3 minute read
It may be officially the year of the Rabbit on the Chinese lunar calendar, but fans of the talented Golden Monkey will be hoping that he could kick off his season by winning the $100,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on Monday.
Arguably the most exciting sprinter in the Singapore horse racing ranks, the Jig Racing/Elvin Stable-owned four-year-old won two Group races in 2022 – the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) and the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) – before he placed third in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) behind winner, Lim's Kosciuszko on August 14.
After another short spell, he placed second behind the same Lim's Kosciuszko in a Class 1 sprint over 1200m on November 19.
It was not the finish to the season that connections had hoped for but with his recent nemesis having a short break after his unplaced run in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December, the sprint race on the second day of the Lunar New Year looks like an ideal springboard into 2023.
It is no walk in the park but with a six-kilo pull at the handicaps to equal topweights King Arthur and Grand Koonta (both on 59.5kgs) at the Kranji Stakes A conditions, Golden Monkey (53.5kgs) does look well placed to get back into the winner's circle.
Trainer Tim Fitzsimmons was bullish about the winning chances of his stable star, albeit he was also respectful of his opposition and the year ahead for the Star Turn gelding.
"I think he can win but he will be better over longer this preparation," said last year's champion trainer on Tuesday.
"These races are never easy. (Trainer) Donna's (Logan) horse (King Arthur) is a very good sprinter and knows how to win but we look well in with 53.5kgs and it was always the plan to get his campaign on track in 2023 with this race.
"His (barrier) trial the other day (won trial no. 3 on November 1 in 59.29secs) was very good and I'm really happy with how he is going.
"But he's definitely maturing as a horse and (jockey) Manoel (Nunes) said to me the other day that he (Golden Monkey) felt like a horse that wants further."
With this in mind, Fitzsimmons has the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) as his main aim but concedes it will be a fluid campaign regardless of the result on Monday.
"The (Singapore) Derby is his aim for sure," he continued.
"I'm not 100% locked in on how he gets there at this stage but we will probably give him another run over 1200m before the (Group 2) EW Barker Trophy (1400m).
"We will see how he goes from there but all three legs of the Four-Year-Old Series are penciled in."
The EW Barker Trophy was last held in 2020. Following the announcement by Singapore Turf Club last November on the re-introduction of 10 feature races, EW Barker Trophy will now be held on April 22 this year.
The three legs of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series are namely, the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on June 11, the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) on July 2, and the Singapore Derby on July 23.
Although yet to be tested beyond 1400m, Fitzsimmons believes that the nine furlongs of the Singapore Derby should not pose a problem.
"There is always going to be a query about the trip given he's only been over 1400m once but going with the way he won that race (the 3YO Classic), you would think the mile is perfect and 1800m won't be a worry," he said.
"He was going away from them in that race (beating the second-placed horse, Istataba by two-and-three-quarters length) and as I said earlier, he's matured since then, so he should more than handle the trip."
Fitzsimmons also saddles promising stayer, Cyclone, in the same race and while the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) second runner-up needs longer to show his best, he is worth a watch fresh.
"These stayers can always go well first-up," explained the Australian conditioner.
"I only had him for a very short time last year and to place in the (Singapore) Gold Cup after only a few months and with only three runs under his belt was huge.
"It will be nice to give him a proper preparation and he will step up in trip heading towards the (Group 1) Raffles Cup (1600m) with the (Group 1) Kranji Mile (1600m) his main aim.
"He will get back in the field on Monday for Harry (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) – Golden Monkey will be handier – but hopefully he (Cyclone) runs on well.
"He's fresh enough to show something on the back of a good trial (finished fifth in trial no. 3 on January 10)."
The Raffles Cup will be run twice in the year and Fitzsimmons was referring to the earlier standalone feature race to be held on March 25. The second Raffles Cup will run as the first leg of the reinstated Singapore Triple Crown series on September 23.
Meanwhile, the Kranji Mile is slated to run on May 20.
