Pins 2yo hits winning note

4 August 2015

The steady improvement showed by Chopin’s Nocturne was capped off nicely at Kranji on Sunday night with his maiden success. The juvenile struck gold at just the third time of asking and came off a runner-up finish at his previous appearance.

“His last run was good, but he was running after the leading horses from out wide and ended up over-racing,” trainer Michael Clements said. “I was confident he would do well. I am really excited to see what else this horse can do. At this stage, he is one of the best young horses in my stable, if not the best.”

Chopin’s Nocturne was bought out of WS’s Select Sae draft to Karaka in 2012 for $115,000 and is a son of Pins and the Danasinga mare Etoile Centieme. She is also the dam of the Australian stakes winner and Group performer Delta Girl.

Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise

Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.

28 August 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.