Fairway's Turf Online

Dragon Duke slays rivals in Singapore debut

SINGAPORE: May 4, 2018

DRAGON DUKE storms home on the outside of horses to cause a big
upset in his Singapore debut - SNTC photo

DRAGON DUKE staged a remarkable from-last-to-first performance to mark his Singapore debut at Kranji here tonight.

Having been placed over 1400m and 1600m in New Zealand but still a maiden, the son of Bachelor Duke was the rank outsider in the Class 4 Premier event over 1000m on the polytrack.

DRAGON DUKE trailed the 12-horse field right till the top of the straight but, under apprentice Chin Chee Seng, he put on "wings" in the home stretch to claim victory by one length. He paid $679.

"It was a big surprise he won over 1000m first-up. He reminds me a lot of Secret Win who had similar form from New Zealand," said trainer Daniel Meagher. "I’m still learning about him and tonight really taught me a lot about him. He is a horse I also own and he definitely wants further."

DRAGON DUKE raced four times at three for two seconds and a fourth. He was unplaced in one run at four before heading for Singapore.

Jockey Ryan Curatolo landed an early double on AUSPICIOUS DAY and MYSTIC PRIDE before a seemingly harmless fall on LIM'S RHYTHM on the way to the start of Race 4 cut short his evening. The former Macau based jockey was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured his right foot and will be out for four to five weeks.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6	SUPER DAN	KY Young	M Ewe	1
	(4 br.nz.g Darci Brahma - Oputia by Black Minnaloushe)
5	Golden States	R Le Grange	B Vorster	2
1	Dominy	O'Hara	A Munro	3
7	Yellow Jade Horse	D Meagher	Saifudin	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1400M
1	AUSPICIOUS DAY	Khoo	R Curatolo	1
	(3 b.nz.g Showcasing - Sweet Charity by Zabeel)
9	Turf Princess	DL Freedman	O Placais	2
8	Cracking Tottie	C Brown	M Rodd	3
10	Majestic	D Kok	Woodworth	4

3	CLASS 4 - 1600M
3	MYSTIC PRIDE	D Meagher	R Curatolo	1
	(4 ch.a.g Magic Albert - Chattel by Grand Lodge)
1	Galileo's Approach	S Baertschiger	Kellady	2
2	Pennsylvania	J Peters	V Duric	3
7	Chairman Wind	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	4

4	MAIDEN - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
9	CASEY	DL Freedman	Kellady	1
	(3 b.nz.g Guillotine - Cape Treasure by Cape Cross)
4	Mr Hopkins	J Peters	A Munro	2
7	West North Hill	D Hill	TH Koh	3
2	Ma You Cai	CT Kuah	N Nurshahril	4

5	CLASS 4 (PREMIER) - 1600M
10	SUN PITTSBURGH	H Takaoka	O Placais	1
	(4 b.j.m Storming Home - Toshi The Mika by Polish Navy)
2	Gold City	C Brown	B Vorster	2
4	Kokoni	S Gray	G Boss	3
5	Little Master	S Gray	V Duric	4

6	CLASS 4 (PREMIER) - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
4	DRAGON DUKE	D Meagher	CS Chin	1
	(4 b.nz.g Bachelor Duke - Justawins by Stark South)
3	Super Six	L Dragon	T See	2
1	Cousteau	M Walker	V Duric	3
12	Invincible Man	Khoo	Z Zuriman	4

7	KRANJI STAKES B (SW) - 1400M
1	VIVIANO	M Walker	V Duric	1
	(6 br.nz.g Keeper - Flying Florence by Centaine)
9	Winning Cause	R Le Grange	T Krisna	2
4	Curvature	DL Freedman	C Grylls	3
8	Aotearoa	DL Freedman	A Munro	4

8	CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
1	HAYTHAM	M Walker	Woodworth	1
	(4 b.nz.g Saperavi - A La Votre by Volksraad)
11	Dragon Gold	L Dragon	CS Chin	2
4	Fragrance Empire	D Kok	M Ewe	3
2	Auspicious Ace	CT Kuah	N Nurshahril	4