Te Akau Tourist Update

It is hard to believe that the intrepid team is due to fly out tonight (well most of us) back to New Zealand.  It has been an action packed four days and four nights and thoroughly enjoyable too.

Last night at Kranji we were thrilled to cheer Sebrose home - and what a genius of a ride by champion jockey Manny Nunes.  The son of Sebring had to negotiate all manner of traffic issues in the straight - as one observer said "that looked like a train wreck was about to happen" - the horse should have won, deserved to win and overcame all sorts of odds to do so.  Brave lad he is!

Sebrose has now had 10 starts for four wins, three seconds, a third and a fourth and has earned his delighted connections $195,187.

It was a huge thrill for the whole team who joined part owner Alison Rowe in the winner's circle and toasted the 4YO's success with some lovely champagne.  Bought by David Ellis from the Gold Coast Sale for $230,000, out of the Group 1 Oak's winner Bramble Rose, Sebrose could now well find himself Group 1 Singapore Derby bound in July.

Speaking of the Derby - what a run for fourth from Aspen as he gears up for Derby aspirations - over 1200m - a distance not suited to him, he flew the flag of a horse really heading in the right direction.

While Sebrose may have been the only winner who finished first over the line on Sunday, Mark Walker actually recorded TWO wins.  Our Singapore trainer was advised that Deluge, who had finished second two weeks prior, had been promoted to first as the winner had returned an irregularity and had been disqualified.  So great news for Deluge's connections (another David Ellis purchase) and another for Mark Walker.

So a long day but thrilling day - we were rapt to also catch up with Paul O'Sullivan who came to see us prior to Aerovelocity's race - how wonderful to see the Kiwi bred and trained son of Pins prevail in the Group 1 Singapore feature. Back on the bus and back for an early night - well around midnight after 11 races.

Now it is time to pack and at 5pm we are airport bound!  Some of our group stay, some are off to Europe eg Marilyn and Pat, also Viki - safe travels - and the rest of us are homeward bound!

One thing we have also meant to share is that en route to Kranji we travel under Singapore's first eco-bridge - quite an expensive but wonderful innovation.  It connects a wildlife reserve area based on both sides of the motorway.  Animals were being killed in high numbers so the bridge was built to enable them to pass OVER safely.  Barely one is seen dead on the road today we are told.

Here is some info on this innovative concept (and some pics):

To kick-start the greening of a first-of-its-kind eco-bridge, representatives from Government agencies and civil organisations came together this morning (Oct 5 2013) to plant 50 native trees at the site.

Connecting two nature reserves over the Bukit Timah Expressway, the bridge, named Eco-Link@BKE, will allow wildlife to move between the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves. The S$16 million bridge is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The National Parks Board (NParks) said it expects insects, butterflies and birds to cross the bridge. As more wildlife gets used to Eco-Link@BKE, other animals like the pangolin, flying squirrel, palm civet and porcupine are expected to use the bridge as well.

Animal crossings are expected to benefit rare native plants, such as the Singapore Walking Stick Palm, which is pollinated and dispersed by animals.

NParks said that with the connector, an exchange of the palm's genetic materials can be expected between the two nature reserves. That would reduce inbreeding and boost the chances of the plant's survival.

Public access to Eco-Link@BKE will be restricted during the initial years to reduce human disturbance. However, NParks is working closely with nature groups to organise guided walks, where feasible, in the future.