Fairway's Turf Online

No fooling around for Golden Monkey in Derby

SINGAPORE: Jun 23, 2023

GOLDEN MONKEY winning the 2023 Singapore Derby from CAVALRY
- SNTC photo

Last season's champion trainer Tim Fitzsimmons landed his first Singapore Group 1 race and first Singapore Derby when GOLDEN MONKEY triumphed in the ultimate prize for four-year-olds at Kranji here today.

The Star Turn gelding won the Stewards' Cup very impressively coming from behind and on the back of that run, was installed odds-on favourite ($8) in the 1800m set-weight event.

Visiting jockey Hugh Bowman rode a gem of of race, settling the Australian gelding in the rear early and had just runners behind him when the field bunched up turning for home.

Making his run widest of the runners, GOLDEN MONKEY wound up nicely in the final 200m to win by three quarters of a length from CAVALRY while SUPER SALUTE fought hard to take third placing.

"It's been twelve months in the making for this race," said Fitzsimmons. "Nothing is by chance. Everything is planned and plotted, as well as the amazing ride. Everything came off."

"A lovely turn of foot," said Bowman of GOLDEN MONKEY.

"And that was the confidence the team instilled into me prior to riding him. Chad Schofield did a wonderful job last start when I couldn't get here in between Sha Tin meetings."

Schofield rode GOLDEN MONKEY to win the Stewards' Cup and the gelding, placed in three of five starts in Australia, has now six of 13 starts in Singapore.

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

1	LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO 2022 STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1200M
1	DELILAH	L Khoo	PH Seow	1
	(3 ch.nz.f Zacinto - Kiwi Park by Thorn Park)
2	Red Maned	S Crutchley	B Pinheiro	2
5	Galaxy Star	S Baertschiger	M Kellady	3
7	Star Empire	D Kok	CC Wong	4

2	HARD TOO THINK 2021 STAKES
2	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
1	BESTSELLER	R Le Grange	B Pinheiro	1
	(3 b.a.g Dream Ahead - Maxi Dress by Shamardal)
5	Charminton	D Logan	F Yusoff	2
2	Grand Avante	D Meagher	D Moor	3
3	Show All Sixty-One	S Crutchley	S Shafrizal	4

3	TOP KNIGHT 2020 STAKES
3	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
1	SABAH STAR	D Kok	V Duric	1
	(6 br.nz.g Pins - Onesey by Fast 'N' Famous)
6	See Yah	J Ong	TH Koh	2
4	Super Bowl	S Crutchley	B Pinheiro	3
2	Preditor	S Baertschiger	M Nunes	4

4	SUN MARSHAL 2019 STAKES
4	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
1	CITY GOLD STAR	D Kok	H Bowman	1
	(4 ch.a.g Written Tycoon - Too Discreet by Henny Hughes)
2	Kinppenberg	D Logan	M Nunes	2
5	Joyful Stars	H Takaoka	B Pinheiro	3
8	Tributo	S Gray	L Beuzelin	4

5	JUPITER GOLD 2018 STAKES
5	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
2	PACIFIC WARRIOR	M Clements	V Duric	1
	(3 br.a.g Snitzel - Bonny O'Reilly by O'Reilly)
9	Winning Stride	S Burridge	CC Wong	2
8	Montana Flash	D Logan	L Beuzelin	3
7	Super Convince	J Ong	M Nunes	4

6	SINGAPORE GOLDEN HORSESHOE
6	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 (2YO, SW) - 1200M
3	GREATHAM BOY	M Clements	D Moor	1
	(2 b.a.g Stratosphere - In Harmony by Exceed And Excel)
4	Silo	S Crutchley	B Pinheiro	2
2	Artillery	D Logan	WH Kok	3
1	Bakeel	M Clements	M Nunes	4

7	INFANTRY 2017 STAKES
7	CLASS 4 - 1600M
1	SACRED JUDGEMENT	J Tan	B Pinheiro	1
	(7 b.a.g So You Think - Rose Ransom by Red Ransom)
9	Legacy Fortune	T Fitzsimmons	B Queiroz	2
8	Engine Start	J Ong	M Nunes	3
2	Pacific Star	M Clements	CC Wong	4

8	WELL DONE 2016 STAKES
8	CLASS 3 - 1800M
1	SO HI CLASS	J Ong	TH Koh	1
	(7 b.ir.g Dark Angel - Top Trail by Exchange Rate)
6	Rambo	D Meagher	M Lerner	2
3	Trumpy	T Fitzsimmons	H Bowman	3
8	Wind Trail	H Takaoka	B Pinheiro	4

9	QUECHUA 2015 STAKES
9	NOVICE (SW) - 1200M
2	FIGHT ON	S Baertschiger	V Duric	1
	(3 br.a.g Fighting Sun - Induct by Spartacus (AUS))
6	Lucky Hero	T Fitzsimmons	WH Kok	2
3	Citygoldgeneration	D Kok	M Nunes	3
9	Gold Governor	T Fitzsimmons	B Queiroz	4

10	SPALATO 2014 STAKES
10	CLASS 2 - 1400M
10	PACIFIC EMPEROR	M Clements	CC Wong	1
	(3 br.a.g Caravaggio - Tiwishkeni by Exceed And Excel)
7	Gold Star	T Fitzsimmons	M Kellady	2
6	Circuit Mission	J Peters	HT Mo	3
9	Relentless	T Fitzsimmons	B Queiroz	4

11	SINGAPORE DERBY
11	SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (4YO, SW) - 1800M
2	GOLDEN MONKEY	T Fitzsimmons	H Bowman	1
	(4 ch.a.g Star Turn - Dixie's Comet by Northern Meteor)
4	Cavalry	M Clements	V Duric	2
1	Super Salute	R Lim	M Nunes	3
3	Invincible Tycoon	S Burridge	M Lerner	4

12	BETTER LIFE 2013 STAKES
12	CLASS 3 - 1200M
8	SABAH ACE	D Kok	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(3 b.nz.g Swiss Ace - Show Exhibit by Danehill)
5	January	D Logan	WH Kok	2
7	King Zoustar	J Ong	B Queiroz	3
3	Stenmark	D Logan	S Jamil	4