Derby Winner Returns Running at Kranji

[Wandering Eyes]

Jupiter Gold (Aus) (Congrats) was last seen taking out the Emirates Singapore Derby (1800m) in mid-July, but fears that the 1200-metre trip of a Kranji Stakes ‘A’ over the Polytrack Friday evening would be too sharp meant that the newly turned 5-year-old offered some value as a $13 (8-5) favourite. Carrying top weight of 58 kilos (128 pounds) and spotting his rivals up to 8kg (17 pounds), the dark bay called upon his class to post a hard-fought success.

Drawn gate two, Jupiter Gold settled in midfield for Olivier Placais and traveled three deep on the turn while covered up. Niggled along a bit nearing the 500m, the A$130,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast graduate pulled out for a clear run at the top of the straight, rolled up to lead entering the final furlong and held on tenaciously as bottomweight Biraz (NZ) (Per Incanto) fought on gamely to the line (video).

“I’m very happy he’s come back after the Derby over a distance I thought would be too short tonight,” said Japanese handler Hideyuki Takaoka. “The plan was to sit at the back as he was coming back after two months (since the Derby), and let him come home inside the last 300m. We’ll see how he pulls up, but the Raffles Cup should be his next race now.”

The Raffles Cup (1600m) is the first leg of Singapore’s older horse Triple Crown and runs Sept. 23. It is followed by the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) Oct. 21 and the Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) Nov. 11.

Jupiter Gold’s dam Contented (Aus) (More Than Ready) 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 NZ$140,000 from Bjorn Baker at the NZB Premier Sale this past January. Jupiter Gold is one of 31 black-type winners for his sire, who resides at WinStar Farm in the US, but shuttled to Vinery Australia from 2011-2014.

View the full article