Fairway's Turf Online

Pacific Emperor reigns in Merlion Trophy

SINGAPORE: Oct 28, 2023

PACIFIC EMPEROR staving off MAJOR KING (outside) and SUPER
SALUTE (centre) to win the Merlion Trophy - SNTC photo

Trainer David Kok won his first Merlion Trophy, thanks to a recent transfer to his stable PACIFIC EMPEROR.

The Australian gelding beat SUPER SALUTE to win his last start under Michael Clements last month in a handicap, with the latter giving away 6.5kg in the weights.

Under weight-for-age conditions of the Merlion Trophy today, PACIFIC EMPEROR is meeting SUPER SALUTE on worse terms. SUPER SALUTE started odds-on at $9 while PACIFIC EMPEROR was second in the betting.

But the four-year-old defied the odds, hitting the front 200m out and then held off a determined SUPER SALUTE. MAJOR KING flashed home in the closing stages to make it a three-way photo.

PACIFIC EMPEROR won by a nose ahead of MAJOR KING with SUPER SALUTE another short head away third.

"I knew he would run well today," said Kok. "The field lacked some depth for a Group race and SUPER SALUTE looked the horse we had to beat at the level weights.

"But he worked well, had beaten him (SUPER SALUTE) before and my horse is more than honest.

"It was great race. To be honest, I didn’t know we had won till I saw the photo finish. It was so close."

PACIFIC EMPEROR, who had a win and a third in two starts at three in Australia, started his Singapore campaign with four consecutive wins, then finished second to KHARISMA in the Rocket Man Sprint last August.

The Merlion Trophy brought his Singapore record to six wins and a second in eight outings.

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

1	LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO 2023 STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1400M
3	GALAXY BAR	S Burridge	CC Wong	1
	(4 b.a.g Thronum - Vintage Quality by Elusive Quality)
12	My Boss	J Ong	B Queiroz	2
6	City Gold Warrior	D Kok	L Beuzelin	3
4	Red Maned	D Kok	V Duric	4

2	CELAVI 2021 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
4	WRITTEN TOWIN	S Baertschiger	M Nunes	1
	(3 b/br.a.c Written By - Family Reunion by Zoustar)
2	Pacific Commander	J Ong	CC Wong	2
10	Rubik Kid	J Peters	T Krisna	3
3	Fire	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	4

3	EXCELLING 2020 STAKES
3	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	ZYGARDE	KS Tan	S Shafrizal	1
	(7 b.nz.g Atlante - La Madelina by Giant's Causeway)
4	Delilah	L Khoo	PH Seow	2
11	Behind Player	T Mahadi	R Woodworth	3
2	Billy Elliot	S Gray	K A'Isisuhairi	4

4	COUNTOFMONTECRISTO 2019 STAKES
4	CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
9	THUNDER	T Fitzsimmons	B Queiroz	1
	(7 b.e.g Battle Of Marengo - Quail Landing by Mark Of Esteem)
10	Roda Robot	J Ong	PH Seow	2
3	Free Fallin'	S Baertschiger	M Zaki	3
11	Luck Of Master	D Koh	K Faiz	4

5	DISTINCTIVE DARCI 2018 STAKES
5	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1400M
3	CREATIVE DREAMS	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	1
	(4 br.a.g Spieth - Childhood Secret by Charge Forward)
7	Seamlessly	S Crutchley	PH Seow	2
12	Steady Punpipi	T Mahadi	R Iskandar	3
8	Commander	D Logan	M Ibrahim	4

6	INFANTRY 2017 STAKES
6	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6	THE STAR	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	1
	(5 b.a.g Hallowed Crown - Posh Chic by Stratum)
10	Rich Fortune	S Crutchley	PH Seow	2
8	Sabah Win	D Kok	K A'Isisuhairi	3
4	Pacific Charm	J Ong	CC Wong	4

7	SPALATO 2016 STAKES
7	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	BRANSOM	S Gray	L Beuzelin	1
	(4 blk/br.a.g Brazen Beau - Yesterday by Red Ransom)
3	Pacific MV	D Kok	CC Wong	2
11	Lim's Zoom	D Meagher	K Faiz	3
4	Show All Sixty-One	J Peters	R Stewart	4

8	EL PADRINO 2014 & 2015 STAKES
8	CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
1	LEATHERHEAD	R Le Grange	V Duric	1
	(8 ch.a.g Helmet - Heat Of The Fire by Strategic)
7	Fortune Star	CT Kuah	L Beuzelin	2
3	My Determination	S Burridge	CC Wong	3
6	Coast	T Mahadi	T Krisna	4

9	SPEEDY CAT 2013 STAKES
9	CLASS 4 - 1200M
10	FILIAL DRAGON	R Lim	TH Koh	1
	(4 b.a.g I Am Invincible - Snitzerland by Snitzel)
12	Song Of Nature	J Ong	PH Seow	2
2	Sabah Star	D Kok	V Duric	3
4	Charminton	D Logan	F Yusoff	4

10	BETTER THAN EVER 2012 STAKES
10	CLASS 3 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6	ASIF	S Burridge	M Nunes	1
	(5 br.nz.g Per Incanto - Royal Excess by Exceed And Excel)
1	Akhtar	J Ong	B Queiroz	2
10	Energy Baby	J Tan	M Akmazani	3
11	Grand Avante	D Meagher	T Krisna	4

11	MERLION TROPHY
11	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 (WFA) - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	PACIFIC EMPEROR	D Kok	CC Wong	1
	(4 br.a.g Caravaggio - Tiwishkeni by Exceed And Excel)
8	Major King	J Ong	B Queiroz	2
1	Super Salute	R Lim	M Nunes	3
3	Kharisma	S Gray	S Shafrizal	4

12	TUXEDO MOON 2011 STAKES
12	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	WIN WIN	D Kok	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(7 gr.nz.g Per Incanto - Silver Penny by Alamosa)
5	Pacific Gold	D Kok	CC Wong	2
8	Surrey Hills	J Ong	M Nunes	3
9	Golden Sentience	J Peters	R Iskandar	4