No catching Chase Me in Singapore Derby

SINGAPORE:  July 15, 2012
 
CHASE ME leads his rivals on a merry chase in the Emirates
Singapore Derby - SNTC photo

CHASE ME did what his name suggests when he romped to a eight-length victory in the S$1.15mil Emirates Singapore Derby, the final of the Singapore four-year-old series, over 2000m at Kranji here today.

It was a extraordinary training achievement by US-trained conditioner Desmond Koh who has been in the game for a relative short period of seven years.

When Koh took over the training of CHASE ME (Storm Creek - Cartier Gold by Gold Brose) in February last year, the New Zealand bred had started five times for a win and three placings in Restricted Maiden company.

CHASE ME won his first start for Koh in Class 4 and picked up two more wins in that class at the tail-end of last year.

The New Zealand gelding showed a glimpse of his true potential when he beat NEW ROSE WOOD in a open handicap over 1800m last February and following that has some close finishes against top company including the Queen Elizabeth II Cup and Patrons' Bowl.

Settling in mid-field early, CHASE ME was travelling so well that champion jockey Joao Moreira had no hesitation sending him to the front at the home bend, taking a three-length break at the top of the straight. That margin widened as the race progressed with the rest of the field struggling in his wake.

DEEP POCKETS beat another Koh runner, rank outsider AROWANA DOT COM for second placing.

It was Koh's biggest success so far, after nearly making it with NEW ROSE WOOD in 2010. His previous best win was the 2008 Patrons' Bowl with PHENOM.

"This horse is a slow developer and it’s only in the last year or so that I’ve decided that he could be my Derby horse," said Koh. "Joao came along and he has always had a lot of confidence in that horse."

After booting home five winners on Friday night, Moreira repeated the feat with another five wins today, with the Derby capping off his splendid weekend.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 HELLO TOMORROW EMIRATES STAKES
  CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M      

8

 Hopkins L Laxon J Moreira

1

3

 Predictable S Burridge Kellady

2

4

 Quite A Man S Baertschiger Kellady

3

1

 Surprise Surprise S Gray R Shafiq

4

2

 HELLO DUBAI STAKES,  RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M

10

 Empire Bay M Freedman B Vorster

1

12

 Joyous Express S Burridge Z Zuriman

2

9

 Rory T Kieser I Santana

3

7

 Te Akau King M Walker J Moreira

4

3

 HELLO AUSTRALIA STAKES,  CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M

5

 Convict S Gray O Bosson

1

11

 Afternoon Delight S Gray W X Wong

2

14

 Smitten Kitten O'Hara Suhaimi

3

4

 Danny L Laxon D Beasley

4

4

 HELLO ARGENTINA STAKES,  2YO - 1200M

4

 Flag Of Command Z L Mok I Santana

1

6

 Golden Sand Steed M Walker O Bosson

2

8

 One Smart Cat S Baertschiger J Powell

3

1

 Kaiser Bright H Takaoka A Munro

4

5

 HELLO ENGLAND STAKES,  KRANJI STAKES C - 2200M

7

 Steadfast Warrior C Brown D Beasley

1

3

 Tangible Assets H Takaoka S Baster

2

1

 Wonder B Marsh O Bosson

3

6

 Raffles Knight M Freedman A Munro

4

6

 HELLO PORTUGAL STAKES,  INITIATION - 1200M

8

 World War Khoo J Moreira

1

5

 D'Creator S Burridge Saimee

2

12

 Red River Rock P Shaw B Vorster

3

3

 Fly Now S Gray A Munro

4

7

 PAITITI GOLD TROPHY (Singapore Group 3) - 1200M

3

 Super Easy M Freedman J Moreira

1

6

 Yin Xin T Kieser I Santana

2

1

 Captain Obvious S Burridge Chavez

3

2

 Waikato L Laxon D Beasley

4

8

 HELLO SPAIN STAKES,  BENCHMARK 89 - 1600M

4

 Better Life H Takaoka A Munro

1

3

 Speedy Cat H W Tan J Powell

2

9

 Imacruiser H W Tan W L Tan

3

8

 Devonshire L Laxon I Santana

4

9

 HELLO BRAZIL STAKES,  CLASS 3 - 1400M

11

 Freezemaster S Burridge S Baster

1

8

 Damo P Shaw Saimee

2

2

 Born To Fly S Gray Saifudin

3

1

 Totality M Clements A Munro

4

10

 HELLO U.S.A. STAKES,  CLASS 4 - 1600M

10

 Jack Bauer S Gray J Moreira

1

1

 Jeram Glory C Brown D Beasley

2

8

 Do It Right T Kieser Soo

3

3

 Golden Quest L Dragon J Powell

4

11

 EMIRATES SINGAPORE DERBY
  Singapore Group 1 (4YO) - 2000M  

6

 Chase Me D Koh J Moreira

1

8

 Deep Pockets C Brown D Beasley

2

3

 Arowana Dot Com D Koh Saifudin

3

7

 Silveron Wings K C Yeoh I Santana

4

12

 HELLO IRELAND STAKES,  NOVICE - 1200M

14

 Super Good M Freedman B Vorster

1

8

 Flying Wild B Dean I Santana

2

9

 Bingo M Clements W L Tan

3

6

 Famous N Fast S Baertschiger J Powell

4