Sun Stud Win Singapore Derby

Tara Madgwick - Monday July 22
Sun Stud celebrated a big win in Sunday's $1 million Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) with a surprise victory for Sepoy gelding Sun Marshal trained by Lee Freedman.

Sun Marshal wins the Derby- Singapore Turf ClubThe Sun Stud colours of wealthy Macau owner Cheng Ting Kong of Sun Bloodstock Racing Stable are regularly seen winning big Australian races with horses such as Palentino in the 2016 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and more recently Thronum in the 2018 Group 2 Australia Stakes, but this was their first major win in Singapore.

Sun Marshal scored a neck win for Joe Azzpopardi taking his overall record to five wins from 16 starts.

"This is my 12thDerby, it just feels like another Derby, to be honest, but I don't think the other Derbies were worth a million," said an elated Lee Freedman.

"I'm so rapt Mr Clint (runner-up)finished second-best."

Previously trained by Sydney's premier trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott when known as Han Xin, Sun Marshal had in six local starts stamped himself as a dependable middle-distance performer with two wins (1600m and 2000m) and three placings for Freedman.

In Australia where he raced nine times, spread across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane for two wins (1600m and 2000m), Sun Marshal was labelled as an honest staying type who quickly earned a shot at 'black type' races in that genre, albeit without winning. He did finish second in the Group 3 Grand Prix (2200m) at Doomben last year, and interestingly, his last Australian run was an eighth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2200m) in June 2018, just under five lengths off the winner Dark Dream.

"I thought his form was solid when he came to me. He ran second in the (Group 3) Grand Prix (2200m at Doomben in 2018), and ran very well first-up," said Freedman.

"He improved after I gave him a month's break. He was very fit, but I didn't know how he would handle the ground today.

Sepoy is the sire of Sun Marshal"But I have to say a lot of the horses' chances were ruined by the ground, and some of them improved on it.

"I've always had a lot of time for Joe (Azzopardi) and I told him this horse would be his Derby horse. He's done all the work on him.

"I'm glad for Mr Cheng, and I know Gai would be happy for me, too."

Sun Marshal was bred by Evergreen Rich and was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase for Sun Bloodstock from the Element Hill draft. He is the best of four winners from Mysterious Light, a half-sister by Fantastic Light (USA) to stakes-placed Emotional Circus and Twirl from the family of champion sire Fastnet Rock.

Mysterious Light has a weanling filly by Sizzling and was covered last year by Sebring.

He is the 13th stakes-winner for Darley's Golden Slipper winner Sepoy, who stands at Darley Victoria this spring at a fee of $11,000.


Advertisment

Race Result - Singapore Derby Gr1 1800m

Singapore Track: Dead Time: 1:49.10
1
Sun Marshal
- 4g Sepoy (AUS) x Mysterious Light (AUS) (Fantastic Light (USA))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: Joseph Azzopardi 57
2
0.3
Mr Clint
- 4g Power (GB) x Victoria Belle (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: B Pinheiro 57
3
1.6
King Louis
- 4g Medaglia D'Oro (USA) x Run For Roses (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: R Le Grange Rdr: W Pike 57
4
2.6
What's New
- 4m Casino Prince (AUS) x Pussycat Dream (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: Ben Thompson 55.5
5
3.4
Sacred Croix
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Croix Du Sud (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit (USA))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: R Woodworth 57
6
6.9
Heliosphere
- 4h Sebring (AUS) x Purrfection (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat (USA))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 57
7
8.2
Beau Geste
- 4g Street Cry (IRE) x Haut Ton (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: J P Van Der Merwe 57
8
9.7
Circuit Mission
- 4g High Chaparral (IRE) x Precautionary (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: M Rodd 57
9
10.5
Elite Quarteto
- 4g Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) x New Hampshire (BRZ) (Punk (ARG))
Tnr: C I Brown Rdr: S Noh 57
10
10.7
Glasgow
- 4g Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Unspoken Choice (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: S Burridge Rdr: Marc R Lerner 57
11
12.5
Eye Guy
- 4g Bradbury's Luck (AUS) x Lacada Point (AUS) (Giant's Causeway (USA))
Tnr: M Clements Rdr: B Melham 57
12
17.3
Quarter Back
- 4g Empire Maker (USA) x Last Message (JPN) (Jungle Pocket (JPN))
Tnr: M Clements Rdr: V Duric 57
13
18.1
Super Dynasty
- 4g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Sayuri San (AUS) (Fuji Kiseki (JPN))
Tnr: D L Freedman Rdr: S John 57
14
21.6
Destroyer Eclipse
- 4g Alamosa (NZ) x Shezabeel (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: J Peters Rdr: D Moor 57
15
27.6
Nimble
- 4g Patronize (AUS) x Grand Oscar (AUS) (Grandera (IRE))
Tnr: L Dragon Rdr: J Powell 57
16
28.4
Magic Wand
- 4g Star Witness (AUS) x Thanksgiving (NZ) (Generous (IRE))
Tnr: K S Tan Rdr: C C Wong 57
More Reading...
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.
Via Sistina Honoured at NSW Horse of the Year
One of the greatest seasons of all time has secured Via Sistina the TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year award. The Chris Waller-trained mare was recognised at Racing’s Night of Champions for her outstanding performance in 2024/2025 which included equalling Winx’s record of seven Group 1s in a single season.
Pandemic Keeps the Show Rolling for Sepoy
Striking chestnut Pandemic added his name to Godolphin’s bottomless pit of top-class three-year-olds with a brilliant display to win a 3&4YO BM 70 HCP over 1100 metres on the Kensington track at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 29
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Gorgeous Grey Wins for Godolphin
Talented grey Godolphin blue-blood Subedar is a descendant of the mighty mare Emancipation and kept his unbeaten record intact at his first metropolitan outing when saluting at Rosehill on Saturday.
Damask Rose Looking to Kickstart Te Akau Melbourne Spring
Te Akau Racing are building a strong record in the Gr.3 Cockram Stakes (1200m), and they will look to continue that at Caulfield on Saturday when Damask Rose takes her place in this year’s edition.
Sepoy's Alizee Makes Winning Seasonal Debut
A fresh Alizee opened her five-year-old campaign with a win in Saturday’s Group II Missile Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill although supporters that backed her into odds-on favouritism were made to sweat in the closing stages.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
One to Watch – Kembla
Golden Slipper winning sire Sepoy has delivered his second blue-blooded two year-old winner this week for Godolphin at Kembla on Thursday.
One to Watch – Gosford
He’s big and beautiful and it looks like the patient approach might be about to pay off for this talented I Am Invincible four year-old who won on debut at Gosford on Friday.