Singapore (horse)

Singapore "met with an accident" in 1929 and did not race as a two-year-old.[8] He made his track debut in April 1930 when he was unplaced behind Christopher Robin in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury Racecourse and then finished well down the field in the 2000 Guineas which was won by Diolite. He missed the Derby and reappeared in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and came home fourth behind Christopher Robin who won from Rustom Pasha.[9] On 27 June he recorded his first success at his fourth attempt when he won the £1,000 Sandringham Foal Plate at Sandown Park.[5] A month later he was narrowly beaten in the Gratwicke Produce Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse when attempting to concede ten pounds to the winner Ramesses the Second.

At Doncaster Racecourse on 10 September Singapore, ridden by Gordon Richards, started the 4/1 joint-favourite alongside Parenthesis in a thirteen-runner field for the 155th running of the St Leger. The other contenders included Diolite, Ut Majeur and Rustom Pasha, who had defeated older horses to win the Eclipse Stakes but the field was considered a substandard one by St Leger standards. Singapore took the lead from Parenthesis a furlong from the finish and won by one and a half lengths with Rustom Pasha three quarters of a length away in third.[10] Richards reported that he had been confident of winning at every stage of the race.[11]

On his final appearance of 1930, the colt was dropped back in distance for the ten furlong Champion Stakes at Newmarket but finished unplaced behind Rustom Pasha. He ended the year with earnings of £11,616, making him the second most financially successful horse of the season.[12]

Singapore was kept in training as a four-year-old with the Ascot Gold Cup as his main objective. The 1931 Gold Cup on 18 June proved to be a highly controversial race which saw Singapore (ridden by Richards) beaten a short head by Trimdon[13] after being barged into the rails by the winner inside the final furlong.[14] Trimdon's rider Joe Childs had dropped his whip and was unable to prevent his mount from veering to the right in the closing stages. The racecourse stewards did not hold an inquiry and Lord Glanely declined to lodge an objection as to do so would have been seen a breach of etiquette at the Royal meeting.[2] Singapore was subsequently brought back in distance for the Eclipse Stakes over ten furlongs at Sandown but finished unplaced behind the 25/1 outsider Caerleon.

On 11 September, Singapore returned to the scene of his St Leger success to contest the Doncaster Cup over two and a quarter miles. Ridden as usual by Richards, he started the 13/8 favourite[15] and won very easily by four lengths from the seven-year-old gelding Brown Jack.[16] He crossed the line still under restraint from Richards and Lord Glanely commented that his trainer had never been so confident of winning a race.[17] Singapore broke down on hard ground in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in October and was retired from racing.[18]