Third stakeswinner for Not a Single Doubt
Not a Single Doubt ‘s 4YO son Always Certain (ex Akarana by Akaaber) fulfilled the promise of his name, and his talent this evening with a remarkable, record-breaking victory in the $S200,000 Singapore TC Committee’s Prize 1600m Sing-G3. In the process he became his sire’s third stakeswinner in three months.
Four times placed in Singapore Group company since his debut in June 2009, Always Certain gained black capital status with a sweeping run from the back of the 15-horse field, to win going away by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Ghozi, with another length back to New Rose Wood in third place. His time of 1:33.85 broke the course record by 0.26 seconds.
Always Certain is the third stakeswinner for Not a Single Doubt after 4YO Doubtful Jack, winner of the VRC Bobbie Lewis H. G3 & Winter Championship LR, and 3YO Squamosa, who took out last month’s STC Run to the Rose H. G3, before running a courageous second in the STC Golden Rose G1.
Bred by Dr Paul Cradock, Always Certain was offered by Swettenham Stud at the 2008 Magic Millons Premier Sale, and purchased for $60,000 by Badgers Bloodstock. In a 14-start career for his owner, Bernard Lee’s Horizon Stable, and trainer Michael Freedman, the good-looking gelding has now returned more than $S500,000 from five wins and seven placings.
As reported by Craig Brennan for the Singapore Turf Club, Freedman said he was now seriously considering aiming the gelding at the $S1.35 million Singapore Gold Cup G1 on 14 November.
“Who would have thought that this bloke would be getting out to this sort of trip and possibly further. He’s bred to be a sprinter but he has always shown that all he wants is to get over ground. I said to Bernard that the Gold Cup might be the way to go with him now.
“He’s just so relaxed and has a devastating finish. Whether it is over 1400m or a mile, his last 100m is as good as I’ve seen from a horse here since I arrived.”
Always Certain is the only winner from five named foals out of Melbourne stakeswinner Akarana, a sister to Tasmanian Derby winner Suavity, from the family of Victoria Derby G1 winner Omnicorp and Group 3 winners Suavity and Wildly.
Dr Cradock explained the background to Akarana’s mating with Not a Single Doubt to Magic Millions’ journalist Greg Irvine.
“The emphasis to me is on physical type, so when I was looking for a stallion for Akarana, Not a Single Doubt seemed a great match.The mare is a big, roomy type and to me I was looking for a powerful, short coupled sprinting type to send her to.”
“Not a Single Doubt certainly fitted that. And right from the time he [Always Certain] was foaled he was a lovely type of horse.”
Dr Cradock has bred a number of other good horses including Lucky Secret, Hinting, Beauty School, Coincidental and Marie Madeleine.
Not a Single Doubt, whose 2010 book is now full, currently heads the 2010/11 Australian 3rd Season Sires’ list with earnings of $589,055.
