Sepoy | Darley
23-year-old West Australian jockey Joe Azzopardi played his part brilliantly in the S$1 million feature, bringing Sun Marshal across from a wide gate for a perfect run just behind the leaders.
Sun Marshal surged to the lead in the straight, and despite tiring in the wet ground over the last 150 metres, he held on grimly to beat his fast-finishing stablemate Mr Clint (NZ) (Power {GB}) by a neck.
“What a buzz,” said Azzopardi, who began his Singapore riding stint in April of this year. “I’m nearly lost for words.
“I never expected to win my first Group 1 race so early in my stint here. I just wanted to come here and do well. I’m over the moon.
“My parents are great supporters of mine, and they would have torn the house down back home – my sister too (fellow jockey Chloe).”
“I never expected to win my first Group 1 race so early in my stint here." - Jockey, Joe Azzopardi
While Sun Marshal was an upset winner at odds greater than 20 to one, Azzopardi was confident he was riding a genuine contender. That confidence only grew after the first 200 metres of the race.
“It panned out perfectly,” he said. “They went hard in front, and we were able to get a good run one off the fence.
“The horse trucked up and took the lead, and he was really strong in the fight to the line, just like I knew he’d be.”
Freedman success
Group 1 glory is nothing new for Freedman, an Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee whose trophy cabinet features five Melbourne Cups, four Caulfield Cups, four Golden Slippers and two Cox Plates. But he took special satisfaction from Sunday’s quinella result.
“The big question today was which horses would handle the ground,” he said. “He handled it best, and Mr Clint handled it second best. We’re very happy to get the win.
“It’s great for Joe, who I’ve got a lot of time for. When he came over here, I told him that this would be his Singapore Derby horse. He’s done a brilliant job and ridden him in all of his fast work.”
“It’s great for Joe, who I’ve got a lot of time for. When he came over here, I told him that this would be his Singapore Derby horse." - Lee Freedman
Sun Marshal, who is owned by Cheng Ting Kong’s Sun Bloodstock, has now had 16 starts for five wins, seven placings and the equivalent of around A$900,000.
He was bred by Evergreen Rich Pty Ltd and was a $200,000 purchase at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sun Marshal was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase by Sepoy (pictured)
Previously named Han Xin, he won two races for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and finished second behind Heavenly Thought (So You Think {NZ}) in last year’s G3 Grand Prix in Brisbane.
“I thought his form at home was really solid, placing in the Grand Prix as a three-year-old,” Freedman said. “We brought him into today’s race off a one-month break, and we knew he was very fit for this.”
Sun Marshal is one of four named foals out of the Fantastic Light mare Mysterious Light, and all four are winners. Sun Marshal’s granddam, Cirque du Soleil (Danehill {USA}) is a full-sister to Fastnet Rock.
Since Sun Marshal, Mysterious Light has produced the winning filly Light Exceed (Exceed and Excel), a filly by Shooting to Win and a filly by Sizzling. She was served by Sebring last spring.
Meanwhile, runner-up Mr Clint (Power {GB}) was bred by former Cambridge Stud owners Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan. He was a $95,000 purchase at the 2016 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, and he was voted last season’s Champion 3YO in Singapore with a victory in the Singapore Guineas and a placing in the Singapore 3YO Sprint.
Mr Clint as a 2YO, bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan
The third placegetter in the Derby, a length and a quarter behind the first pair, was the Australian-bred King Louis (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}).
Bred by Goree Park Stud, he was a maiden winner at Hawkesbury under the name Medal Kun. Out of an unraced full-sister to the successful stallion Keeper (Danehill {USA}), King Louis has won five races and more than $500,000 including the El Dorado Classic.
King Louis was ridden by record-breaking Perth jockey William Pike on Sunday for trainer Ricardo le Grange.
