Raffles Racing

About

THOROUGHBRED RACEHORSE OWNER: (AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, MACAU, JAPAN & U.K.)
THOROUGHBRED BREEDER:
(RAFFLES FARM, CAMBRIDGE, NZ)

Story

RAFFLES FARM

Raffles Farm (New Zealand) was initially set-up in the 1990's by the late Freddy Lee, brother of legendary Singaporean president Lee Kwan Yew. The farm is nestled on 150 acres of prime land in the heart of thoroughbred country on the Cambridge 'golden mile' and was formerly a part of the late Jim Campin's Chequer's Stud. In 2008, spotting a great opportunity, Dato Yap bought over the farm and entered into a partnership with Lawrence Wadey and Bruce Sherwin.

One of Raffle’s first thoroughbred investments was a half share in an O'REILLY-BOHEMIAN BLUES yearling filly who went on to become champion filly SHAMROCKER, winner of the
Australian Guineas and AJC Derby in 2011. SHAMROCKER was catalyst for what Raffles is today and the love affair with O'REILLY was to produce the horse that defines Raffles today - SACRED FALLS. His unbeaten record in New Zealand and four Group 1 victories, including two Doncaster Miles, has been a clear highlight for the team.

At any given time there are usually about 100 horses on the property, ranging from broodmares to weanlings, yearlings and spelling racehorses. At present a total 38 broodmares reside on the farm, of which Dato Yap owns 28. All foals are bred to be sold but given the yearling sales are more akin to a beauty pageant, there is always one or two that are retained if it’s thought that they will not command a reasonable value in the sale ring. One such "ugly duckling" was MORE THAN SACRED, who from humble beginnings went on to win the NZ Oaks.

Apart from MORE THAT SACRED, FIRST SEAL (Flight Stakes) BRAZILIAN PULSE (VRC Oaks) and MR BARITONE (Stradbroke Handicap) are other Group 1 bred winners to emerge since the new team has been in charge.

Please kindly email [email protected] if you are interested in Raffle Farm's services or breeding stocks.

RAFFLES FARM BRED RACEHORSE GROUP 1 WINS:
2004 - CLEAN SWEEP (END SWEEP x REIGNING BELLE) - Gr1 NEW ZEALAND 2000 GUINEAS (NZ)
2008 - MR. BARITONE (STRAVINSKY x TUNISIA) - Gr1 STRADBROKE HANDICAP (AU)
2010 - BRAZILIAN PULSE (CAPTAIN RIO x SHARAZAD) - Gr1 CROWN OAKS (AU)
2013 - MORE THAN SACRED (MORE THAN READY x DANALAGA) - Gr1 NEW ZEALAND OAKS (NZ)
2014 - FIRST SEAL (FASTNET ROCK x EPISODE) - Gr1 FLIGHT STAKES (AU)

OTHER NOTABLE RAFFLES BRED WINNERS:
2013 - CASQUETS (FASTNET ROCK x SUITELY) - LISTED TALINDERT STAKES (AU)
2015 - BALLET SUITE (HIGH CHAPARRAL x SUITELY) - LISTED PRINCESS STAKES (AU)
2015 - DIGITALISM (FASTNET ROCK x INDIAN DREAM) - LISTED CRANBOURNE CUP (AU)
2016 - TABLE BAY (REDOUTE'S CHOICE x GABRIELLA) - Gr3 LANGERMAN (ZA)
2016 - TABLE BAY (REDOUTE'S CHOICE x GABRIELLA) - Gr3 CAPE CLASSIC (ZA)

OTHER ACCOLADES:
2012-13 - WAIKATO BREEDER AWARD - MORE THAN SACRED

RAFFLES RACING

Racing under the Raffles Racing banner in the distinctive Gold, Raffles Logo, Royal Purple and White Checked colours, it's easy to spot a Raffles horse on the track whether it's racing in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Japan or the U.K.

Established in 2010, Raffles' racing arm has achieved impressive success in a relatively short time, whether it's with solely owned, partnered and syndicated horses. In the first season of racing (2009-10), Raffles Racing was already graced with winners in Listed and Group 2 races. The Group 2 winner, SHAMROCKER, then progressed the next season (2010-11) to win not one but two Group 1s to become the first filly to complete a Australian Guineas and Derby double and was subsequently crowned Australian Champion 3yo Filly of The Year. Raffles Racing's success at the Group 1 level continues in the third season (2011-12) with a Sprint Trophy and another Derby win. This success was escalated to three Group 1 wins in the fourth season (2012-13) with a Guineas, an Oaks and a Doncaster Mile. In the fifth season (2013-14), Raffles Racing was back in the spotlight when the O'Reilly entire SACRED FALLS achieved the rare feat of winning a back to back Doncaster Mile felicitously just as it became Australia's richest mile race in the inaugural The Championship.

So far in the current season (2014-15), Raffles has already been back in the Group 1 winning circle twice with SACRED FALLS fourth Group 1 win in the George Main Stakes and FIRST SEAL Flight Stakes win. Both horses are now being prep to tackle more Group 1 races in Autumn with strong chance that SACRED FALLS will have his third tilt at the Doncaster Mile.

Please kindly email [email protected] if you are interested in racing a horse with Raffles Racing.

RAFFLES RACING OWNED RACEHORSE GROUP 1 WINS:
2011 - SHAMROCKER - Gr1 AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS (AU)
2011 - SHAMROCKER - Gr1 AUSTRALIAN DERBY (AU)
2012 - MR RAFFLES - Gr1 PENANG SPRINT TROPHY (MY)
2012 - MR AMBASSADOR - Gr1 PERAK DERBY (MY)
2012 - SACRED FALLS - Gr1 NEW ZEALAND 2000 GUINEAS (NZ)
2013 - MORE THAN SACRED - Gr1 NEW ZEALAND OAKS (NZ)
2013 - SACRED FALLS - Gr1 DONCASTER MILE (AU)
2014 - SACRED FALLS - Gr1 DONCASTER MILE (AU)
2014 - SACRED FALLS - Gr1 GEORGE MAIN STAKES (AU)
2014 - FIRST SEAL - Gr1 FLIGHT STAKES (AU)
2015 - SACRED STAR - Gr1 TELEGRAPH STAKES (NZ)
2015 - SACRED STAR - Gr1 NRM WAIKATO SPRINT (NZ)
2015 - ROCK DIVA - Gr1 AUCKLAND CUP (NZ)
2015 - THE ALFONSO - Gr1 MACAU DERBY (MO)
2015 - SACRED HUSTLER - Gr1 CHAIRMAN'S CHALLENGE CUP (MO)
2015 - PRESS STATEMENT - Gr1 CAULFIELD GUINEAS (AU)
2016 - SACRED ELIXIR - Gr1 JJ ATKINS (AU)
2016 - MR ARMSTRONG - Gr1 PENANG SPRINT TROPHY (MY)

OTHER NOTABLE GROUP AND LISTED WINS:
2010 - ST PETER'S GIFT - LISBOA CHALLENGE (MO)
2011 - ST PETER'S GIFT - Gr3 ATV MACAU DERBY TRIAL (MO)
2011 - ST PETER'S GIFT - Gr2 MACAU DIRECTOR'S CUP (MO)
2011 - SHAMROCKER - Gr2 VRC SIRES PRODUCE STAKES (AU)
2011 - RAFFLES PEGASUS - LISTED ANZAC DAY STAKES (AU)
2012 - BANK'S GIFT - Gr3 WILAYAH SILVER BOWL (MY)
2012 - BANK'S GIFT - CARLBERG'S GOLD CUP (MY)
2012 - SACRED FALLS - WESTBURY STUD STAKES (NZ)
2012 - SACRED FALLS - Gr3 SARTEN MEMORIAL STAKES (NZ)
2012 - SACRED FALLS - Gr2 HAWKE'S BAY GUINEAS (NZ)
2013 - MR RAFFLES - PEUGEOT TROPHY (MY)
2013 - SACRED PARK - Gr3 BONECRUSHER STAKES (NZ)
2013 - SACRED PARK - Gr2 WELLINGTON GUINEAS (NZ)
2013 - SACRED POINT - CURRAGHMORE STUD (NZ)
2013 - MORE THAN SACRED - Gr3 WAIKATO TIMES GOLD CUP (NZ)
2013 - MORE THAN SACRED - Gr3 SUNLINE VASE (NZ)
2014 - ROCK DIVA - Gr3 SUNLINE VASE (NZ)
2014 - SACRED STAR - Gr2 QTC CUP (AU)
2014 - FIRST SEAL - Gr2 TEA ROSE STAKES (AU)
2015 - FIRST SEAL - Gr2 SURROUND STAKES (AU)
2015 - PRESS STATEMENT - Gr2 STAN FOX STAKES (AU)
2015 - THE ALFONSO - Gr3 MACAU SPRINT TROPHY (MO)
2015 - MR ARMSTRONG - WILLIAM INGLIS AND SON TROPHY (MY)
2016 - SACRED STAR - Gr3 DARLEY PLATE (NZ)
2016 - THE ALFONSO - Gr2 WINTER TROPHY (MO)
2016 - PRESS STATEMENT - Gr2 HOBARTVILLE STAKES (AU)
2016 - FIRST SEAL - Gr2 MILLIE FOX STAKES (AU)
2016 - SACRED MASTER - Gr2 AVONDALE CUP (NZ)
2016 - THE ALFONSO - THE MACAU RACE HORSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION CUP (MO)
2016 - SACRED MASTER - Gr3 NEWCASTLE CUP (AU)
2016 - SACRED ELIXIR - Gr3 CAULFIELD GUINEAS PRELUDE (AU)
2016 - SACRED ELIXIR - Gr2 MOONEE VALLEY VASE (AU)

OTHER ACCOLADES:
2010-11 - AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION 3yo FILLY - SHAMROCKER
2012-13 - CHAMPION NZ 3YO (up to 1600m) - SACRED FALLS
2013-14 - CAMBRIDGE JOCKEY CLUB SPRINTER / MILER OF THE YEAR - SACRED STAR
2014-15 - NZ CHAMPION SPRINTER - SACRED STAR
2014-15 - NSW HORSE OF THE YEAR - FIRST SEAL
2014-15 - NSW CHAMPION 3yo - FIRST SEAL
2014-15 - NSW QUEEN OF AUTUMN - FIRST SEAL
2015-16 - NSW CHAMPION 3yo - PRESS STATEMENT
2015-16 - NZ CHAMPION 2yo - SACRED ELIXIR

RAFFLE RESPONSIBILITY

Dato Yap (the principal behind Raffles) strongly believes in doing what he can to engage and give back to the local communities in the countries that Raffles race in. He has thus made it his own social responsibility to donate a percentage of his personal Group 1 winnings to charity. Over the years, Raffles has donated to both racing and animal related and other relief charities.

Please kindly email [email protected] if you would like Raffles to help or work with your charity organisation.