Fairway's Turf Online

Big Hearted guns down rivals in Gold Cup

SINGAPORE: Nov 21, 2020

BIG HEARTED races past MINISTER to win the Singapore Gold Cup - SNTC photo

Simon Kok joined an elite band of apprentices to win the Singapore Gold Cup when he piloted BIG HEARTED to victory in the Singapore Group 1 event at Kranji here today.

Kok had scored on the Hallowed Crown gelding in a Class 4 race early this year and was on the four-year-old when they finished fourth to INFERNO in the Singapore Classic last August.

So, it was third time lucky for the champion apprentice in the 2000m handicap today. And what a superb ride for the lad.

Kok settled BIG HEARTED second last early in the 16-strong field and made up ground on the outside of horses and was the widest of the field when heads turned for home.

BIG HEARTED open up in fine style in the final 200m to win by half a length from MINISTER with top-weight TOP KNIGHT a gallant third.

"This year has been amazing. I won my first Singapore Derby, then my first Queen Elizabeth II Cup (both with TOP KNIGHT), and now I’ve won my first Singapore Gold Cup," said Michael Clements who is currently well clear at the top of the trainer’s table.

Bought for A$120,000 as a yearling, BIG HEARTED has now won six times and placed thrice in 12 starts, earning just shy of S$800,000.

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

1	MR CLINT 2019 STAKES
1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M
11	ALL WE KNOW	J Ong	J See	1
	(4 ch.a.g Animal Kingdom - Rosarian by Manhanttan Rain)
2	Winning Legend	KY Young	J van der Merwe	2
1	Star Effect	J Lim	N Zyrul	3
12	Fight To Victory	J Lim	ZX Tan	4

2	ELITE INVINCIBLE 2018 STAKES
2	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M
6	FOREVER GOOD	KY Young	M Ewe	1
	(5 b.nz.g Battle Paint - Kirstee by Captain Rio)
13	Pegasus Junior	KS Tan	CC Wong	2
4	Lim's Unique	D Meagher	T Krisna	3
10	David's Star	D Kok	I Saifudin	4

3	GILT COMPLEX 2017 STAKES
3	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1600M
11	ROYAL PAVILION	M Clements	S Shafrizal	1
	(5 b.a.g Casino Prince - Military Blonde by General Nediym)
8	Hard Too Think	S Gray	WH Kok	2
4	McGregor	M Clements	R Maia	3
13	Helushka	HW Tan	M Zaki	4

4	BAHANA 2016 STAKES
4	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
2	CHICAGO STAR	J Lim	J See	1
	(4 b/br.a.g Exceed And Excel - Dream Play by Hennessy)
3	Heavenly Dancer	S Gray	V Duric	2
6	Beer Garden	J Tan	M Lerner	3
7	Vulcan	S Baertschiger	M Kellady	4

5	COOPTADO 2015 STAKES
5	NOVICE (SW) - 1200M
3	SURE WILL DO	S Gray	WH Kok	1
	(4 b.nz.g Per Incanto - Eloa by Volksraad)
7	Day Approach	M Clements	V Duric	2
12	Boomba	C Brown	R Maia	3
5	Triple Bowl	D Meagher	CC Wong	4

6	QUECHUA 2014 STAKES
6	KRANJI STAKES C (SW) - 2000M
4	TIME LORD	M Walker	J Powell	1
	(6 b.nz.g Guillotine - Mary Agnes by Zabeel)
8	Axel	M Walker	R Woodworth	2
6	Implement	M Clements	L Beuzelin	3
3	On Line	M Clements	V Duric	4

7	TROPAIOS 2013 STAKES
7	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1600M
4	BUDDY BIDDY	M Walker	R Woodworth	1
	(6 b.ir.g Dubawi - Born Something by Caerleon)
6	Iron Ruler	M Clements	L Beuzelin	2
3	Mo Almighty	J Tan	M Lerner	3
9	Circuit Star	DL Freedman	J See	4

8	BETTER LIFE 2012 STAKES
8	KRANJI STAKES B (SW) - 1600M
8	SKY ROCKET	S Gray	M Lerner	1
	(7 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Ruppertsberg by Montjeu)
5	Sincerely	M Clements	R Munger	2
3	Circuit Mission	DL Freedman	R Maia	3
13	Boy Next Door	KS Tan	CC Wong	4

9	EL DORADO 2011 STAKES
9	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
16	WILD BEE	KY Young	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(6 b.nz.g Niagara - Murphy's Cash by Aucash)
5	Pattaya	M Clements	L Beuzelin	2
13	El Chapo	J Lim	ZX Tan	3
11	Champagne Finale	D Logan	R Munger	4

10	SINGAPORE GOLD CUP
10	SINGAPORE GROUP 1 - 2000
13	BIG HEARTED	M Clements	WH Kok	1
	(4 b.a.g Hallowed Crown - Secret Selection by Redoute's Choice)
5	Minister	DL Freedman	R Munger	2
1	Top Knight	M Clements	V Duric	3
9	Trumpy	C Brown	S Shafrizal	4

11	RISKY BUSINESS 2010 STAKES
11	CLASS 3 - 1400M
5	QUADCOPTER	H Takaoka	M Lerner	1
	(5 ch.a.g Zouster - Pinova by Fastnet Rock)
11	Lim's Zoom	D Meagher	T Krisna	2
7	Wecando	S Gray	R Maia	3
9	Ironside	D Logan	WH Kok	4