SILO HK-BOUND AFTER LAST WIN AT KRANJI

With S’pore racing ending on Oct 5, exciting 3YO gives young syndicators fitting farewell

- Michael Lee

Under normal circumstances, three-year-old Silo's smashing win in the last race of the 2023 Singapore season would have been a symbol of hope for the future.

To see a promising youngster, who had never finished out of the placings in six starts, chalk up a third win, can only augur well for his career, especially his threeyear-old campaign in 2024.

That latest victory in the $50,000 Class 4 race (1,200m) would have also been the perfect advertisement for the next generation of racing owners.

Much has been said about Singapore horse racing being a sunset industry only watched by old folks, but it was refreshing to see Silo greeted by 30-something owners and friends at the winner's circle.

Unfortunately, racing is living under hardly normal circumstances. Kranji closes its doors on Oct 5 to give way to bulldozers and eventually high-rise flats.

As much as that rejuvenating image of a younger demographic boisterously cheering to a potential three-year-old star was the perfect way to end a turbulent year, it is worth only as a snapshot to be sealed in a time capsule.

It was the last Silo lead-in for his Toast Trusts syndicated group split between main owner Constance Cheng and her grand nephew Melvin Tjahaja and his friends.