Van Nistelrooy Colt Wins Singapore Magic Millions
28th July 2007
English trainer David Hill added his name to the honour roll of a Singapore Group race for the first time when Onceuponatime (2c Van Nistelrooy - Scarlet Runner, by Kingdom Bay) captured the $200,000 Group 3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship on Friday.The two-year-old event, that has seen past winners like Why Be and Grand Canyon go on and make their mark at Kranji, seems to have unearthed yet another handy galloper.
Hill’s youngster is not the finished article yet but judging from the way he extended beautifully inside the last 100m, bigger and better things can be expected from him in the future.
“Whatever he is now, he will be twice as good in a year’s time and a year again after that,” commented Hill.
“He is going to develop into a very nice horse."
Onceuponatime settled back in the field and then ran down the Show a Heart youngster Handsome Jazz to score by half a length.
Onceuponatime was bred in New Zealand and after being withdrawn from sale twice as a yearling finally made it into the ring at Karaka for the 2006 NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Purchased by David Hill for just $60,000 f rom the draft of Haunui Farm, Onceuponatime is the fourth foal of Group Two winner Scarlet Runner, a daughter of Kingdom Bay from the family of Group One winner Sky Cuddle.
Onceuponatime is one of 11 winners worldwide for the young Storm Cat stallion Van Nistelrooy, a Coolmore based shuttle horse currently in America after shuttling to New Zealand for the last four seasons.
