Friday 9 August
It’s the end of Ramadan, so a Hari Raya public holiday will see a rare Friday day meeting in Singapore.
The all-Polytrack card doesn’t reach great heights early but the Woodlands Handicap – a Singapore Group 3 feature sprint – certainly adds to the end of fasting festivities.
SPEEDY CAT heads the ratings and the weights at the handicap conditions and while the 5YO looks the horse to beat, he does give plenty of weight to the rest of the eight horse field. The Scaredee Cat gelding has to lump 59kg over the 1200m journey and when you consider he gives 9kg to all but HUKA FALLS, it is a fair task he faces.
And HUKA FALLS with 52.5kg looks the obvious danger. The Align 4YO won an amazing eight races in his first racing campaign progressing from a Restricted Maiden win on debut in August 2012 to an Open win in March 2013.
Six of his eight wins were on the Polytrack and given he probably needed the break at the end of his arduous but successful first campaign, a big first up run is expected.
Elsewhere on the card, the honest CHILLI – with Barend Vorster on-board – looks a solid option in the lucky last with gate one a factor in what looks an even field.
Best Bets:
CAVALLO (race 7, win)
SPEEDY CAT/HUKA FALLS (race 8, swinger)
CHILLI (race 10, each-way).
Bankers for Jackpots:
Race 7 (1 and 3)
race 8 (1 and 2)
race 9 (1, 2 and 5)
race 10 (Field)
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 CAVALLO – 1 BIONIC BOY – 9 EATONS GOLD – 5 HONEST TRUTH
Usually you would look at a change of stable and a new hoop as a positive move. Not so sure about CAVALLO though. The horse is well and truly due – going down by a whisker at his last two and with excellent Poly form to his name. But a switch from Michael Freedman to Sam Chua brings some concern. Not so much with Chua – the local trainer knows how to train winners and sits in the top ten on the trainers log – but with the hoop. A 4kg claimer in P Dellorto takes over from Joao Moreira and that is a mountain of difference. But CAVALLO is a class horse and it might be a master-stoke to claim and put the result to bed early. Let’s hope so and Dellorto can knock in his third win for the season.
In CAVALLO’s favour is the fact BIONIC BOY looks his only serious danger on recent form. BIONIC BOY won two back and given how tough he did it last start to place, he could easily win with Jose Verenzuela and gate one factors.
Of the rest, a few of swoopers in EATON’S GOLD, RAGING STORM and IMACRUISER could play a part late at value and HONEST TRUTH the improver at odds with gear added and a nice recent trial under his belt.
1 BIONIC BOY *** Did well to place after doing it tough last start and goes close from gate one. 3.00
2 BENJI’S EMPIRE ** Not sure he gets it his own way out front over this trip but is improving this campaign. 12
3 CAVALLO *** Significant change if stable and hoop. Beaten a whicker last couple and should win. 2.50
4 SOUL COMMANDER ** Better than what he showed last start but gate 11 is an issue. 8.00
5 HONEST TRUTH ** Recent form ordinary but recent trial with pacifiers OK. Keep safe with tongue-tie added as well. 33
6 IMACRUISER ** Not a lot last start but previous form good and works into this late. 13
7 BOMBAATA ** Resuming and did look due last campaign so worth some thought. 10
8 HOT GOLD ** Did it tough last start so the run better than the result. Value. 20
9 EATONS GOLD ** Always works into races late and pay to include as this race could suit swoopers. 20
10 FARRAND * Reassess easer company. 50
11 RAGING STORM ** Like to see in easier company but another who works into his late at odds. 33
.
Race 8
Selections: 1 SPEEDY CAT – 2 HUKA FALLS – 5 RAPIDO STAR – 4 TEXAN TAKEOVER
The burning question in this handicap feature is; Can SPEEDY CAT carry 59kg to win?
Obviously he is the class horse of the race – his rating of 110 is well-deserved – but given he gives 6.5kg to a smart horse in HUKA FALLS and 9kg on paper to the rest of the field, it is a big ask. He did carry 2.5kg more to beat HUKA FALLS by 3.6 lengths in the Merlion Trophy – also 1200m on the Poly – and that form should hold up here. Also in his favour is the fact HUKA FALLS – a winner of an incredible eight from 11 in a tough first campaign – is first up after a spell but the ALIGN 4YO has plenty of Class about him and looks the obvious danger. Of the rest, RAPIDO STAR improves lengths back on the Poly, TEXAN TAKEOVER keeps the top two honest and SICHUAN RULER is in terrific form and could easily fill a minor at odds.
1 SPEEDY CAT *** Giving plenty of weight to all concerned but good enough to win. 1.80
2 HUKA FALLS *** Very smart type resuming after a huge first campaign that netted eight wins from 11 starts. Goes close. 2.50
3 EXCAVATOR * OK very late last start but hard to have. 100
4 TEXAN TAKEOVER ** Did well to place in similar company last start and keeps a few honest. 6.50
5 RAPIDO STAR ** Back to his preferred surface in his favour given solid turf form of late. Exotics. 20
6 SICHUAN RULER ** Showed he is up to this company last start and could place. 20
7 DAVIDE ** Tested this company but in winning form so pay to respect. 20
8 GREAT LIGHT * Need to be at his very best this company. 50
Race 9
Selections: 2 JOHNNY HATES JAZZ – 1 CHINESE TYCOON – 5 ANGE D’ORIENT – 4 SUDDEN INTEREST
I guess it’s luck this is a day meeting as you would struggle to stay up late for a race like this. The fact that the top three picks – JOHHNY HATES JAZZ, CHINESE TYCOON and ANGE D’ORIENT – are all long-term maidens suggests if there is a bar near-by, order a drink. JOHNNY HATES JAZZ with 19 starts has the least runs without a win – that is a positive – and with form to his name from gate three, he can win.
CINESE TYCOON has had 34 starts for no wins – that’s an issue – but given he has placed nine times and is in OK form, he has to be respected. The two fore-mentioned gentlemen might let the mare – ANGE D’ORIENT – win at start 21 and in her favour is she did have excuses last start and her form prior had her winning soon. SUDDEN INTEREST and TRIPLE GOALS the only other two with any remote hope.
1 CHINESE TYCOON *** Long-term maiden status is a concern but step up in trip and gate one in his favour. 3.00
2 JOHNNY HATES JAZZ *** Another yet to break his maiden status but looks due and suited here. 2.20
3 GOOD DREAM * Struggling. 100
4 SUDDEN INTEREST ** Last start just fair but worth thought on better effort two back with tongue-tie off. 6.00
5 ANGE D’ORIENT *** Excuses last start and form prior has her some hope of breaking maiden status. 5.00
6 HONKYTONK MAN * Tongue-tie off. No. 100
7 TRIPLE GOALS ** Some hope on good run three starts back but last two ordinary. 11
8 AMERICAN TYCOON * Hard to consider. 100
9 CLASSIC THUNDER * OK very late last start but otherwise disappointing. 100
10 NEWFOUNDFAME * No. 100
Race 10
Selections: 4 CHILLI – 1 MIRACLE BAY – 3 GOLDEN RABBIT – 6 MIGHTY CREATION
As usual the lucky last is a tough one for punters and while a Class dropper in MIRACLE BAY could get huge support and win, an honest horse like CHILLI might be the better punting option. The 8YO has been in terrific form without winning of late (over a year truth be told) but given his form and the fact he has drawn gate one with Vorster on-board, he can win. He loves this surface and is often value so hopefully a result to get us taxi-fare home. But MIRACLE BAY is back in the Class that had him winning three and four starts back. His subsequent two runs in good company were solid and he must go close with support likely.
The race doesn’t look to have too many genuine winning hopes but GOLDEN RABBIT appreciates two runs in Singapore and is coming off a good trial with MIGHTY CREATION always a chance but can be disappointing (watch for support).
1 MIRACLE BAY *** Significant drop back to Class 4 and form suggests he wins. 3.00
2 XIN TREASURE ** Resuming after a poor run of form but the race is suitable and goes OK fresh. Keep safe. 20
3 GOLDEN RABBIT *** Benefits from two starts in Singapore and good recent trial suggests he goes close. 6.00
4 CHILLI *** Foot on the till, drawn the ace and can win this. 4.00
5 FAT BOBO ** Showed improvement last start when blinkers added but Poly form is a worry. 12
6 MIGHTY CREATION *** Can disappoint but showed last start he is ready to win again. 4.00
7 RISING EXPECTATION ** Has been disappointing of late but recent trial OK so hopefully improves. 12
8 ANAVILA ** Honest and last run better than the result. Exotics. 20
9 DOUBLE S ** Realistically needs it easier to win but Nunes could see a placing at odds. 33
10 AFROJACK * No. 200
– Larry Foley, kranjiracing.com
