Sears' Singapore connection one to mark in the calendar

By Jordan Gerrans

It does not matter what time of year it is, the Sears stable almost has a horse for every season. 

The father-and-daughter training team of Tony and Maddysen have recently had an influx of former Singapore-based gallopers to their stable that are named after months of the year. 

Last month a galloper named – you guessed it – June landed the prize over the border at Murwillumbah. 

On Tuesday, the now Gold Coast-based stable heads to Beaudesert where July will be aiming to win his first race for the barn since arriving from overseas. 

All in all, the Sears’ have June, July, October and April racing in the colours of prominent Singapore owner Eric Koh. 

Co-trainer Tony does not have a definitive reason why Koh named the gallopers after months of the year but has Saturday grade hopes for a few of them. 

“We have other horses with them that do not have month names, so I am not sure why they have done it with these ones and not others,” Tony said.

“We haven’t discussed it really, but I know that is the names they have raced under in Singapore and that is what they are racing as here.”

Fittingly, June won his first race in Australia in the last few days of the month he is named after at Murwillumbah with young Queensland apprentice Kayla Johnston in the saddle in a Class 1 and Maiden Plate over 2020 metres.

A four-year-old son of Trapeze Artist, June had been in strong form on the provincial circuit in the Sunshine State, finishing second on three straight occasions, before scoring on the Northern Rivers of NSW. 

All the month-named gallopers race in aqua silks with a white star on the riders’ chest. 

Co-trainer Tony believes October and April should measure up to Saturday company. 

October broke through in Australia in early May at Eagle Farm and has since had two starts at Doomben. 

Also, a four-year-old, October heads to the Benchmark 78 Handicap over 2000 metres on Saturday at Doomben. 

“June goes all right and October is a nice horse,” he said.

“June is a horse that might win a Saturday night race.

“April has only had a couple of starts and should have won the other day, he goes ok.

“October, I would be surprised if he could not win a Saturday race over a bit of distance. 

“We have only given October a couple of starts and he is going into a 10 furlong race on Saturday so we will see how he goes in that.”

June was good enough to win in the month he was named after and stablemate July gets his chance on Tuesday.

In what will be the son of Brave Smash’s third start in Australia after previously racing in Singapore, July heads to the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1400 metres.

July has been beaten by five lengths or more in his two Queensland runs and Tony is hoping for an improved performance on Tuesday from the seven alley with Nozi Tomizawa doing the steering. 

“He has been racing a bit ordinary and hopefully he can show something on Tuesday,” he said.

“He has had the two starts for us and we will see how he goes in this next one.”

The month themed-named horses does not stop with the Sears’ camp.

Koh has February with Paul Shailer at the Gold Coast who won at Dalby early last month. 

"After two unplaced runs to start his Australian career, the ex-Singapore galloper relished the step up to 2000 metres and came with a strong, well-timed run under Dylan Turner to win," Shailer said. 

May is prepared by Sharon Croxford on the Darling Downs after starting out in Australia with Shailer. 

Koh also has a string of horses with Matt Laurie in Victoria.