good company. He ran second to Gingerbread Man in the second leg of the Three-Year-Old Challenge.

“I just told Shafiq to try and not get caught deep as he was jumping from a wide gate. He was caught a bit wide around the first turn but he was able to bring him back.

“He made an early move that paid off. He is a tough horse who has a big future”.

The Proinn Construct Stakes is the last stakes race for 2011 in Singapore, a year dominated by Australia-bred horses who have won 19 of the 31 black type events, including six at Group 1 level.

The 2012 edition of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the source of recent Singapore stakes winners Zac Influence, Better Be The One and Speed Baby, will be held at Newmarket in Sydney on April 10 to 12 next year.