Lim's Prestige scores surprise Derby win

SINGAPORE,  15 July 2007
 
LIM'S PRESTIGE winning the 2007 Emirates Singapore Derby
- SNTC photo

LIM'S PRESTIGE scored a stunning upset in the S$1m Emirates Singapore Derby for four-year-olds over 2000m a Kranji here today.

The win gave trainer Stephen Gray and jockey Din Azis their biggest win to date in Singapore. It was the first Group 1 success, and an emotional one too, for New Zealander Gray and his wife Bridget.

“I didn’t know what to think when he crossed the line. When he hit the front Bridget said he’s going to win but I didn’t know, I was in shock.

“We’ve had a tough time as a family lately and it hasn’t been an easy time at all. This is fantastic; it really is. I can’t believe it,” said Gray who had always dreamt of winning the Derby.

But for Din Azis, he was supposed to be a spectator but was called up minutes before the race because the nominated rider Oscar Chavez was taken ill.

Din Azis kept LIM'S PRESTIGE well off the pace early but swept past the leader in the final 100m to snatch victory from WORLD DELIGHT and JADE.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 EMIRATES LONDON STAKES
  MAIDEN - 1400M      

8

 D'Mighty Kop L Lee D Chee

1

3

 Scorpio D Koh A Calder

2

5

 Business Pleasure L Laxon N Callow

3

6

 Wings And Arrows S Burridge M Pumpa

4

2

 EMIRATES PARIS STAKES
  OPEN (2YO), DIV 1 - 1200M  

6

 Nice And Easy L Laxon B Vorster

1

9

 Stryker Baertschiger D Nikolic

2

11

 Carry On Smile L Laxon D Beadman

3

1

 Boomer Prince M Clements H K Lim

4

3

 EMIRATES DUBAI STAKES
  CLASS 3 - 1400M      

1

 Sky Bet P Shaw R Fradd

1

4

 Rollin Rich B Marsh D Beadman

2

3

 Lim's Hero J Meagher A Calder

3

10

 Baby Emperor L Laxon F Tan

4

4

 EMIRATES VIENNA STAKES
  OPEN (2YO), DIV 2 - 1200M  

7

 King Fury L Laxon A Calder

1

2

 Be A Man Baertschiger D Beadman

2

3

 Carry ON Glory Baertschiger Kellady

3

9

 Raphael M Clements R Fradd

4

5

 EMIRATES ZURICH STAKES
  CLASS 4 - 2000M      

2

 Manuka S Gray D Nikolic

1

5

 Brilliant Gold B Marsh D Beadman

2

7

 Our Frederik S Gray A Calder

3

4

 Big Citi B Dean Chavez

4

6

 EMIRATES AUCKLAND STAKES
  CLASS 5 - 1400M      

1

 Lucky Dip L Laxon N Callow

1

3

 Lucky Express B Dean D Beadman

2

6

 Hall Of Fame K C Yeoh D Nikolic

3

8

 Red Auspice D Koh Soo

4

7

 EMIRATES MELBOURNE STAKES
  CLASS 3 - 1600M      

7

 Blue Angel Baertschiger D Nikolic

1

3

 Music Master S Chua M Ewe

2

6

 Dark General C Leck Chavez

3

2

 Bintang Rezeki D Dragon Din Azis

4

8

 EMIRATES MOSCOW STAKES
  OPEN - 2000M      

3

 Royal Commander L Laxon B Vorster

1

1

 King And King S Burridge R Plumb

2

5

 Destiny's Day D Koh A Ng

3

4

 Mexborough Ladd S Gray R Stewart

4

9

 EMIRATES SINGAPORE DERBY
  SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (4YO, SW) - 2000M  

10

 Lim's Prestige S Gray Din Azis

1

4

 World Delight B Marsh R Lim

2

6

 Jade H Takaoka K Fujii

3

9

 Stealth B Marsh M Pumpa

4

10

 EMIRATES SKYWARDS STAKES
  CLASS 4 - 1200M      

2

 King Of Honour S Gray D Nokolic

1

3

 Stout M Clements H K Lim

2

6

 Mighty Servant L Laxon A Calder

3

14

 White Lightning T Pinfield Din Azis

4

11

 EMIRATES SAO PAOLO STAKES
  GRADUATION - 1400M      

1

 Ole Jed B Marsh N Callow

1

7

 Xaar's Honour Baertschiger D Beadman

2

6

 Phenom D Koh M Gallagher

3

8

 Packet Express L Treloar D Nikolic

4