Former Singapore trainer Tim Fitzsimmons is looking to land his first metropolitan winner with Golden Monkey when the galloper steps out in the MRC Chairman’s Club Handicap (1440m) at Caulfield this Saturday.
It will be Golden Monkey’s third run since making the transition from Singapore, where he had enjoyed plenty of success under Fitzsimmons’ care. The trainer, who is now based in Bendigo, has already recorded nine winners from 42 runners since setting up his new operation earlier this year.
“It’s been a good start with what we’ve got,” Fitzsimmons said. “It’s been mainly the Singapore horses that have been running, but it’s going good.”
Golden Monkey has finished eighth in both Australian starts to date, including the Country Discovery (1000m) at Echuca and the Golden Topaz (1200m) at Swan Hill.
“I do think it was a strange track that day, but I was disappointed in the way he didn’t let down,” Fitzsimmons said. “He has trialled well since and I’ve put the blinkers back on him which he had in all his early wins over there (Singapore) just to stimulate him a little bit.”
“Maybe he’s been going through the motions a little bit. I’m happy with him, I was happy with his trial, but I’d really like to see him hit the line strongly on Saturday, otherwise we might have to think about giving him a little break and a freshen up.”
Golden Monkey is expected to appreciate a rain-affected surface and Fitzsimmons welcomed the recent rainfall in Victoria. However, the presence of Lim’s Saltoro – a familiar rival from Singapore – has added an extra challenge.
“I didn’t want to run against it as we were always running against it in Singapore, but now we have Saltoro,” Fitzsimmons said. “It is what it is, but these are the races these horses have to run in.”
“The 1400 metres is probably his trip, so what we want to see him finishing off his race strongly and if he can win, no-one would be happier. Hopefully there’s plenty of speed on and he’s flashing home late.”
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