Singapore trainer Laurie Laxon compared his debut winner Daniel (NZ) with stable star Better Than Ever on Friday night.

Daniel (2g Guillotine – Tina by Danasinga) carved up an Initiation Stakes field by more than 7 lengths over 1100 metres at Kranji.  “He was a nice barrier trial winner and I expected him to race well tonight,” Laxon said.  “I did tell CK (owner Phua Chian Kin) and hope he had a good bet.  The last time I saw a first-timer win so easily was probably Better Than Ever.”

Better Than Ever (French Deputy) attained superstar status in Singapore where he was unbeaten in his first 12 starts, including a Group 1 treble in the Singapore Guineas, Kranji Mile and Singapore Gold Cup.

He was repatriated to New Zealand earlier this year and won the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup in March.

Phua operates the successful Oscar Racing Stable.  He and Laxon go all the way back to Laxon’s first Singapore winner Streisand in 2000.  They sealed the enduring partnership with Laxon’s historical 1,000th Singapore winner last Friday.  “I name my horses after famous actors and actresses,” Phua said.   “This one was named after Daniel Day-Lewis.”

A Kiwi homebred for Phua, he is a half-brother to the (NZ) bred Singapore winners Sandra (King’s Chapel), Hilary (Falkirk) and Malaysian winner Kiskinta (Golan).

Their dam Tina (NZ) has a perfect strike-rate from four foals to the races.  She’s a half-sister to the dam of Perth stakes performers Russian Playmate (Dr Johnson) and Canardly Miss (Verglas).

Tina has two colts by Thewayyouare (USA) in the pipeline and she was covered by Rip Van Winkle last year.

Windsor Park stallion Guillotine (NZ) is coming good with his first crop at the back-end of the season.  Sydney based Brilliant Terror (NZ) was a very promising winner at Rosehill last month.

Trainer Bjorn Baker really rates Brilliant Terror and was going to set him for the G1 J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm.  He decided against the trip north and instead sent him for another break.”

“You will see an even better horse with a bit of maturity,” Baker explained.  “He will run a mile right out and I reckon these Guillotines might be a handy breed.”

Guillotine (Montjeu) won four races up to G2 level in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley (1600m) before retiring to Windsor Park in 2009.  He is a half-brother to Efficient and is bred on the successful Sadler’s Wells – Mr Prospector cross.

He will stand at Windsor Park for a $7,000 (plus gst) service fee in 2013.