Raffles Cup Boost On Eve Of Perth Sale

Cheyenne Dancer has been announced as the winner of the Group One Raffles Cup in Singapore following the disqualification on Tuesday of the horse first past the post, Big Maverick.

Big Maverick returned a swab irregularity and connections of that galloper elected to have the referee sample tested. It also revealed the presence of a prohibited substance.

On Tuesday stewards from the Singapore Turf Club officially disqualified Big Maverick as winner of the S$517,250 race and fined his trainer Laurie Laxon S$25,000.

Cheyenne Dancer, sold by Magic Millions as a weanling and yearling, is now the winner of the time honoured feature for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Danny Beasley.

A high class galloper in both Malaysia and Singapore the son of Indian Danehill has earned the equivalent of A$819,000.

From just 25 starts the classy gelding has won 10 races and been placed on seven other occasions.

Prior to joining the stables of Freedman, Cheyenne Dancer proved his class in Malaysia where he was crowned their Horse of the Year for 2008.

The Raffles Cup win is a timely boost to Cheyenne Dancer’s three quarter sister set to go under the hammer at next week’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale,

Catalogued as lot number 427, the filly by Magic of Sydney is a member of a quality draft being prepared by Avoca Park Stud & Agistment.

Also in the draft are quality youngsters by sires including Singspiel, Flying Pegasus, Charge Forward, Elvstroem, Testa Rossa, Snitzel, Beautiful Crown and Hurricane Sky.

The 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale kicks away on Wednesday with the first of four sessions at the Belmont Park Sales Complex.