Sunday, 21 January 2018: Cliff Brown’s long-time owner Greg Perry had another hand in the stable’s successful run when Casino Prince filly What’s New opened her account on Friday night.

What's New winning the RESTRICTED MAIDEN

The Aussie Rules footy fan usually names his horses after his favourite AFL team Western Bulldogs players, notably his most recent winner Clokey, a nod to player Travis Cloke, but Friday’s winner was just a clever name he came up with by drawing inspiration from the dam side.

The three-year-old filly is out of a mare called Pussycat Dream, whom Brown and himself purchased from England a few years ago with a view to racing her at Kranji, but that intention never eventuated.

The Oasis Dream mare was later sent to New Zealand where she foaled down a filly by Casino Prince. Perry decided to race her in Singapore, and did not have to think too hard to decide on a moniker - Peter Sellers’ famous 1965 comedy and Tom Jones’ song What’s New Pussycat.



“Greg Perry and I bought the dam from England. She did not race here and we sent her to the breeding barn instead,” said Brown.



“What's New Pussycat is the idea behind the name, pretty good, don’t you think? I had What Now, but it has nothing to do with this one.



“She ran well at her debut last year (second to Destroyer Eclipse in a 1200m race on October 27), and I gave her a break as she was only a baby. She has had more time to mature, and she went good tonight.



“Looking at the way she finished off, she will probably be better over more ground.”



Backed down to $13 favouritism, What’s New was ridden in midfield by Michael Rodd before the ribbons were cut at the top of the straight when she simply bounded away to a 2 ½-length win from Kiss Your Song (Matthew Kellady) with Beautiful Day (Troy See) third another half-a-length away.



The winning time was 1min 10.35secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.



Rodd said his confidence had already grown exponentially on the way to the pens.



“She was completely different tonight as I rode her around to the barriers. Her stride was half a length bigger,” said the Australian jockey.



“That gave me plenty of confidence. She’s got gears and she put the race away really well.”