Former Victorian trained gelding Tenzing confirmed his status as one of the leading contenders for the Group One Singapore Derby with a brilliant win at Kranji on Sunday.

A son of Catbird, Tenzing was transferred to Singapore and joined the stables of Cliff Brown with the four-year-old classic event in mind – but a recent setback threatened to derail the Derby preparation.

Tenzing was to have run in the recent Group One Patron’s Bowl (1600m) but was a non runner thanks to a low white blood cell count.

Brown was then forced to switch to “plan B” and Tenzing was entered in Sunday’s $95,000 event over 1700 metres.

After being allowed to get back in the field by Danny Beasley, Tenzing came with a sharp run over the concluding stages to hit the front and then race clear to beat stablemate and fellow Magic Millions graduate Steadfast Warrior.

“He’s going to the Derby now – and Steadfast Warrior, who is a real dour type of stayer could fluke it and join him as well,” Brown said.

“The Derby has always been his (Tenzing) mission but we had a few setbacks with him. He went off his feed and luckily we got him right on time.”

“Danny rode him beautifully,” Brown added.

Beasley won’t be riding Tenzing in the Derby – but he declared him one of the horses to beat in the big race.

“I’m already committed to ride Always Certain in the Derby. He ran on very well in the Patron’s Bowl – if he had not been caught wide, he could have won .”

“But this horse (Tenzing) will be a good Derby ride for any jockey who sits on him on that day,” Beasley added.

Tenzing, a gelded son of Danehill’s Golden Slipper winning son Catbird, showed immense ability in Australia prior to be transferred to Singapore.

In Australia, when trained by his purchaser David “Butch” Bourne, Tenzing showed good ability with a pair of wins and three placings from just nine outings.

He ran third at his last Australian run at Flemington behind Kutchinsky. That run following an eye catching sixth, beaten just 1.4 lengths, behind Kidnapped in the Group One SA Derby.

Tenzing, who is from the stakes performed Shirley Heights mare Pinnacle, was purchased by Bourne’s Network Bloodstock for $67,500 from the Attunga Stud draft at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Now the winner of five races – two in Australia and three in Singapore – Tenzing has earned $129,261 at Kranji – having earlier earned $47,425 in his homeland. The Kranji figure could rise dramatically when he lines up in the Derby on July 17.

PIC – Singapore Turf Club.