Golden Monkey has put his name up in lights as another frontline candidate by Star Turn for the Singapore 3YO Triple Crown in June – July.
The Vinery sire already has unbeaten gelding Alqantur on the classic trail which starts with the Singapore 3YO Sprint (Gr.3, 1200m) at Kranji on June 18.
Golden Monkey won his maiden second time out in Singapore for trainer Tim Fitzsimmons on Saturday. After crossing field from an outside gate, he showed no signs of fatigue in front to score by three lengths under a hold from Oscar Chavez.
The chestnut also relished the switch to turf after a nightmare debut on April 2. He was vetted at the barriers and cleared to run but missed start before flying home into a place on the Polytrack. He also returned to scale with a cut to the off-hind leg. “Everything went wrong last time but you saw the real Golden Monkey today,” Fitzsimmons said. “I told Oscar to ride him like the best horse in the race and it worked out perfectly.
“He will probably have one more run and then go straight to the (Singapore) 3YO Sprint and then step up to 1400m for the (Singapore) 3YO Classic.”
Golden Monkey had been placed at Sandown and Geelong last August before transferring to Singapore. “He was bought by Josh McLoughlan and syndicated to a group of Australian owners. A couple of them live here and they’re really excited especially after the first-up disaster.”
Fitzsimmons was Cliff Brown’s foreman for many years after starting out in Melbourne with Bart Cummings and Lloyd Williams.
Golden Monkey was bred and sold by Howard Blight through Byerley Stud (as agent) for $54,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Blight operates Bendaree Park and the best galloper to come off his Appin property to date has been Sesar (Sebring) who was a Group winner of the GCTC Ken Russell Classic and ATC Roman Consul Stakes in 2018.
Golden Monkey’s dam Dixie’s Comet (Northern Meteor) won twice at the provincials in a half-dozen starts for trainer David Pfieffer. Her half-brother Flagship Shine (Tale Of The Cat) won six races and was Group 2 placed in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Champion Singapore trainer Michael Clements has his Star Turn 3yo Alqantur ticking over nicely for the 3YO Triple Crown. Unbeaten in two starts at Kranji, he was given a pipe-opener in a 1000m barrier trial under race jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin last Thursday.
Alqantur had won on debut by three lengths in January and then lifted like a Stakes horse after being continually challenged in front over 1400m in February. “We’ve always thought highly of this horse,” Clements said. “He looked vulnerable second-up but pulled away and was doing his best work towards the end.”
Bred by Victorian-based GB Thoroughbreds partners Daniel Gangi and Simon Bilalis, he is from Delirious (All Bar One), a close relation of Flemington Group 1 winners Weekend Delight and Tears I Cry.
Star Turn’s Singapore winners augment a successful run for the Vinery stallion in Australia. With just two crops racing, he has sired seven individual winners in the last month and they have won in every mainland State.
Vinery stands Star Turn for a $27,500 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
