HELLO AND GOODBYE scored a spectacular upset in the S$800,000 Emirates Singapore Derby at Kranji here today, on an afternoon when favourites fell like ten pins on the soft track.

Only one favourite obliged in a card of ten. Not less than five winners paid three-figure dividends, including the main event of the afternoon in which ROYAL CAPTAIN, MOUNT STREET and IRISH LAD were partnered by jockeys flown in specially for the 2000m contest for four-year-olds.

As it turned out, it was the unheralded HELLO AND GOODYE, ridden by John Powell and prepared by first season trainer Bruce Marsh, who made most of the running to win easily from LIM’S GRAND (4 ch/gr.nz.g Gold Brose - Shepherd’s Delight by Famous Star) with IRISH LAD (4 b.a.g Archway - Ciento by Century) in third place. It was also Marsh's first success in Singapore.

Marsh had taken over the chestnut New Zealand gelding by Danzalion out of the Piperhill mare Eight Kumara only last month for two unplaced runs before the big test today.

Perhaps an indication of what was to come came last start when he finished fifth, just two lengths behind ROYAL CAPTAIN in the Derby Trial over 1600m last month.

In 19 previous starts, HELLO AND GOODBYE was first past the post three times but was disqualified from his win over 1600m in February this year.

Unraced at two, HELLO AND GOODBYE started thrice at three in New Zealand for two minor placings.