Thoroughbred Owners Association and Sports Trust (TOAST)

Overview – The Singapore Turf Club (STC) reopened its doors to spectators on 30 April 2022 after two years of racing held behind closed doors since 20 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Races continued to be conducted once a week and the number of feature races were unchanged at 10 (total prize monies $3.82M). The prize monies for non-feature races have been unchanged since the restructuring in early 2019.

STC appointed new racing executives during the year: Dennis Loh as Division Head (Racing) on 4 February; Dale Brown as Chief Racing Officer and Soo Lai Kwok as Assistant Vice President (Malayan Racing Association and Racing Support), with effect from 19 and 21 September respectively. Subsequently Dennis Loh left in end November and Soo Lai Kwok resigned in early December.

STC announced on 21 November the doubling of feature races to twenty and the reinstatement of four iconic race series in the coming Singapore Racing fixtures from April 2023 to March 2024.

TOAST gave feedback to STC in March regarding the Gambling Stigma in horse racing that still persists today and that we must change this mindset of the Government on banning race-betting advertisement or else no bright future is foreseeable for Singapore Racing.

Following the reopening of races to owners and the public, TOAST brought up in May numerous concerns facing Singapore Racing to the STC. 1. The Stewards have to look into unscrupulous racing practices such as race fixing and pulling which are very unfair to sporting owners and punters. 2. Investigation is needed to look into Erythropoietin (EPO), Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) level and other banned substances. To be efficacious, we need an expert to lead an investigation team and stay ahead of them. 3. The Handicappers' decision to include a 1000m-poly race for Class 1 was poor, which reflected the decline in racing standard. 4. A new Apprentice coach is needed with the resignation of STC's former coach Matt Pumpa so as to upgrade the Apprentices' racing skill to competitive levels. 5. Track conditions are still bad even though we are currently only racing once a week. 6. Finally we mentioned about the lack of service from the Racing Partner Relations Team.

TOAST gave feedback to STC in June regarding the Stewards' finding to suspend Jockey Ronnie Stewart for two days on the grounds that he returned 700gm less after Race 5 on 28 May. The current practice of allowing jockey to weigh in two races beforehand, in a rising global warming environment, must be reviewed along with the MRA Rule 121 (2), which allows underweight of only 500gm. Due to dehydration, a person could lose 0.45gm - 3.6kg per hour in extreme heat.

TOAST had informed STC in June about feedback from owners concerning the dodgy nightclub advertisement inside their official race book 'Winners' given to owners and visitors. It is very bad for the image of Singapore Racing, which will not be endorsed by reputable racing jurisdictions. It was noted that such advertisements were not included subsequently.

TOAST forwarded a proposal in August from racing consultant Mr Julian Sullivan regarding a STC Strategic Review for their perusal. It was initiated by TOAST without any commitment. We are in line with most of his relevant feedback in the report to review for the improvement of Singapore Racing, though we do not agree with some of their observations. However, since a senior racing professional had come on board in the later part of the year, an external consultancy services was not needed.

Overall in 2022, TOAST Racing Trust has done well with a total of eight wins: Mesmerizing (5/3/2022), Fame Star (19/3/2022), Charger (30/4/2022, 14/8/2022), Mighty Vain (14/5/2022), Proof Perfect (28/5/2022, 18/6/2022), and Sing Our Song (29/10/2022).

14 Dec 2022 – Mighty Vain was retired as an off track thoroughbred (OTTB) to Bukit Timah Saddle Club (BTSC) to start his new career as a riding school horse, after having bled at a trial on 27 November. A 6yo liver chestnut gelding with 4 gorgeous socks/stockings, he will be loved and known as Copper at his new home. Despite bleeding issues, Mighty Vain had 1 win and 9 placings from 21 starts. In his win (see winning photo of 14 May below), Mighty Vain persevered to the line though he was found subsequently to have bled in a post vet exam.

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Mighty Vain (renamed Copper) at BTSC stable yard (photo: BTSC)

1 Dec 2022 – Sing our Song was sold to a Selangor Turf Club committee member to continue racing at Kuala Lumpur.

19 Nov 2022 – It's an honour to take winning photos with $1M G1 2000m Singapore Gold Cup winning horse, Hongkong Great. Owned by Mr Edmund Yue Kwok Yin and the Yue families, trained by Ricardo Le Grange and ridden by Australian jockey Mark Zahra, HongKong Great was acquired by Dennis Loh for the Yue family. It would have been great if one of the Yue families had come over to receive the Cup.

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Hongkong Great wins Singapore Gold Cup 2022; trained by Ricardo Le Grande and ridden by Mark Zahra (photo: sgracingphoto)

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Posing with Singapore Gold Cup 2022 winner Hongkong Great. From left: Stable representative Andre Bally, Trainer Ricardo Le Grange and friends. From right: Dennis Loh, Constance Cheng, Julia Ho (photo: sgracingphoto)

29 Oct 2022 – Sing Our Song wins C5 1100m polytrack race, ridden by Jerlyn Seow who was celebrating her birthday. Sing Our Song, despite previous respiratory issues, swept past the 3 front-runners at the straight and won impressively with a length to spare.

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Sing Our Song wins C5 1100m polytrack race; trained by Stephen Crutchley and ridden by Apprentice Jerlyn Seow (photo: STC)

14 Aug 2022 – Charger wins Cl 4 $50k Inferno 2020 Stakes (1200m). In the three-horse charge to the line, Charger (ridden by Ronnie Stewart) finished best to outgun Sacred Judgement by 0.2L, with Fadaboy another 0.3L away.

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Owners, Constance Cheng and Julia Ho, Trainer Stephen Crutchley and friends posing with Charger after winning Inferno 2020 Stakes (photo: sgracingphoto)

1 August 2022 – Dinner with visiting jockey Blake Shinn at Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck Restaurant, Singapore. Blake Shinn would definitely like to ride at Singapore's Kranji Racecourse again.

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Blake Shinn and TOAST Committee members at Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck Restaurant

4 July 2022 – TOAST President Constance Cheng and Hon. Secretary Low Hong Tong had a lunch chat with the two brave boys, Cheng Ping Peng and Cheng Ping Chen, accompanied by their mother Chang Pei Chen. The boys were commended in a Straits Times (ST) article covering the Bedok North fire on 13 May 2022. In particular, 14-year-old Ping Peng alerted the residents on every floor about the fire at dawn, running from 5th to 11th floor without shoes. As a gesture of admiration and encouragement for the boys' bravery and community spirit, Constance Cheng in her personal capacity contributed $5,000 as financial assistance to the family.

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Constance Cheng with Cheng Ping Peng, Cheng Ping Chen and Chang Pei Chen at Coffee Bean, VivoCity

18 June 2022 – Proof Perfect proved his last-start win was no fluke by scoring back-to-back. Proof Perfect wins the Super Easy 2012 Stakes Cl 4 $50k 1200m poly by a 'super easy' winning margin of 2.5L.

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Proof Perfect wins Cl 4 1200m poly; trained by Stephen Crutchley and ridden by Ronnie Stewart (photo: sgracingphoto)

28 May 2022 – Proof Perfect wins in Class 4 $50k 1200m poly. The 7yo Australian bred gelding is owned by TOAST Trust and Proof Perfect stable under stake-lease terms, which is perfect for beginners to gain experience in horse ownership without committing a large capital for horse purchase.

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From right: Owners Constance Cheng and Julia Ho posing with Proof Perfect, ridden by Ronnie Stewart. From left: Trainer Stephen Crutchley and Michelle Choo (photo: sgracingphoto)

14 May 2022 – Mighty Vain breaks through for his maiden win in an Open Maiden (Wt for Age) 1400m turf. A 5yo Australian bred gelding, Mighty Vain is owned by TOAST Trust & J. Ho Stable.

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Mighty Vain, trained by Stephen Crutchley and ridden by Ronnie Stewart, wins Maiden race (photo: sgracingphoto@gmail.com)

30 Apr 2022 – Charger wins the opening race on the first day of race reopening to the public, after almost two years of racing behind closed doors. Leading all the way in a Class 5 $30k 1200m turf, Charger cleared away to win by 2.5L. With 7 wins and 14 placings over sprints, Charger, owned by TOAST Trust & J Ho Stable, has now won S$460k in total stakes money.

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Charger, trained by Stephen Crutchley and ridden by Ronnie Stewart, wins the opening race of STC reopening of races to spectators (photo: STC)

11 Apr 2022 – TOAST wishes to thank Mrs Lily Ho for the preparation of the TOAST Statement of Accounts for the Year of Assessment 2022 and members Ms Esther Ko and Mr Lim Swee Ann for contributing their time to the completion of the audit as Honorary Auditors.

19 Mar 2022 – Fame Star is back to winning ways, leading all the way in a Class 1 $100k (1200m) race. This is Fame Star's first win since he resumed on July 2020 after 6 wins in a row before the pandemic, among which was the 2019 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy. Owned by TOAST Trusts & Shane McDonnell Stable, Fame Star has now won total stakes money of $758,025 from 9 wins and 13 placings, out of 42 starts.

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Fame Star triumphs past Rocket Star in Class 1 $100k 1200m; trained by Stephen Crutchley and ridden by Apprentice Jerlyn Seow (photo: STC)

16 March 2022 – TOAST President Constance Cheng and Hon. Secretary Low Hong Tong met with an Australian visitor Julian Sullivan, Managing Director of The Bloodstock Business. He was Chief Executive Officer of Perth Racing from 2015 to 2017. He built the Melbourne Cup Carnival experience to become an internationally renowned sporting and social event, resulting in the Carnival winning many tourism and events awards.

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Constance Cheng and Julian Sullivan at Bistro, Sentosa

5 Mar 2022 – Mesmerizing wins $50k Class 4 (1700m poly) race to give Stephen Crutchley his first win at Kranji racecourse as 'A' Trainer. Owned by Toast Trusts & Mesmerizing Stable, Mesmerizing had won on his local debut, but raced poorly at his subsequent three runs before winning again with blinkers on. However, the owners were not able to be present for winning photos as racing was behind closed doors.

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Mesmerizing wins Class 4 1700m; trained by Stephen Crutchley and ridden by Apprentice Iskandar Rosman (photo: STC)