Tough Darci Brahma three-year-old Chateauneuf Dupape has taken a liking to his new surroundings in Singapore as he made it two wins from just three starts on Friday night at Kranji.

Bred and part-owned by Peter and Philip Vela, Chateauneuf Dupape (Darci Brahma x Loudenne) was well supported in the last race of the meeting, the Class 4 Poly Track Handicap (1200m), and was ridden positively by jockey Joao Moreira after jumping well.

Tracking a hot pace, Moreira kept the Michael Freedman trained three-year-old handy in transit and eased him up to the leaders at the turn, taking the lead and keeping the son of Darci Brahma focused in the final stages to win by half-a-length at the post.

Chateauneuf Dupape was a NZ$310,000 yearling purchase at Karaka 2010 and started his career in the Lee Freedman stable in Melbourne. With the $1 million Karaka Million on his agenda he spent four months in New Zealand in early 2011, culminating in a third placing in the Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes before heading to Singapore under the care of Michael Freedman.

The gelding won his debut in Singapore over 1100 metres in mid-January before being beaten by a neck by Riezo (Acclamation) in his second start but Friday night’s victory saw him return to winning form.

Well bred, Chateauneuf Dupape is from the Palace Music mare Loudenne, making him a half-brother to Pencarrow Stud’s Group 1 winning filly Insouciant (Keeper) and Group 3 winner Copper Mountain (Jetball). Chateauneuf Dupape was Loudenne’s last foal, she is now enjoying her retirement at Pencarrow stud.

The Pencarrow bred sire Darci Brahma has made a good start to the 2012 Singapore season as he currently leads Singapore’s Sires’ Premiership by earnings with his progeny headed by his dual stakes winning son Super Easy who is unbeaten in seven Singapore starts. Darci Brahma and Testa Rossa also lead the way in Singapore for race wins with six each.

Darci Brahma also heads New Zealand’s 3YO Sires’ Premiership by winners with 16, two clear of his nearest rival O’Reilly on 14.