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Favourite Golden Monkey burst onto the scene late with an explosive turn of foot to score in the $100,000 Flax 2012 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes A race (1200m) on Saturday.
The winning move came after jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong's decision to snag the son of Star Turn behind runners in the backstraight while leader Sky Eye (Jamil Sarwi), Legend Of The Sun (Iskandar Rosman) and Lim's Dream (Zyrul Nor Azman) opted to roll forward in the small field of seven.
The two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey was in no hurry over the six furlongs and settled the $8 favourite in second-last, just ahead of Grand Koonta (Manoel Nunes).
Turning for home, Sky Eye looked to steal the thunder with the lightweight of 49.5kgs as Legend Of The Sun was not making up much ground on his outside. At the 250m, Golden Monkey found daylight and he surged home under Kok's urgings, blowing his rivals late in the piece.
The Jig Racing/Elvin Stable-owned four-year-old chestnut got up by one length from Sky Eye, while Legend Of The Sun hung on well to run third another half a length away, nosing King Arthur (Yusoff Fadzli) into fourth.
The winning time was 1 min 9.47secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
Winning trainer Tim Fitzsimmons was relieved to see Golden Monkey turn up again and commended Kok for his ability to think on his feet.
"Everything that could go wrong went wrong," said the Australian conditioner, who pulled off a double with Dancing Light ($24) saluting in the $50,000 Debt Collector 2018 Stakes, a Class 4 race (1100m) six races earlier.
"We expected to be behind Sky Eye, but the speed was muddled at the start, and there's Lim's Dream dragging in front of us.
"There were a few nervous moments, but Simon did a really good job not trying to chase the speed. He did the right thing by bringing the horse back.
"Big thanks to (bloodstock agent) Josh McLoughlan for sending the horse over, and to Jig Racing and all the owners for their support."
The 2022 Champion Three-Year-Old will be targeted at the reinstated Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) on April 23 next before the upcoming Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series, where the three Legs are held over the 1400m, 1600m and 1800m.
Though Golden Monkey has yet to venture beyond the 1400m, which he won once easily in the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic last July, Fitzsimmons reckoned the mile would not be out of reach for him either.
"If he (Golden Monkey ) comes through his run well, the EW Barker trophy will be next for him, and then we will go for the 4YO series, which is his main target," he said.
"He can be ridden quiet like that, so I think he should be able to get the mile."
The Singapore 4YO Challenge series will kick off with the Group 3 Silver Bowl on June 11, followed by the Group 2 Stewards' Cup on July 2 and culminates with the Group 1 Singapore Derby on July 23.
Kok, who rode Golden Monkey to second in a barrier trial on March 16, was evidently blown away by the four-year-old gelding's ability.
"He has a really good turn of foot," said the Ipoh-born rider.
"We wanted to settle behind the leader at first but the horse in front of me (Lim's Dream) was a bit messy earlier on, so I came back a length for my horse to be more comfortable in the running, which he did.
"Coming into the straight, he took some time to find a clear run but when the gap opened, he ran like a machine.
"1400m suits him now but it seems like he can handle further too."
With four wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine starts, Golden Monkey has now amassed close to $270,000 in prizemoney for connections.
