THE Singapore Turf Club hosts a number of social functions before the annual running of Sunday’s SIA Cup and the Krisflyer Sprint at Kranji Racecourse.

On Thursday they presented a “Chill Evening” during which Singapore’s 12 “Turf Belles” mingled with the international owners, trainers and connections of Sunday’s runners and the local racing folk.  The  “Belles” are the Top Ten finalists for Singapore’s inaugural Turf Belles campaign -. ten gorgeous models especially chosen for the festival.

The “Turf Belles” of Singapore.

Chill party: Trevor Brown and Debbie Hakwins (left), with Bernard Fayd’Herbe and girlfriend Sasha.

South African visitors, led by sojourner Phil Giorgio and Lita Futeran and a media contingent, including Gareth Pepper, Aiden Lithgow and Liesl King joined former South Africans Mike Wanklin and Debbie Hawkins, now working for the club, for cocktails and snacks and an evening’s entertainment, rounded off by a “Best New Commentator  Competition”, which saw Aiden Lithgow reveal his talents, Karoake-style, to win a new digital camera.

More prizes were given away in a lucky ticket draw following a replay of Lizard’s Desire’s victory in the 2010 renewal of the Cup.

Giorgio hosted Summerveld trainer Kom Naidoo and a group of his patrons at the races at Kranji on Friday evening. It was a first-time experience for the Naidoo-party, who enjoyed lunch and several bets on Felix Coetzee an Barend Vorster’s mounts, Vorster bagging a double.

Dave Mollett made a cameo appearance at Saturday evening’s Gala Dinner, staged at the Ritz-Carlton and hosted by the Chairman of Singapore Airlines and a festive atmosphere prevailed as racing friends from around gathered to celebrate Singapore’s spectacular racing festival.

Dave Mollett with Phumelela’s John Stuart.

Lita Futeran, Karen Norman, Marsh Shirtliff.

Headline photo: Phil Giorgio with two “Belles” of the Turf.

Photos by Lita Futeran, Gareth Peppper, Charl Pretorius.