3 minute read

The Group 1 Singapore Guineas now appears a foregone conclusion following Jupiter Gold's effort to upstage Debt Collector on Friday night.

While it was advantage Jupiter Gold at the weights, the star three-year-old had never faced the likes of Debt Collector, in clearly his toughest to date.

Jupiter Gold

Nonetheless the market was well in truly in his corner with Jupiter Gold crunched late to start the $1.80 favourite.

Having displayed plenty of ability as a two-year-old, Jupiter Gold has clearly gone to a new level this time in, with his performance two back electric against the clock.

The highest rated 3YO since War Affair (at the same point), Jupiter Gold quickly confirmed these claims when too strong for his older rivals on Friday night.

Rated 102 leading into the event, Jupiter Gold raise the bar again returning a Timeform rating of 110.

Not since the likes of War Affair have we seen a three-year-old return such a high rating pre-Singapore Guineas [1600m].

War Affair returned a Timeform rating of 115 when blitzing his rivals in the 2014 Singapore Guineas, with a career peak rating of 123 achieved in the 2014 Group 1 Raffles Cup [1800m].

While not saying Jupiter Gold is the next War Affair just set, early signs indicate that he is not far off.

Ridden by Alan Munro, Jupiter Gold adopted his usual position towards the rear with Debt Collector settled a few lengths behind him, last.

The Ricardo Le Grange trained Mr Fantastic set a fairly leisurely tempo in front, recording 25.53 seconds for the first 400m.

Despite a yielding track, this is still 2.5L slower than what this level of company as could be expected to produce.

Settled nicely under Munro, Jupiter Gold was tracked by Debt Collector every step of the way, with the two pairing off to fight out the finish at the top of the straight.

At the 300m, Debt Collector looked to easily have Jupiter Gold's measure, however Jupiter Gold really dug in deep, kicking back to edge out both Nova Strike and Debt Collector.

Despite being only narrowly edged out, the race shape clearly favoured Nova Strike with Olivier Placais giving him every possible chance.

In a more truly run affair, one would expect both Jupiter Gold and Debt Collector to easily account of Nova Strike.

Visually Debt Collector appeared to lose the race in the last 100m, however the fact he conceded Jupiter Gold a start would ultimately prove the difference.

Both gallopers returned very similar figures for their last 800m, 45.19 seconds (Jupiter Gold) and 45.05 seconds (Debt Collector),

In truth, Debt Collector isn't able to go much faster, he ran well, but in the end he was unsuited by the race shape.

The fact Debt Collect exhibited signs of respiratory distress after the race, also gives further merit to his performance.

Conceding 7kg to his younger rival, Debt Collector was marked up to career peak and now appears set to springboard off that mark racing third up.

Debt Collector

A trip to Dubai still appears on the cards and while a significant jump in class (Group 1 - Dubai Turf), the higher pressure affair would likely favour Debt Collector.

We are still yet to see Debt Collector tested under these circumstances, that is we are yet to see what is really under the hood.

Debt Collector's ability to reel off a slick closing sectional off a slow tempo is impressive, though if able to do so off a fast tempo, he then stamps himself as a very, very good horse.

The average Timeform winning rating for the Dubai Turf in the last five years is 130.

To place that into perspective, Winx, the highest rated turf horse in the world is rated 133.

While not always a deep affair, generally the winner is world class and this year's renewal appears no different with the likes of Ribchester, Mutakayyef and Real Steel, Zarak all likely to take their place.

Nonetheless, credit to Cliff Brown and connections for chipping up and having a throw at the stumps.