Jupiter Gold shines in Singapore Derby

SINGAPORE:  Jul 15, 2018
 
JUPITER GOLD racing past ELITE INVINCIBLE to win the Emirates
Singapore Derby - SNTC photo
 

It was a golden afternoon for trainer Hideyuki Takaoka and jockey Olivier Placais when they combined to win three races, including the S$1,150,000 Emirates Singapore Derby with JUPITER GOLD, at Kranji here today.

Their other two winners were HIGHER SOUL and MAKANANI.

It was the first Derby win for the Japanese trainer since BETTER LIFE in 2013. Takaoka first won the 4YO set-weight event with JOLIE'S SHINJU in 2009.

For Placais, it was his best-ever afternoon. Not only did he notch his first Group 1 win, he also scored on TURF PRINCESS and FAME STAR to make a five-timer.

JUPITER GOLD, purchased for A$130,000 as a yearling, had always shown potential, winning his first two starts in 2016 and notching another win  later that year. He started 2017 with a hat-trick followed by a third in the 3YO Classic and finished second to FOREVER YOUNG in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas.

It was not until five weeks ago that JUPITER GOLD showed a return to form winning over 1200m. Then came a third to ELITE INVINCIBLE in the Group 1 Charity Bowl two weeks later.

But when it matter most, JUPITER GOLD raised his game and beat ELITE INVINCIBLE by 1 1/4 lengths after a tussle which also involved LIM'S MAGIC (third).

"This is the best day of my life, said Takaoka. "Four winners, and a Derby. I couldn’t have hoped for a better day than this. I’m very happy JUPITER GOLD won the Derby. He’s finally shown he was still the good horse we always believed he was."

" I was having quite a difficult season earlier, but the last two months have just been fantastic," said Placais who as been plagued by injuries earlier this season. "This horse (JUPITER GOLD) was just perfect today. I know he was not in the best form, but running him in a sprint has woken him up." 

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

1

 HELLO MOSCOW STAKES
OPEN MAIDEN - 1400M
10 TURF PRINCESS DL Freedman O Placais

1
(3 b.a.f Daliapour - Hanna Rossa by Testa Rossa)
5 Zulu Warrior S Gray D Moor

2
8 Larson J Peters CC Wong

3
6 Whizzy Waltzzy L Dragon J Powell

4
 

2 

 HELLO EDINBURGH STAKES
RESTRICTED MAIDEN (DIV 2) - 1200M
13 BOLD THRUSTER S Baertschiger B Vorster

1
(2 blk.a.g Turffontein - Aelia Capitolina by Elusive City)
12 Axel M Walker A Collett

2
11 Boy Next Door KS Tan CC Wong

3
3 Dragon High D Meagher O Placais

4
 

3

 HELLO SANTIAGO STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1200M
3 XIONG FONG HW Tan T See

1
(4 b.a.g Sepoy - Midnight Fantasy by Commads)
8 Gain Eclipse S Burridge K A'Isisuhairi

2
1 Bringer Of War M Walker V Duric

3
10 Oliver S Baertschiger Kellady

4
 

4

 HELLO LONDON STAKES
RESTRICTED MAIDEN (DIV 1) - 1200M
8 FAME STAR O'Hara O Placais

1
(3 b/br.am.g Twirling Candy - Fanlight Fanny by Lear Fan)
6 Our Showcase B Marsh N Zyrul

2
11 Sothistheone J Peters CC Wong

3
1 Lucky Hada J Peters D Moor

4
 

5

 HELLO NEW YORK STAKES
CLASS 4 (PREMIER) - 1200M
5 EYE GUY M Clements Zaki

1
(3 b.a.g Bradbury's Luck - Lacada Point by Giant's Causeway)
12 Taro San J Saimee R Curatolo

2
9 Verizon S Burridge WH Kok

3
6 The Odds J Peters M Rodd

4
 

6

 HELLO PARIS STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1400M
8 MASURAO H Takaoka CC Wong

1
(6 b.nz.g Mastercrastsman - Black Bijou by Black Minnaloushe)
10 Phidias D Koh Woodworth

2
4 Basilisk Khoo Aslam

3
3 First Light M Walker V Duric

4
 

7

 HELLO MELBOURNE STAKES
CLASS 4 - 1600M
3 HIGHER SOUL H Takaoka O Placais

1
(7 br.j.m Higher Game - Sweet Soul by Soul Of The Matter)
12 Murdoch B Marsh N Zyrul

2
6 Northern Knight M Walker CK Ng

3
1 Lucky Tiger DL Freedman M Rodd

4
 

8

 EMIRATES SINGAPORE DERBY
SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (4Y0, SW) - 1800M
2 JUPITER GOLD H Takaoka O Placais

1
(4 br.a.g Congrats - Contented by More Than Ready)
3 Elite Invincible M Walker V Duric

2
8 Lim's Magic S Gray G Boss

3
5 Only Win M Clements A Munro

4
 

9

 HELLO DUBAI STAKES
CLASS 2 - 1400M
4 CURVATURE DL Freedman C Grylls

1
(4 b.a.g Snitzel - Orbiting Belle by Spinning World)
3 Absolute Miracle D Meagher O Placais

2
5 Robin Hood HW Tan N Juglall

3
9 Kirks Ryker R Le Grange T Krisna

4
 

10

 HELLO HELSINKI STAKES
CLASS 3 - 1600M
2 MAKANANI H Takaoka O Placais

1
(4 b.j.m Black Tide - Vielle Senlis by Cryptoclearance)
5 Justice Smart J Saimee G Boss

2
4 Supernova B Marsh N Zyrul

3
8 Lim's Dashing S Gray D Moor

4
 

11

 HELLO BRUSSELS STAKES
CLASS 3 - 1200M
4 DUTROW S Baertschiger J Powell

1
(4 b.a.g Beautiful Crown - Jay Dee Coup by Danehill Dancer)
1 Anonymous J Saimee R Curatolo

2
10 Boy Wonder J Saimee A Munro

3
12 Terms Of Reference R Le Grange B Vorster

4