Newcomer Goldenfield popped up as a surprise nomination in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on Sunday week but he will have to pass his first test in Singapore in the $50,000 Class 4 race (1200m) eight days earlier.
The Ricardo Le Grange-trained Goldenfield was entered for the $400,000 feature race opened to four-year-olds in the first round of nominations released on Tuesday, which included usual suspects like Lim’s Saltoro, Bestseller, Makin and Lightning Strike.
Although an eight-day turnaround from a Class 4 debut over 1200m to a Group 1 race over 1800m seemed ambitious, Le Grange said the plan was put on the table shortly after Goldenfield arrived at his stable.
“Time was not on our side, but he profiled like a (Singapore) Derby horse for sure,” said Le Grange.
“He’s a four-year-old and placed over the mile at Group 2 level as a three-year-old in Brazil, so 1800m wouldn’t be an issue.
“We gave him some hard work soon after he arrived to see if he could take it and whatever we threw at him, he handled.
“Some horses, wherever they came from, can struggle in Singapore, but some thrive. He thrived.
“His coat came good and conditioned up very quickly, so we thought ‘why not?’ and planned accordingly for a Singapore Derby run if things worked out.
“He has a beautiful action, I can’t fault his attitude and if he comes through the race on Saturday okay and showed us something, then he can run in the Derby.”
A two-time winner from Brazil, Goldenfield arrived at Kranji this April after one unplaced run in a Class 3 race (1200m) in Hong Kong two months before. The son of Courtier caught the eye after he finished second to the speedy Sky Eye at his most recent barrier trial on 27 June.
Le Grange knew the 1200m trip was probably shorter than he would like but thought the Edmond Yue-owned gelding will be better than Class 4 in time to come.
“I wished he had been longer in the stable, but it is what it is,” continued the South African conditioner.
“He had plenty of work and three good trials, so he should be fit enough.
“He’s very professional and showed enough that he’s a good horse, so I expect him to show that on Saturday.
“(Trainer) Tim’s (Fitzsimmons) horse (Ravalli) looks the one to beat and has drawn inside (in barrier one), so hopefully we can get a guide from him on how we are travelling towards next week.”
Jockey Bernardo Pinheiro agreed with Le Grange that Goldenfield will be better over longer and was excited to see how he would fare on Saturday.
“I was on him (Goldenfield) for most of his work and all his trials,” explained the Brazilian hoop.
“He has improved every time I jumped on him. We had to rush him but he has handled everything and he has a lovely mentality.
“He will be better over longer but he only had one race in Hong Kong, so he is very fresh.
“He showed me in the last trial he was very professional and I’m excited to see how he goes.”
If Goldenfield backs up in the Singapore Derby, he will be one of three entries from Le Grange’s stable. Bestseller and Hole In One are also entered for the last edition of the Singapore Derby.
“Both of them are well,” he said of Bestseller and Hole In One after the pair ran second and fifth respectively to Lim’s Saltoro in the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 30 June.
“Bestseller gives you everything and (jockey) Vlad (Duric) thought he had won before and after the line (in the Stewards’ Cup). It was a very gutsy run; that’s him.
“He’s fit and we’ll keep him ticking over before the (Singapore) Derby. We won’t change much with his routine.
“Hole In One was very good late for Bernardo in the Stewards’ Cup. You would think he could run excellent in the (Singapore) Derby.
“He’s had his issues (lameness) but we knew from a long way out that quality-wise, he would be a serious (Singapore) Derby horse.”
Duric and Pinheiro will retain their rides in Bestseller and Hole In One respectively in the Singapore Derby.
By Larry Foley
