There was some quality racing in Singapore over the weekend with Jupiter Gold taking out the feature Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on Sunday.
From the inside barrier Jupiter Gold settled just off the speed for much of the race before producing a terrific effort in the straight, claiming the lead inside 200m for a one and a quarter length win over Elite Invincible in second with Lim’s Magic third.
Despite not having won past the mile previously and well accounted for at both previous efforts at the trip, the four-year-old gelding was strong to the line recapturing some of his old form and claiming a third Derby for trainer Hideyuki Takaoka
The son of Congrats returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 109, six pounds above his previous start when third to Elite Invincible in the Group 1 Charity Bowl (1600m).
Jupiter Gold returned the same winning figure as 2017 winner Infantry although this is the first year the race has been run over 1800m compared to 2000m in previous years.
Elite Invincible who was looking a clean sweep of the four-year-old series fought back over the concluding stages to finish second and return a new career peak Timeform figure of 106, a pound above his win in the Group 1 Charity Bowl (1600m) the start prior.
The Mark Walker-trained runner just edged out Lim’s Magic into third who also ran to a new peak rating of 106.
Earlier in the day Bold Thruster lit up the track with a dominant win in the Restricted Maiden Stakes (1200m).
Leading all the way, the Shane Baertschiger-trained runner won by just under six and a half lengths in the smart time of 1:09.75 (33.78).
The short priced favourite who was coming off a fifth placing behind Pennywise the 2yo Stakes race (1100m) was much improved and ran to a Timeform figure of 73p.
Unable to make the field for the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) this was a good consolation for the Turffontein two-year-old who may have one more run before going for a spell.
Having shown enough ability in his first two starts, he is certainly one to keep an eye on going forward.
On Friday night Lim’s Lightning secured his second win in a row with a narrow victory in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m).
Coming off a dominant four length win in the third leg of the two-year-old series, the Steven Burridge-trained runner was made to work much harder in this race.
Getting a fairly nice run in transit, Lim’s Lightning was given plenty of space at the top of the straight between runners and went stride for stride with outsider Galvarino for the rest of the race.
Lim’s Lightning was able to get the better of Galvarino over the concluding stages with My Big Boss almost two further lengths back in third.
Lim’s Lightning ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 83, seven pounds above his previous win and the same as 2017 winner Be Bee who beat Charger by just under two lengths.
The other fancied runner Pennywise would have lost no admirers back in fourth after having no luck from a wide barrier.
