The prestigious S$400,000 Singapore Derby (1800m) is set to be run for the final time this Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a race whose proud history is littered with New Zealand-bred and Karaka-sourced success stories.
The Singapore Derby was first run in 1880 and is the oldest feature race in Singapore. It is one of the most coveted prizes on the annual calendar of Singaporean racing, which is set to come to an end later this year with the closure of Kranji Racecourse.
Throughout that long and rich history, New Zealand’s thoroughbreds have underpinned the Singapore Derby’s special legacy. Since the race was revived in 1959 after a half-century hiatus, no fewer than 32 New Zealand-bred horses have won the Singapore Derby – by far the most of any country. There have been 14 winners bred in Australia, seven in Great Britain, six in Ireland, three in the United States and one each in Japan, Argentina and France.
Just since 2004, the Karaka sale ring has produced six unforgettable winners of the Singapore Derby.
2004 – DREYFUSS (NZ)
Legendary trainer Laurie Laxon paid $32,000 to buy Dreyfuss (NZ) (Oregon) from the 2001 Select Colts Sale at Karaka.
Dreyfuss went on to be crowned Champion 4YO in Singapore and Malaysia in 2004. His seven wins included a powerhouse come-from-behind performance in the Derby and an additional feature win in the Patron’s Bowl (1400m), and he also placed in the Singapore Gold Cup (2200m). He earned just over S$1m in stakes, which is the equivalent of more than 37 times his purchase price.
Dreyfuss was bred by Tom Fraser and was offered at Karaka by Fairdale Stud, who stood the Derby hero’s sire Oregon.
2007 – LIM’S PRESTIGE (NZ)
The 2007 Derby winner Lim’s Prestige (NZ) (Pins) was bred by Elizabeth Pollard. He was offered by Rosehill Farm at the 2004 Select Yearling Sale at Karaka, where Doug Rawnsley bought him for $16,000. Lim’s Prestige returned to Karaka later that year as a member of Phoenix Park’s draft for the Ready to Run Sale, and he was sold to Mick Dittman for $47,000.
A scintillating victory in the Singapore Derby was the best of four wins for Lim’s Prestige, who banked around S$740,000 in prize-money for prominent Singapore owner Mr Lim Siah Mong, along with Kiwi couple Stephen and Bridget Gray. He was also a two-time winner over 1200 metres and finished fourth in the Merlion Trophy (1200m).
“People didn’t think this horse would stay 2000 metres, but we’ve always had faith in him,” Bridget Gray said after Lim’s Prestige’s Derby triumph. “He’s out of a staying mare and we always thought he would develop into a genuine stayer.
“Mr Lim has been a great owner, he has been with our stable for a long time, and we couldn’t be happier to give him this Singapore Derby.”
2012 – CHASE ME (NZ)
Peter Jenkins and Neoline Redfern bred Chase Me (NZ) (Storm Creek), who was offered as a yearling during Karaka’s 2008 Winter Mixed Bloodstock Sale and was bought by Brett McDonald for just $4000. Four years later he secured a place in Singapore racing history with a stunning Derby performance.
Ridden by Joao Moreira, Chase Me powered to the lead in the straight and blew his rivals off the track in an eight-length demolition.
“It was a great thrill, we were ecstatic watching it on television,” Redfern said afterwards. “It was a terrific win – he just annihilated them. It’s by far my biggest success as a breeder.”
Chase Me had a total of 29 starts for seven wins, eight placings and just over S$1m in stakes – massively surpassing his lowly $4000 purchase price at Karaka.
His Derby victory was backed up by another black-type win in the Chairman’s Trophy (1800m), and he also placed in the Moonbeam Vase (1800m).
2016 – WELL DONE (NZ)
The Windsor Park Stud-bred Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk) was passed in during the 2013 Select Sale at Karaka, then was a $90,000 purchase at the Ready to Run Sale. He would go on to win seven of his 25 starts and more than S$1.3m – around 18 times his purchase price.
He produced a brilliant performance to win his Derby after being badly blocked in the straight. Rider Michael Rodd finally found a way through and Well Done launched an explosive sprint in the final 100 metres to charge past the leader and win by three-quarters of a length.
“To win the Derby is clearly my biggest day as a trainer,” trainer David Kok said. “When I saw Michael put him on the rails and switch him off, I was very confident. Even when he had nowhere to go in the straight, I knew he would run on once he found the gap.
“The other horse had a big lead, but I know my horse has a very good turn of foot and he didn’t let me down.”
Well Done also won the Patron’s Bowl (1600m) and placed in the Kranji Mile (1600m) and Committee’s Prize (1600m). He was Singapore’s Champion 4YO in 2016.
2017 – INFANTRY (NZ)
Just a year after Well Done’s heroics, the Karaka sale ring was in the Singapore Derby spotlight again thanks to Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock). Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Infantry was offered by Cambridge Stud at the 2013 National Weanling Sale and sold for $7000.
Infantry earned more than S$1.9m from a 26-start career that produced nine wins and 10 placings. His black-type wins came in the Derby, the Kranji Mile (1600m), the Merlion Trophy (1200m) and the Moonbeam Vase (1800m), while he placed in the Singapore Guineas (1600m), Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m), Stewards’ Cup (1400m), Patron’s Bowl (1600m), Fortune Bowl (1400m) and Chairman’s Trophy (1600m). He earned well over 300 times his purchase price, and he was Singapore’s Horse of the Year, Champion 4YO and Champion Miler in 2017.
Infantry settled in fifth place in the 2017 Singapore Derby before pouncing in the straight and opening up a big lead. He began to tire in the closing stages, but had put too much space between himself and his rivals and held on to win by a length.
“This is the biggest race I’ve ever won,” trainer Alwin Tan said. “I can’t find words to describe how I’m feeling. All I can say is that I’m very happy and also for the Thai owners who came here to support the horse. This horse has such a big heart, he always does his best. I gave him a lot of endurance work leading into this race and it obviously paid off.”
2022 – LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO
Perhaps the greatest member of this list has been saved for last. The Trelawney Stud-bred Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) was twice passed in at Karaka, failing to meet his $75,000 reserve in Book 1 of Karaka 2019 and his $60,000 reserve at the Ready to Run Sale later that year. He has banked more than S$3.1m, winning 20 of his 26 starts to date.
Already a two-time Singapore Horse of the Year, Lim’s Kosciuszko has scored black-type wins in the Derby, the Lion City Cup (1200m) twice, the Merlion Trophy (1200m), the Kranji Mile (1600m) twice, the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) and the EW Barker Trophy (1400m).
He has displayed extraordinary versatility, winning feature races from 1200 up to 2000 metres, and he showed all of his star quality in the Derby to take command in the straight and defy the late challengers all the way to the finish line.
“It’s fantastic and a very important win,” trainer Daniel Meagher said. “There was a lot of pressure, knowing he’s more of a 1200 to 1400-metre horse and this wasn’t his best distance, so this is an amazing thrill.”
THE 2024 SINGAPORE DERBY
Once again, there is a strong New Zealand flavour amongst the field for this Sunday’s Singapore Derby finale.
The likely favourite is the Kiwi-bred Lim’s Saltoro (NZ) (Shamexpress), whose nine-start career has produced eight wins and a second placing behind Lim’s Kosciuszko. He was a convincing last-start winner of the Stewards’ Cup (1600m).
Three of his rivals in the Derby line-up were sourced from NZB Sales.
Flying Nemo (NZ) (Vespa) was a $7000 purchase by Warrior Stables from the 2021 National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus. He has had 17 starts for six wins, four placings and S$108,494 (NZ$133,153) in stakes.
Roda Robot (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) was passed in when offered with a $5000 reserve during Book 2 of Karaka 2021. His 36-start career has produced seven wins, six placings and S$215,211 (NZ$264,126).
Combustion (NZ) (El Roca) was offered by Lilywhites Lodge at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale, where he failed to meet his $30,000 reserve. A five-time placegetter in New Zealand under the name I’m On Fire, he has subsequently recorded two wins and two placings from 13 appearances in Singapore and banked S$55,948 (NZ$68,664).
The 2024 edition of the prestigious Singapore Derby will be run as Race 9 at Kranji on Sunday, with a scheduled start time of 4.35pm local time (8.35pm NZT).
