Fairway's Turf Online

Kiwis race ahead to Derby victory

SINGAPORE: Jul 11, 2010

RACE AHEAD staves off the challenge of NEW ROSE WOOD
- SNTC photo

RACE AHEAD, who triumphed Queen Elizabeth II Cup in open company last April, scored over the same course and distance again, only this time it was the S$1.15m Emirates Singapore Derby.

Since the Singapore Turf Club turned the event from a 2400m open handicap to a four-year-old contest, the Derby has become the second richest domestic race with prizemoney at a record level this year.

It's not surprising that owners and trainers spare no expenses to get big name jockeys to mount their challenge, with no less than six riders being brought in from overseas in this year's Derby.

RACE AHEAD went into today's 2000m contest with the highest rating, thanks to four consecutive wins earlier this year, culminating in his victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

The application of blinkers for the first time, plus the services of champion New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson, saw RACE AHEAD scored a 3/4-length victory from NEW ROSE WOOD (Love A Dane - Western Explorer by Is It True).

RACE AHEAD settled just behind pacemaker SUPER GOLD. He was eased back to third when ESCAMONDA went up to join the leader in the back straight.

But RACE AHEAD, trained by Bruce Marsh, was travelling so well that Bosson decided to take him to the front at the home turn. He soon kicked clear and that move proved decisive for NEW ROSE WOOD, the only mare in the line-up, was closing ground rapidly on him in the closing stages. But the winner had too much to spare. Third in the capacity field was INTERCEPT (Zerpour - Haughty Miss by Heroicity).

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	EMIRATES NEW YORK STAKES
	CLASS 4, DIV 3 - 1400M
1	Magic Leg	B Marsh	O Bosson	1
6	Martel	L Laxon	Saimee	2
7	Volkov	D Dragon	Y F Leong	3
11	The Dancer	P Shaw	B Vorster	4

2	EMIRATES DAKAR STAKES
	RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 2 - 1400M
5	April's Knight	S Gray	V Duric	1
7	Jeremy	L Laxon	Saimee	2
1	Bold Rob	Baertschiger	J Powell	3
2	Rise The Limit	B Dean	L Innes	4

3	EMIRATES SAO PAULO STAKES
	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
2	Ten Ten Lai	K C Yeoh	Zaki	1
1	Arjuna	O'Hara	Saimee	2
13	Zac Velocity	D Dragon	J Moreira	3
4	Meteor Mike	B Marcus	S Cormack	4

4	EMIRATES PARIS STAKES
	RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 1 - 1400M
9	Tolmon Nika	J Meagher	N Rawiller	1
6	Grovene Lad	M Freedman	D Beasley	2
8	Stitch In Time	Baertschiger	J Powell	3
5	By Law	B Marsh	O Bosson	4

5	EMIRATES AMSTERDAM STAKES
	PROGRESS - 1200M
4	Eclair Fastpass	D Koh	D Beasley	1
11	Gingerbread Man	B Marsh	B Vorster	2
7	Mr Raffles	S Burridge	V Duric	3
9	Black Ice	S Burridge	G Boss	4

6	EMIRATES MADRID STAKES
	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M
12	Top Venture	T Kieser	J Moreira	1
10	Silveron Wings	K C Yeoh	L Innes	2
9	Rotorua	M Clements	O Bosson	3
1	Top Priority	H Takaoka	Chavez	4

7	SAAS FEE STAKES (Singapore Group 3) - 1400M
2	Waikato	L Laxon	J Moreira	1
4	Lim's Fighter	J Meagher	Soo	2
1	Cheyenne Dancer	M Freedman	V Duric	3
8	Gust	H K Tan	M Gallagher	4

8	EMIRATES LONDON STAKES
	KRANJI STAKES C - 2200M
7	Silver Element	S Gray	M Gallagher	1
2	Decimus	S Gray	V Duric	2
10	Rainbow Empire	D Dragon	J Moreira	3
1	Saddlers Creek	B Marsh	Chavez	4

9	EMIRATES PRAGUE STAKES
	INITIATION - 1600M
7	Chief Secretary	L Laxon	Saimee	1
8	Fatkid	H K Tan	J See	2
10	Vedere	D Kok	Y F Leong	3
1	Solid Wood	L Treloar	Chavez	4

10	EMIRATES MELBOURNE STAKES
	CLASS 3 - 1400M
1	Flying West	B Marcus	S Cormack	1
3	Hopkins	L Laxon	J Moreira	2
9	Maurice Utrillo	P Shaw	B Vorster	3
14	Sonic	S Burridge	S Ruzaini	4

11	EMIRATES SINGAPORE DERBY - 2000M
1	Race Ahead	B Marsh	O Bosson	1
16	New Rose Wood	D Koh	Woodworth	2
2	Intercept	L Laxon	J Moreira	3
10	Ravages	C Brown	J Powell	4

12	EMIRATES DUBAI STAKES
	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
2	Mission Royale	S Gray	V Duric	1
8	Stanzout	B Marsh	O Bosson	2
6	Happy Ending	H K Tan	D Beasley	3
12	Zinly	Khoo	D Chee	4