Jockey Daniel Moor will reunite with the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained Greatham Boy in the SG$110,000 Gr3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint at Kranji on Saturday.
Besides being granted a one-day visiting jockey’s licence for this hit-and-run mission on Greatham Boy, the multiple Group 1-winning hoop was also granted a five-month licence from 1 May onwards till the last Singapore meeting to be held on 5 October.
Greatham Boy (Daniel Moor) is looking for back-to-back wins in the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (Pic – STC)
Regarding his job on hand in the feature race on Saturday, Moor was confident of a very good showing on a horse he rode to victory in the Gr3 Singapore Golden Horseshoe in July last year, which happened to be his only ride on the son of Stratosphere.
“I always had an opinion of this horse,” said Moor from Australia on Thursday.
“Ex Kranji-trainer, Michael Clements, had him then and I rode him in his early work as I’m great friends with owner Ian Sanderson, of the Greatham Boy Stable.
“He impressed me from the start and trialled well for me (finished second to Leg Day in trial no 1 on 8 June 2023). I said to Ian that Greatham Boy was up and coming like a good two-year-old from Australia. He had a good brain for a juvenile too.
“But apprentice jockey Ibrahim Mamat rode him when he won on debut (in a Restricted Maiden race over 1100m on 17 June 2023) as I couldn’t make the weight (49.5kgs).
“I was happy to get back on him in the good 2YO race (Singapore Golden Horseshoe) and he showed what we thought he could do after he won well and beat some nice types.”
Now with Fitzsimmons, Greatham Boy finished in the placings in two starts late in 2023 and was caught wide before he ran third in a Class 4 Division 2 race on 3 February. His lack of winning form was of some concerns before he bounced back to win in a Class 4 Division 1 race at his last start on 24 February.
“I followed the horse closely and I thought he might have trained on as a three-year-old, so it was disappointing,” explained the Australian jockey.
“But Tim changed a few things and that last Class 4 win showed what he can do. We (Fitzsimmons) talked a lot about racing, and he thought he has him going as good as he could.
“Owner Ian was keen to get me on and the planets aligned with a few other jockey movements, so I jumped at the chance.
“It’s a good field – I knew Bakeel from the 2YO races and Last Supper looks handy – but I know my horse well. We’ve drawn beautifully (5) and I’m confident he will run well.”
Fitzsimmons agreed with Moor that Greatham Boy was a serious winning chance on the back of his recent win and trial.
“Couldn’t be happier with him,” said the Australian conditioner.
“He’s really come on since his win the other day. I thought his trial a couple of weeks ago showed just how good he came on since that run.
“It’s a really competitive race, but Daniel knows the horse and I think we can give this a good shake.”
Of his upcoming five-month stint, Moor was happy he had the chance to have one last significant stay in a city he has grown to love.
“I’ve been lucky enough to ride and live in many major cities, but hands down Singapore is the best place to work and live in,” said Moor, who has five other rides on Saturday.
“Like most in the industry, I was shocked and saddened when I heard the news about racing closing in Singapore. I had planned to ride here in the Australian winters, but it’s not to be.
“I’m grateful I can ride here again from May to the end. The show goes on and I’m happy to be a part of it.
“It’s always good to ride for nice owners. I’m up on Saturday for Greatham Boy thanks to Ian but riding Fighting Hero in the last for the Lucky (Unicorn) Stable is a bonus.
“I’ve also worn those colours in Hong Kong and Australia. The owners are fantastic people.
“Trainer Jason Ong has Fighting Hero going along nicely, and the race looks about his mark, so hopefully we can go okay.”
The son of Tavistock will jump from barrier nine in the SG$50,000 War Affair 2014 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 1 race.
A reminder to take the free-to-play Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge on Saturday’s Kranji racemeeting with the first due off at 06h00.
