The Group One International racing shifts to Kranji this Sunday with the running of the Gr1 Kris Flyer over 1200m and the Gr1 Singapore Airlines International Cup over 2000m. The meeting has attracted several international runners from Hong Kong, UK, Ireland, Japan, UAE and the USA, but unfortunately no South Africans, although we are well represented in the training and owning ranks with several runners. Thoroughmedia’s Simon Burgess is our man on the ground and gives us his thoughts.
KrisFlyer International Sprint
Sunday’s first feature is the six furlong Kris Flyer with the Caspar Fownes trained Lucky Nine looking for back to back wins and in so providing a record breaking third title for his trainer. Despite an excellent second in Hong Kong leading into this race, the blinkers are being removed for Sunday after a successful jump out on Wednesday morning with the horse looking to be right on his game. With a very short run to what is a long sweeping turn, inside gates are critical here, so barrier two is absolutely perfect for the well travelled gelding. His main competition looks to come from the John Moore Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Sterling City who has the services of Joao Moreira, although barrier ten will require all the former Singapore champion jockey’s magic to overcome as no horse in the history of this race has ever won from outside barrier six, apart from the local hero Rocketman who would have won that year from barrier twenty, such was the talent of the champ. The other concern with Sterling City is that his track work this year has been anything but impressive, although he has been up for some time and trainer John Moore insists that he’s fit and well and always a bit scratchy in the morning.
The Jeremy Gask trained Medicean Man brings good Dubai form to Singapore and has wins on turf and over the distance to his credit while Balmont Mast was a creditable fourth in the race last year. Of the local chances, the Cliff Brown trained Zac Spirit looks like he’s a real international star of the future and with a good gate in three, could potentially cause a boil over here for the locals. Slew of Lode in gate four for the Patrick Shaw and Fred Crabbia combination looks to be the only other remote chance with some solid wins leading into this, albeit in inferior company.
I’ve settled for the Fownes trained Lucky Nine to make it back to back Kris Flyers from Zac Spirit, Medicean Man and Sterling City with a sneaky place chance to Slew of Lode at big odds if Sterling City can’t get across from the outside gate.
Selections 1 Lucky Nine, 4 Zac Spirit, 8 Medicean Man, 2 Sterling City
SIA Cup
SIA Cup
The Singapore International Cup over the 2000m is the other feature on the card and once again the lead act is the incumbent winner Military Attack, who is joined by last years runner up and stable mate Dan Excel. Also returning is Mull of Killough, Dubai World Cup runner Side Glance, Japan front runner Tokei Halo and Doug Watson’s Limario. The race shapes as a strong battle for the lead with Tokei Halo, Military Attack, American runner Si Sage and Limario from a wide gate having little option but to press forward.
On paper it looks a one horse affair for the highly rated Military Attack with Joao Moreira on top and a tempo likely to play into his hands. Of the rest, Side Glance as alway, has looked the part during the week at track work and should be competitive here. Mull of Killough gains the services of leading Australian jockey Damien Oliver, which brings him into the equation with a good draw in gate three. Its very hard to make a case for any of the four local runners with Wild Geese probably the best chance. Barriers are not as important from the 2000m start at Kranji, although with the likely speed battle up front and promise of a genuine tempo, it looks likely to play to a horse who settles mid field. I’m going with Military Attack to also go back to back for Hong Kong with the class and Moreira factor. Dan Excel, although a fair way back third behind Variety Club in the Champions mile last start, should be good enough to see him in the frame here although the early speed battle could see him a casualty.
Selections 1 Military Attack, 5 Side Glance, 2 Dan Excel, 6 Mull of Killough
