Fairway's Turf Online

Top Knight proves just that in Derby

SINGAPORE: Sep 5, 2020

TOP KNIGHT (outside) collars ELITE INCREDIBLE to win the 2020 Derby
- SNTC photo

TOP KNIGHT staged a spectacular from last-to-first victory in the Singapore Group 1 Derby staged over 1800m at Kranji here today.

The Zoustar gelding got up in the last few strides to beat ELITE INCREDIBLE by a neck, with the pair also finishing in that order in last year Guineas.

Champion jockey Vlad Duric had the Australian gelding settling in a last spot after being drawn wide (barrier 13) and he quickly switched his mount wide out making the turn into the straight.

ELITE INCREDIBLE has taken the lead from the pacemaker MINISTER at the 300m and looked set for victory until TOP KNIGHT, who opened up in giant strides in the final 200m, pounced on him.

TOP KNIGHT, who went down second to ARAMAAYO in the Group 1 Kranji Mile last month, brought his record to eight wins in 17 starts and just over S$1.2 mil in prizemoney.

"I won my first Group 1 with ALIBI in the Patron’s Bowl in 2017, and then TOP KNIGHT won the Singapore Guineas last year, but this is the Derby, it’s great," said trainer Michael Clements who was enjoying his first taste of Derby success in Singapore.

"TOP KNIGHT was exactly where I wanted him to be. He saw them all, but was not too far behind, it was a compact field.

"We always felt he’d be happier with the extra distance. At his last couple of runs, we didn’t see him at his best as he clearly wanted more ground. Vlad Duric also rode a great race. He knows that horse so well, and timed his run to perfection."

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

1	SUN MARSHAL 2019 STAKES
1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
12	WHISTLE GRAND	L Khoo	M Lerner	1
	(5 b.nz.g Coats Choice - Ashberg by Bigstone)
2	Blitz Power	J Ong	V Duric	2
3	Gold Faith	S Burridge	ZX Tan	3
9	Twill Guy	KY Young	R Woodworth	4

2	JUPITER GOLD 2018 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
3	BOOMBA	C Brown	R Maia	1
	(3 b.nz.g Showcasing - Celeste by Pentire)
12	Zermatt	C Brown	J See	2
4	Lim's Dreamwalker	S Burridge	WH Kok	3
7	Seson	S Burridge	I Azhar	4

3	INFANTRY 2017 STAKES
3	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
13	BORN TO WIN	J O'Hara	J van der Merwe	1
	(5 br.nz.g Haradasun - Pure Satin by Personal Escort)
14	You Qian Zhuan	J Lim	WH Kok	2
2	Trading Post	C Brown	V Duric	3
6	Thunder	T Fitzsimmons	R Maia	4

4	WELL DONE 2016 STAKES
4	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA), DIV 1 - 1400M
8	HARD TOO THINK	S Gray	V Duric	1
	()
11	Speedy Missile	M Walker	K Hakim	2
3	Kinabalu Warrior	D Kok	R Woodworth	3
13	Lady Fast	D Koh	R Munger	4

5	QUECHUA 2015 STAKES
5	CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
3	WELL DESERVED	J Peters	V Duric	1
	(6 gr.nz.g Dalghar - Appleton's Lass by Woodbury Lad)
7	M Seven	J Lim	WH Kok	2
1	Super Ray	L Khoo	T Rehaizat	3
10	Speed Racer	L Khoo	J van der Merwe	4

6	SPALATO 2014 STAKES
6	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA), DIV 2 - 1400M
2	IN ALL HIS GLORY	C Brown	V Duric	1
	(4 ch.a.g All Too Hard - Dirty by Hussonet)
7	Alfares	M Clements	R Munger	2
10	Gnothi Seauton	T Fitzsimmons	R Maia	3
13	The Shadow	D Logan	K Hakim	4

7	BETTER LIFE 2013 STAKES
7	CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	MOONGATE STAR	D Koh	K Hakim	1
	(4 b.nz.g Atlante - Slinkymalinki by Volksraad)
1	Super Invincible	DL Freedman	WH Kok	2
14	Mister Dynamo	T Fitzsimmons	R Munger	3
7	Bionics	M Walker	R Woodworth	4

8	CALL ME 2012 STAKES
8	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1400M
9	SMOKE AND MIRRORS	DL Freedman	V Duric	1
	(4 b.nz.g Ocean Park - Starry by O'Reilly)
8	Eunos Ave Three	L Khoo	M Nizar	2
11	Sun Holiday	DL Freedman	K A'Isisuhairi	3
7	Showcase The Gold	J Peters	M Lerner	4

9	CLINT 2011 STAKES
9	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
7	DECRETO	KY Young	J van der Merwe	1
	(7 ch.nz.g Red Giant - Wandane by Danehill)
2	Fiddlestick	J O'Hara	K A'Isisuhairi	2
3	Super Emperor	HW Tan	TH Koh	3
1	Paperback Trooper	D Meagher	T Rehaizat	4

10	RACE AHEAD 2010 STAKES
10	CLASS 3 - 1800M
9	HARDCORE	C Brown	R Maia	1
	(5 b.nz.g All Too Hard - Lychee by More Than Ready)
10	Implement	M Clements	R Munger	2
12	Vittoria Perfetta	M Clements	I Saifudin	3
14	Wind Trail	H Takaoka	M Lerner	4

11	JOLIE'S SHINJU 2009 STAKES
11	CLASS 2 - 1400M
7	MURAAHIB	DL Freedman	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(6 b.a.g Reset - Sultah by Exceed And Excel)
14	Ironside	D Logan	F Yusoff	2
9	Safeer	M Clements	I Saifudin	3
1	Preditor	S Baertchiger	V Duric	4

12	SINGAPORE DERBY
12	SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (3&4YO, SW) - 1800M
2	TOP KNIGHT	M Clements	V Duric	1
	(5 br.a.g Zoustar - Nero Cavallo by Charnwood Forest)
12	Elite Incredible	C Brown	J See	2
5	Minister	DL Freedman	K A'Isisuhairi	3
3	Siam Blue Vanda	M Clements	L Beuzelin	4

13	TOP SPIN 2008 STAKES
13	CLASS 4 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
7	LEATHERHEAD	R Le Grange	L Beuzelin	1
	(5 ch.a.g Helmet - Heat Of The Fire by Strategic)
10	Tarikh	J Lim	J See	2
1	Solo Sun	D Koh	K Hakim	3
9	Centurion	KS Tan	CC Wong	4

14	LIM'S PRESTIGE 2007 STAKES
14	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
11	KING'S COMMAND	S Baertschiger	R Maia	1
	(4 gr.nz.g Tavistock - Roa's Pride by Savabeel)
10	Mustengo	M Walker	K Hakim	2
9	Delaware	DL Freedman	K A'Isisuhairi	3
6	Mandrake	J Peters	M Lerner	4