JIMMY REA tries to knock in another win before having a crack at the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (Photo by Singapore Turf Club)
May Day, May Day! Hopefully not a call for help but a jubilant winning cry on a bumper 11 race card courtesy of the May Day public holiday in Singapore with plenty of horses to follow both today and in features later in the month.
Case in point is the exciting JIMMY REA in race 9 as he tries to knock in another win before having a crack at the Group 1 Singapore Guineas on May 15. The 3YO has been super impressive winning four from six career starts and his recent placing in the the inaugural CEFC Singapore Prestige Classic behind Kiwi Karma suggests he is more than up to the task.
He will be tested in the company over 1200m – INDICIO, SUPER KENNY, BOGART and KLEVER MAN won’t go away quietly – but he should have enough in hand when it counts late to both account for this field and follow in Open and Group company.
Interestingly, his stable-mate CHASE will also be having his last hit-out before a possible Guineas tilt in race 10 over 1400m. The Nicconi gelding broke his maiden status in November and returned after a well-earned short break with two very impressive wins over 1200 and 1400m respectively. He does step up to Class 3 company though and while he is a horse to 
follow, another 3YO in A LA VICTORY looks hard to beat especially when his form-line also comes from the CEFC Classic where he spilt KIWI KARMA and JIMMY REA. He will also head towards the Guineas in two weeks time which is shaping to be intriguing affair.
Friday 1 May
Best Bets; (JIMMY REA race 9, win), (A LA VICTORY race 10, win) and (GREAT SCOTT race 11, win).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 2, 5 and 7), race 9 (1, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9), race 10 (1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 11), race 11 (1, 2, 3 and 7).
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 8
Selections; 1 BREAKING VAULTS – 2 RON – 5 PEREGRINE FALCON – 7 GYPSY STAR
Three schools of thought in this race. Firstly, the recent Class droppers in BREAKING VAULTS and RON will give this a shake. Both are suited the company over the mile with BREAKING VAULTS getting the nod given he gets Corey Brown and blinkers which is a winning combination for this 5YO. The second school of thought is recent winning and close-up form in GYPSY STAR and PEREGRINE FALCON. Nothing much separates the pair although GYPSY STAR does lose his winning hoop and PEREGRINE FALCON keeps Nunes. The last school of thought is the two emergencies in WONDERFUL ERA and READY FORTUNE. WONDERFUL ERA is a maiden but looks due and this race is suitable and pay to keep him very safe.
1 BREAKING VAULTS *** Sneaks back into Class 5 and would give this a serious shake on a good day with blinkers back on. 4.00
2 RON *** Two career wins this trip and in good enough form to win this with handy claim. 3.20
3 STAGE BRIGHT * Impossible on form but does drop in Class. 33
4 BAY OF ISLAND ** Veteran who is yet to win on the turf but will be thereabouts. 12
5 PEREGRINE FALCON *** Foot on the till but desperate for a result for the support. 3.00
6 STREET RUFFIAN ** Should be running on and will add value to exotics. 20
7 GYPSY STAR *** Not the type to win out of turn but showed last start he makes his presence felt late. 10
8 SUPER VELOX ** Thereabouts of late but having 62nd start without winning. 20
9 ANGE D’ORIENT * Will be battling away late but should need longer. 20
10 MIDNIGHT * No. 100
11 CHENGDU WARRIOR ** Resuming and will be running on at odds. 50
12 FANTASTIC WARRIOR * No. 100
13 WONDERFUL ERA *** Maiden who is often supported but this looks the type of race he will win. 12
14 READY FORTUNE *** Returned to form last start and loves the mile so keep safe if he gets a start. 12
Race 9
Selections; 9 JIMMY REA – 8 INDICIO – 3 SUPER KENNY – 6 HOLY WARRIOR
I’m guessing a lot of punters will be heading to Kranji to back JIMMY REA today. The 3YO looks better than most and given you can make excuses for his only unplaced run on debut and his only other loss was a narrow one in Group company, he is hard to beat here. Manny Nunes stays on and while his main aim is the Group 1 Guineas in two weeks time, this race and course suits so hard to pick against. As you would expect though, the race has depth and there looks a few that give this a shake at value. From the top, KLEVER WARRIOR improves on recent runs and has shown previously he wins races like this, SUPER KENNY and HOLY WARRIOR both should run very well fresh, BOGART is in winning form and INDICIO looks an each-way special. But JIMMY REA the one to be on.
1 KLEVER MAN *** Might pay to ignore poor recent form as tongue-tie comes off and up to this on his day. 12
2 RAPIDO STAR * Blinkers to winkers but impossible on form. 50
3 SUPER KENNY *** Resuming and goes well enough first-up to keep very safe with a nice recent trials a pointer. 10
4 HOT GOLD ** Will be running on but better suited over 1400m. 20
5 BOGART *** Turned some good form into a nice Class 3 win over 1400m and pay to follow. 6.00
6 HOLY WARRIOR *** Smart enough type resuming and only Singapore win was first-up this trip so worth thought. 6.00
7 METEOR MIKE * Just battling of late. 50
8 INDICIO *** Excuses not to go very close in similar affair last start and pay to keep safe each-way. 16
9 JIMMY REA *** Very smart 3YO who showed last start he is more than up to this company. 1.80
10 MAKAWAO * Appreciates first-up run but query on the turf. 20
11 SMART PEOPLE * Needs to show something in Singapore before considering. 50
Race 10
Selections; 9 A LA VICTORY – 3 WONDERFUL PRINCE – 11 CHASE – 1 TWICKENHAM
How good is this race? Too many nice horses going well not to be a bit of a raffle but with form around the impressive Kiwi Karma, it will pay to stick with A LA VICTORY. The 3YO was desperately unlucky not to have beaten the “flying filly” in 3YO Group company and given she has franked that form and is heading to the KrisFlyer International Sprint, A LA VICTORY can win this and probably gives the Guineas a shake. But as mentioned the race has too many horses in form not to consider others including the progressive CHASE who is also Guineas bound on the back of a hat-trick of wins. Add WONDERFUL PRINCE who returned not striding when close-up on resuming with support in a similar affair to this and TWICKENHAM who comes out of that same race with a barnstorming second placing. Add THESE STREETS and POWERNOVA just to name another two in what should be a cracker.
1 TWICKENHAM *** In very good form and can overcome awkward draw and win this. 5.00
2 THESE STREETS *** Stormed home to just miss last start and gets his chance here with downgrade to blinkers left side only. 6.00
3 WONDERFUL PRINCE *** Not far away when excuses (not striding) on resuming and could be hard to beat. 6.00
4 WORLD WAR ** Did it tough last start from a bad gate so pay to ignore and take on good form prior. 20
5 LASER STORM ** Not far away last start in similar affair but best work is on the Poly. 20
6 ONE SMART CAT ** Cheeky run expected but yet to win on the turf. 25
7 KATE’S KEEPER ** May need longer to win this company but will be motoring late and pay to keep safe. 20
8 POWERNOVA *** Super honest and pay to follow while in winning form. 8.00
9 A LA VICTORY *** Backed up unlucky run win good company with strong win. Big show. 3.50
10 CALIFORNIA EAGLE * Goes OK but not seen on the turf enough to consider in this field. 50
11 CHASE *** Very progressive 3YO and hard to fault winning form. 8.00
12 SUNNY * Promising stayer resuming and should need longer. 50
13 TOM ** Not far away last start at odds and pay to include somewhere if gets a start. 20
14 BLACK FURY ** Went close on the turf last start over 1200m so have to respect. 20
Race 11
Selections; 3 GREAT SCOTT – 1 CASH BOX – 2 HE’S A STRIKER – 7 INVINCIBLE GOLD
Although yet to win at four starts in Singapore, GREAT SCOTT looks very well-placed to show he has more to offer than the odd Class 4 win. The 3YO was two-from-two in Malaysia before crossing the causeway and has certainly shown enough to follow in this company. He will also find this more suitable (when ridden back) in the Dester 3YO Sprint and with Nunes up, expect support and a big run. CASH BOX is another yet to win in Singapore but given he has only had the one start where he placed third, he wins soon and 1400m is ideal. Throw in HE’S A STRIKER first-up after a good campaign and INVINCIBLE GOLD who looks in solid form and worth a look over 1400m. There is depth so go wide in exotics if the budget permits.
1 CASH BOX *** Impressed at Singapore debut and has won this trip. Goes close. 5.00
2 HE’S A STRIKER *** Resuming sans head-gear and gives this a shake on what we saw first campaign. 5.00
3 GREAT SCOTT *** Was ridden back as per instructions in Dester Classic so pay to ignore as will give this a shake. 3.50
4 RIEDEL ** Frustrating run of form without a win but will figure late. 20
5 MEAISIN ** In the mix similar affair last start and pay to follow each-way. 8.00
6 FRANCES ** Has been in very solid form of late but may need it a tad easier to win. 11
7 INVINCIBLE GOLD *** Looks ready to knock in second career win and 1400m looks ideal. 8.00
8 KNOW EACH OTHER ** Lost rider last start and previous form has him right in this at each-way odds. 12
9 YOU DA ONE ** Disappointing last couple with blinkers but pay to keep off sans headgear. 20
10 GALLANT HEIGHTS * In good form but needs longer and easier. 33
11 LUCKY LION ** Competitive with no weight but should need easier to win. 20
12 FEI YUE * Reassess easier on Poly. 100
