El Dorado lands Singapore Gold Cup for Japan

SINGAPORE,  30 Nov 2008
 
EL DORADO (inside) holds off CHEVRON to win the Singapore Gold Cup
- SNTC photo

EL DORADO has given Japanese horses their biggest win in the domestic scene in Singapore when he triumphed in the $1.35m Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m at Kranji here today.

Japanese horses have won the $3m Singapore Airlines International Cup twice in 2006 (COSMO BULK) and 2007 (SHADOW GATE) but this is the first domestic Group 1 win for a Japanese bred.

Adding icing to the cake is the fact that the four-year-old is trained by Hideyuki Takaoka.

Australian jockey Ronnie Stewart played his part in the victory with a superb ride. In a tightly-bunched field, Stewart timed his run to perfection on EL DORADO, charging up to the leaders at the home bend, then challenged JADE who has taken the lead momentarily in the straight.

EL DORADO (Stay Gold - White Leap by White Muzzle) then surged ahead and then held off the challenge of joint topweight CHEVRON to win by a head.

Unfancied WATCH THE CRAB finished sixth in the capacity field of 16 runners which included Malaysia's NEW KUALA DIPANG. JADE, the only other Japanese runner in field line-up, was a gallant fourth.

EL DORADO had in July gave notice of his potential when he finished second to TOP SPIN in the Singapore Derby. His win today was his sixth in 20 starts.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 CLASS 5 - 1600M

8

 Brandy Dry Baertschiger J Powell

1

1

 Bright Knight L Treloar N Callow

2

13

 Up Ahead L Laxon B Vorster

3

2

 Stone Crab Khoo M Cahill

4

2

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1600M

6

 Dorado Joy C Leck Saimee

1

9

 Rossini Prince J Meagher D Beasley

2

3

 Lucky Ninety-Nine D Hill Saifudin

3

7

 Keep D'Limit D Dragon Kellady

4

3

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M

12

 Nadal P Shaw R Fradd

1

15

 Dollars & Cents B Dean Chavez

2

4

 Pin Success D Koh Woodworth

3

2

 Harrison L Laxon B Vorster

4

4

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M

8

 Alvito D Koh Woodworth

1

1

 Be A Man Baertschiger J Powell

2

2

 Signature Beauty D Hill D Beasley

3

9

 Shinko Express B Dean Saimee

4

5

 INITIATION - 1400M

6

 Hi Jack L Laxon N Callow

1

14

 Royal Palm L Laxon B Vorster

2

1

 Any Coin Baertschiger J Powell

3

10

 East Camp D Koh Soo

4

6

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1600M

1

 Guru Glee B Marsh N Callow

1

4

 Royal Warrant J Meagher D Beasley

2

3

 Exotic Roi S Chua Woodworth

3

8

 Scorsese K C Yeoh Saimee

4

7

 KRANJI STAKES B - 1400M

8

 Husonic M Freedman J Powell

1

2

 No Excuse B Dean Saimee

2

3

 Lim's Connection S Burridge M Cahill

3

6

 Beau Brummell D Hill M Gallagher

4

8

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M

2

 Gold Help S Burridge T Affandi

1

13

 Dustin L Laxon Saimee

2

7

 Soldier Of Honour P Shaw R Fradd

3

14

 Music Star S Chua B Tai

4

9

 GRADUATION - 1200M

7

 I Tawt I Taw M Freedman J Powell

1

4

 Count Zerpour J Meagher D Beasley

2

1

 Magic Leg B Marsh N Callow

3

5

 Mission Bay S Gray Soo

4

10

 SINGAPORE GOLD CUP (Singapore Group 1) - 2200M

10

 El Dorado H Takaoka R Stewart

1

1

 Chevron C Leck Saimee

2

11

 Watch The Crab M Yusof A Fiezan

3

7

 Jade H Takaoka M Gallagher

4

11

 CLASS 3 - 1600M

1

 Teskara M Freedman N Callow

1

6

 John Of Arch D Hill D Beasley

2

9

 King Fury L Laxon Saimee

3

7

 Noble One J Meagher R Stewart

4

12

 CLASS 3 - 1400M

5

 Lion City Hero S Chua Saifudin

1

8

 Carclew Baertschiger J Powell

2

3

 Guerilla J Meagher N Callow

3

6

 Mr Scribble S Burridge T Affandi

4