Gilt Complex winning the INITIATION (Photo by Singapore Turf Club)
The Singapore Group 1 Raffles Cup is always a great race.
Apart from the status, the $500,000 prizemoney on offer certainly stamps it as one of the biggest races on the local calendar and, at the Weight-for-Age conditions, only good horses win.
SPALATO is a good horse.
Yes, the 6YO did have his colours lowered in the Kranji Mile but given that was the first time he has tasted defeat domestically, we should forgive an off day and take him on best form.
And with all due respect to multiple Group winners in STEPITUP and QUECHUA, his best form looks world class and happy to stay onboard the SPALATO train on Sunday.
In saying that, STEPITUP could not have been more commanding when winning the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile and while the 6YO has been a very good horse for a very long time, he is arguably in career best form.
His jockey, Michael Rodd, certainly got the best out of him in the Kranji Mile and connections would be confident of knocking in the second leg of the Singapore Triple Crown Series.
QUECHUA is the current Derby and Gold Cup holder and given the former Argentinian has yet to miss a place at 14 starts in Singapore and will appreciate the step up to 1800m, he has to be a winning hope.
Three champion horses, one great race.
Sunday 25 October
Best Bets: (GILT COMPLEX race 11, win), (STIRLING race 7, each-way) and (BEST TOTHELIGN race 10, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 4, 6 and 9), race 9 (1, 2 and 3), race 10 (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), race 11 (1).
Race cards and Larry Foley’s synopsis follows and for updates on all runners go to www.kranjiracing.com
Please note the odds listed are “reference odds” only.
Race 7
Selections; 3 STIRLING – 1 NOVA WARRIOR – 2 HYDRO – 4 LINCOLN’S EXCUSE
Another Class 4 over 1200m without a great deal of depth. STIRLING won a Class 3 over this distance on turf when ridden by Manoel Nunes; he is down in grade and could turn around his recent ordinary form. NOVA WARRIOR is racing well on the poly and having his first turf outing; he has speed and can be handy throughout though 1200m may test. HYDRO’s only wins have been at 1400m but he has placed three times from four starts at 1200m and he can be in the finish. LINCOLN’S EXCUSE is not the most reliable but improved last start and with John Powell up could be running on late. After these the field falls away with most more comfortable in weaker grades although the maiden, METAPHOR, was close up last start and has to be respected on that effort.
1 NOVA WARRIOR *** Racing well on poly and having first turf outing. Has speed and can be handy throughout. 1200m may test. 3.50
2 HYDRO *** Only wins have been at 1400m but has placed three from four at 1200m. Can be in the finish. 4.50
3 STIRLING *** Won a Class 3 over this distance on turf when ridden by Nunes. Down in grade and could turn around recent ordinary form. 3.50
4 LINCOLN’S EXCUSE *** Put in an improved effort last start. Not the most reliable but could be running on late. 5.00
5 FRAGRANCE EMPIRE ** Battles away but better in weaker class. 16
6 DRAGON KING ** Form better than it reads and suited this trip but may want easier. 16
7 EXCITING PROSPECT * Won on poly in Class 5 two starts back and better off there. 20
8 METAPHOR ** Maiden who ran on well when resuming on poly in this Grade. Placed three from six on turf but eligible for easier. 16
9 LADY TRIO * Can run on but wants a weaker grade. 33
10 JIMTOWN * Only wins are over longer. Tested. 50
11 MIGHTY WIN * Unlikely. 50
Race 8
Selections; 9 PEER GYNT – 4 MANGATOETOENUI – 1 TIME ODYSSEY – 6 SPECIAL ID
As often is the case in these Novice events, there are usually three or four horses with winning or very good form and a youngster who gets in very well at the race conditions. The youngster on this occasion is PEER GYNT who looks extremely well placed as a 3YO with just 52.5kg. His debut win was also top class given the issues he had throughout and you would expect that he improves again with that race experience under his belt. But as mentioned there are always horses in very good form in these Novice’s and MANGATOETOENUI last start win was easily good enough to think he goes very close here. That win franked some very consistent maiden form and he looks the type to go on with the job. Like MANGATOETOENUI, SPECIAL ID is very consistent but yet to breakthrough. Although he has certainly shown enough at his five career starts to think he will go through the grades once he breaks his duck. At the top of the weights, TIME ODYSSEY might not win out of turn but his record in some strong fields good enough to win this.
1 TIME ODYSSEY *** Very handy type who finds it tough to win but recent trials suggests he is up for this. 3.50
2 YANGON ** Resuming with quiet trial under his belt but showed more than enough at two starts to watch market. 12
3 EXCELLENT MAGIC * Prefer at handicap conditions. 50
4 MANGATOETOENUI *** Broke maiden status last start in fine fashion and goes close in this. 3.00
5 BASTION ** Maiden who runs on so worth keeping safe at odds in exotics. 20
6 SPECIAL ID *** Close but no cigar at five career starts but pay to follow. 6.00
7 ALWAYS AHEAD * Resuming and hard to consider. 100
8 DASHING * No. 100
9 PEER GYNT *** Did a few things wrong so debut win with heavy support was very good and in best at the race conditions. 3.00
10 DRAGON STEED * Resuming, no. 100
Race 9
Selections; 1 SPALATO – 2 STEPITUP – 3 QUECHUA – 6 FASTNET DRAGON
Almost out of the blue, the Raffles Cup has become a super competitive race and one of the highlights of the racing season. It was hard not to get too wrapped up in the hype surrounding SPALATO before the Kranji Mile. His domestic form was untouchable and at his best, he would win easily. Presumably he wasn’t at his best in the Kranji Mile and the “little bulldog” STEPITUP was and the rest they say, is history. Hopefully it was an off day for SPALATO and we won’t jump off him just yet although obviously STEPITUP is in arguably career best form and that is saying something. Throw in QUECHUA who refuses to run a bad race and he is the current Derby and Gold Cup holder so 1800m is right up his alley. At the weight-for-age conditions, these three are the benchmark but you could make a case for most others to play a part in the exotics if having a good day with the progressive FASTNET DRAGON one the punters might take a shine too.
1 SPALATO *** Suffered first domestic defeat in the Kranji Mile but can bounce back. 2.50
2 STEPITUP *** In career best form and won too well in the Kranji Mile not to be the one to be on here. 3.00
3 QUECHUA *** Honest and top class with step up to 1800m in his favour. 5.50
4 WILD GEESE ** Placed in the Kranji Mile and will be the value. 13
5 EMPEROR’S BANQUET ** Wont win out if turn at this level but another Shaw runner who will show his best over 1800m. 20
6 FASTNET DRAGON ** Exciting type who will have admirers but tested at WFA level. 10
7 HUGHSY * Shown glimpses of late but query at the trip at this level. 33
8 WALL STREET BOY * Handsome lad finding his form again but this looks a big test. 33
9 MAJESTIC MOMENTS * Hard to fault honest form but WFA conditions makes it tough. 20
10 IMPERIAL MARCH * Another in-form runner who is a query at this level. 20
Race 10
Selections; 6 DIVIDED HOUSE – 1 BEST TOTHELIGN – 8 SHANGHAI BUND – 7 STORM TROOPS
Hopefully we are basking in the glory of finding the Raffles Cup winner and not too fussed about punting on this particular race, which looks one to just watch and savour. With the exception of EMPRESS WU resuming and an out of form CORDOBA, you can make a winning case for all the horses and it should be an extremely busy finish. Who starts favourite? Probably DIVIDED HOUSE with winkers on from gate 1 and given she does look due and 1400m does look a good move, she can win. With so many winning hopes some value will be on offer and hopefully BEST TOTHELIGN is at each-way odds. The 5YO gets a 4kg claim so looks well-weighted with just 55.5kg to carry and has form around Saas Fee winner Dragon Fury; if Y Salim can make his own luck from the wide gate, he can win. Too many others to mention so do your best.
1 BEST TOTHELIGN *** In very honest form and looks well placed here with 4kg claim. 12
2 LASER STORM *** Two recent wins this trip and has to be one of the leading hopes. 5.00
3 EMPRESS WU ** Resuming after bleeding attack (and lame) last start but form prior has him under consideration at odds. 50
4 GOLD PEREGRINE *** Could make excuses for not finishing closer last start and pay to follow. 5.00
5 TAFFETAS *** Never a threat last start but this company to her liking and can win. 20
6 DIVIDED HOUSE *** Needs a result for the support of late but 1400m with winkers added looks a good move. 5.00
7 STORM TROOPS *** Backed up very strong Class 4 win with a good trial and looks up to this. 5.00
8 SHANGHAI BUND *** Just missed last start behind Laser Storm and gets his chance here. 5.00
9 POSEIDON *** Very progressive type who has to be considered in what is a very even affair. 12
10 SING ROULETTE ** In spanking winning form and will be value stepping up in Class. 20
11 CORDOBA * Needs easier. 100
Race 11
Selections; 1 GILT COMPLEX – 7 IKING – 13 TWODOLLARMUPPET – 8 TEQUILA SHOT
GILT COMPLEX looks to have found himself a very winnable Class 4 field to continue what would be an excellent start to his career. In fact connections must be giggling given he won against some nice types two starts back in BM67 company over 1400m and now finds himself in such a weak Class 4 field. A 2kg claim for CC Wong looks a good move and the race does look GILT COMPLEX’s to lose on form. Absolutely nothing else jumps off the page on recent form but horses like IKING, FREE HAPPY, HEE’S FORTE and TEQUILA SHOT all keep him honest on best form but most of those have struggled to win of late. Two that should improve are BLADEMEISTER after a solid Singapore debut and the maiden, HEE’S EGO, who has been running on. TWODOLLARMUPPET might try to pinch this with Zaki up, as may MASURAO at long odds.
1 GILT COMPLEX *** Progressive type who looks well placed in what looks a weak Class 4 over the mile. 3.00
2 SERPICO * Gets blinkers back after a terrible run of form and have to take on trust. 20
3 DEAUVILLE * Easier to ignore. 100
4 HEE’S FORTE ** Last run a concern but finds himself in the right company so a market watch in order. 5.00
5 FREE HAPPY ** Always looks some hope and often each-way value. 12
6 BLADEMEISTER ** Not a mile away at Singapore debut and will be the improver. 12
7 IKING ** Refuses to win but hard to fault consistent form. 8.00
8 TEQUILA SHOT ** Blinkers off and pay to ignore last run where he botched the start and keep safe. 12
9 DASHING JACK * No. 200
10 HEE’S EGO ** Ran on well over 1400m last start and could give a good account of himself here with no weight. 8.00
11 ADRENALINE ** Nothing last start but previous form has him involved somewhere at odds. 20
12 MASURAO ** Form reads badly but capable of a very cheeky run at odds. 33
13 TWODOLLARMUPPET ** May go forward from wide gate with Zaki booked and doe look due to pinch one. 12
14 ZIPANGU * Needs easier. 33
15 DAAD’S THE WAY * A gear change at start 105 looks ambitious. 100
16 QUETZAL ** Lightly raced 5YO maiden who looks like this type of race is his caper. 12
