Connections of Golden Monkey went all out in the bid for glory in the $400,000 Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on Sunday with their invitation of the four-time Sydney champion jockey Hugh Bowman.
Trainer Tim Fitzsimmons and owners of Jig Racing/Elvin Stable had long pencilled the third and final Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series as the ‘grand finale’ for their stable star. While there were diversions along the way, the Singapore Derby preparation for the son of Star Turn looked to have ticked every box.
A year ago, the then three-year-old Golden Monkey stamped his authority in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) and the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), before being crowned the 2022 Champion Three-Year-Old.
Thoughts immediately went into planning for the lucrative Singapore 4YO series – albeit with question marks over the 1800m trip of the Singapore Derby – with the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) last year also on his agenda.
Things got serious quickly for a horse with only five starts in Singapore and Josh McLoughlan, the principal owner of Jig Bloodstock, knew that Golden Monkey would need every possible edge to be competitive at the elite level.
They brought in Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra for the Lion City Cup and while the pair only ran an unlucky third in the feature sprint race won by Lim’s Kosciuszko, the plans for further Group glory were firmly in place with the mantra of ‘best available jockey at any cost’ ringing loudly.
“No shortcuts in the big races had been our motto from day one,” said McLoughlan, who purchased Golden Monkey as a raced maiden from five starts in Australia.
“Group races don’t come around often for owners – especially races like the Singapore Derby – so we left no stone unturned for success.
“We have good contacts for world-class jockeys and if that’s the difference between winning and losing, we get the best available.
“That’s not a knock on the locals but when a jockey like Mark is happy to come and ride our horse, we’ll get him.
“And when he (Zahra) became unavailable for the (Group 2) Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and the Derby, we looked at Hugh who is a pretty good replacement eh?”
The now Hong Kong-based jockey was not able to ride in the Stewards’ Cup on July 2 because of prior commitments in the former British Colony, so jockey Chad Schofield answered the winning call late. Yet, the Australian rider best known for his association with the champion mare Winx, was always going to be on Golden Monkey for the Singapore Derby.
“Chad gave him a 10-out-of-10 ride in the Stewards’ Cup, but he knew he was always warming up the Derby seat for Hughie,” explained McLoughlan.
“These jockeys are just elite in doing their own homework and working with Tim on how best to win. We might give them plans A, B, C and D and we know they have the ability and class to carry them out.
“It’s a huge advantage for us and just having a jockey like Hughie in the camp is a big thrill for the owners. I think the punters in Singapore would like it too. He’s (Bowman) good for racing.”
The man himself – crowned Longines World’s Best Jockey in 2017 – was not only looking forward to the ride on the nominal Singapore Derby favourite, but also a much-needed holiday for his family.
“I’ll arrive (in Singapore) on Thursday for a week and we can’t wait,” said Bowman on Tuesday from Hong Kong.
“It’s been a big year for (wife) Christine and the girls (Bambi and Paige – aged nine and eight respectively) with the move to Hong Kong full time in November. We will visit Vietnam after Singapore and it will be a well-deserved break for all of us.
“Hong Kong racing has been great though. I didn’t set expectations, but 60 winners would be a very solid foundation for next season, so I’m very happy with how it has gone.
“But a bit of business in Singapore first, and I’m excited about Golden Monkey’s chances in the Derby on Sunday.
“Josh contacted me months ago when Mark was unavailable and I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, I had commitments in Hong Kong during the weekend of the Stewards’ Cup but I was rapt to see Chad win.
“His father, (ex-jockey) Glyn (Schofield) helped me a lot when I was learning the trade at the top level, so I have followed Chad’s career since he was young. It was great to see him get good opportunities back in Australia.
“He (Chad) gave him (Golden Monkey) the perfect ride in the Stewards’ Cup. I spoke to Josh before that run and told him win, lose or draw, ride him quiet so you can see if he can stay.
“The best thing was not that he won, but he showed he will get the Derby trip if ridden the right way.
“I will talk to Tim after the barrier (draws) come out (on Wednesday) and reassess. While we’d keep an open mind, I’m pretty sure I will be putting him to sleep early and let him come home strongly.”
Bowman – who incredibly rode the champion mare Winx to 32 of her 37 career wins – will take two other rides for Fitzsimmons on Sunday, including Fire in the $110,000 Group 3 Singapore Golden Horseshoe (1200m).
“I’ve ridden there (Kranji) before (won on the Steven Burridge-trained Lim’s Showcase on 12 July 2015), but it’s good to have a couple of rides before the Derby,” explained Bowman, who rated winning the Group 1 Japan Cup aboard Grand Cheval in 2017 as one of his career highlights.
“To be honest though, while I know all I can about Golden Monkey and his opposition, I will chat with Tim more about the other two when I arrive on Thursday and final fields are out.
“Josh told me a bit about them both (Trumpy in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1800m is Bowman’s other ride) and hopefully, we can get a result or two on Sunday.”
