Good As ‘Gold’ in Singapore Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

A career that shaped with such promise a little more than a year ago, but which had subsequently bottomed out was resurrected once and for all Sunday when Jupiter Gold (Aus) (Congrats) parlayed a perfect trip into a clear-cut success in the S$1.15-million Emirates Singapore Derby at Kranji Racecourse.

The second favorite at just under 6-1, Jupiter Gold showed decent speed from the gate and landed in a good spot down on the inside and in the slipstream of Elite Invincible (Ire) (Archarcharch), who was looking to become the first to complete a sweep of the 4-year-old series. Olivier Placais allowed Jupiter Gold to get right on to the back of the favourite with a little less than a half-mile to race, but it was Elite Invincible who laid down the first marker, as he cruised up to lead at the top of the lane looking every bit a winner. At that stage, Jupiter Gold looked a bit one-paced and Lim’s Magic (Aus) (Manhattan Rain {Aus}) tried to muscle his way between that pair, but Jupiter Gold dispelled any rumour that he wouldn’t see out the 1800 metres and stayed on best of all for the victory. Elite Invincible battled on gamely to hold off Lim’s Magic for second, while Only Win (Tribal Rule) hit the line hard in fourth.

A 2-year-old of obvious talent, Jupiter Gold went on a four-race win skein last season, but despite some placings in the 3-year-old ‘Classics,’ fell on hard times. Cut back to 1200m for a Kranji A Stakes in June, the penny dropped yet again, and although he’d finished third to Elite Invincible in the June 24 Charity Bowl (1600m), he’d rediscovered his best form, good enough to give Hideyuki Takaoka a third win in the race (Jolie’s Shinju, 2009; Better Life, 2013).

“I’m very happy Jupiter Gold won the Derby. He’s finally shown he was still the good horse we always believed he was,” the Japanese ex-pat said. “The owners and myself have been frustrated with his loss of form, but he’s come back in form this year and to cap it all off, he is now a Derby winner.”

Pedigree Notes:

Jupiter Gold’s dam is a daughter of MSW & G1SP Merry Shade and is a half-sister to Shady Stream (Aus) (Archregend), who was responsible for the legendary Takeover Target (Aus) (Celtic Swing {GB}) and his MGSW half-brother Predatory Pricer (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}). Contented, who was purchased for A$90,000 carrying Jupiter Gold at the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale in 2012, was subsequently knocked down to Chris Phillips in foal to Casino Prince (Aus) for A$30,000 at the 2015 Inglis National Broodmare sale. She produced a colt that subsequently fetched NZ$180,000 at the 2017 NZB Select Yearling Sale. The mare’s current yearling, a colt by Sacred Falls (NZ), made A$140,000 from Bjorn Baker at the NZB Premier Sale this past January. Jupiter Gold is the 31st black-type winner for his sire, who resides at WinStar Farm in the US.

Sunday’s Results:
EMIRATES SINGAPORE DERBY, S$1,150,000 (£636,183/€720,465/A$1,133,856/US$841,936), Kranji, 7-15, 4yo, 1800mT, 1:46.34, gd.
1–JUPITER GOLD (AUS), 126, g, 4, by Congrats
1st Dam: Contented (Aus), by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Merry Shade (Aus), by Spectacular Spy
3rd Dam: Parasol (Aus), by Sostenuto (Ity)
*1ST STAKES WIN. (A$130,000 Ylg ’15 MMGCYS). O-Jupiter Gold Stable; B-Vinery Stud (Australia) Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Hideyuki Takaoka; J-Olivier Placais; S$684,250. Lifetime Record: 21-8-2-3, S$1,288,010.
2–Elite Invincible (Ire), 126, g, 4, Archarcharch–Dough On the Go, by Bernardini. (150,000gns HRA ’17 TATJUL). O-Elite Performance Stable; B-Mubarak al Naemi; T-Mark Walker; S$244,375.
3–Lim’s Magic (Aus), 126, g, 4, Manhattan Rain (Aus)–Prima Nova (Aus), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (A$42,000 Ylg ’15 MMNAT). O-Lim’s Stable; B-G Harvey (NSW); T-Stephen Gray; S$123,625.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, HD. Odds: 5.80, 1.80, 20.00.
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