Gold Rutile (Alan Munro) finishes the best to claim victory (Photo: Singapore Turf Club)
A nice finish to the Singapore card on Sunday and with two small fields in races 8 and 9 respectively, race tactics and any important late scratchings will play a big part. Eight runners should head to the start in the Kranji Stakes B over 1400m (race 8) and with a couple of smart types in DUJARDIN and GOLD RUTILE resuming and ONE SMART CAT trying 1400m for the first time, the betting could get interesting.
GOLD RUTILE has only missed a placing once from 13 starts in Singapore and as she has winning first-up form, a bold run would not surprise.
ONE SMART CAT is a query at the trip and given all of his five career wins have been on the Poly, he might get out to value and no reason he doesn’t run very well.
But the one they both have to beat is INDICIO who is having his third run for Steve Burridge. The four-time winner is honest and showed last start he is ready to add to that win tally and probably starts favourite. In race 9 on the card – an Open Stakes over 1600m – it will be worth having a look at the early scratchings before making a final decision.
The likely favourite in DANIEL is backing up after winning a similar condition-weighted affair last Sunday over 1400m and if right, will be hard to beat. If the trainer thinks he is not ready to back-up, his stablemate GOODMAN looks a serious winning hope with Corey Brown and 53.5kg.
But at the weights, CITY LAD could be a good thing given the highest rated horse in the race only has to carry 55kg – a luxury! In saying that, INDIAN JADE won too well with the blinkers added last start in a Kranji Stakes B not to think he could win without surprising in what is a very intriguing punting race.
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Best Bets; (GOLD RUTILE race 8, win), (CITY LAD race 9, each-way) and (TROPICAL FOREST race 10, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (2, 4 and 6), race 9 (2, 3, 5, 7 and 8), race 10 (2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9), race 11 (1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9).
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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.
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Race 8
Selections; 2 GOLD RUTILE – 6 INDICIO – 4 ONE SMART CAT – 3 MATTERHORN
GOLD RUTILE is smart and honest and Mr Takaoka looks to have found a very suitable race for her to knock in a first-up win. The Japanese-bred 6YO has only missed out on a placing once from 13 starts in Singapore and given she won on debut, she must be a huge show fresh. She will need to be at her best though with INDICIO due. At his second run since switching stables, the 5YO went mighty close to winning last start in a similar affair to this and is certainly due on form. Not much else to get excited about, however, ONE SMART CAT steps up to 1400m for the first time and could be the bolter with blinkers off. The 4YO knows how to win, is honest and the trip might be just what he needs. Concentrate on those three mentioned with MATTERHORN, NATURAL NICE and VERTICAL START battling away for the minors.
1 DUJARDIN * Resuming with top impost and might just need the run. 33
2 GOLD RUTILE *** Progressive type resuming and looks a serious hope in what is a suitable race. 3.50
3 MATTERHORN ** Disappointing last start but usually honest and always a show. 8.00
4 ONE SMART CAT *** Blinkers off stepping up to 1400m for first time and good enough to be a cheeky hope. 5.50
5 NATURAL NICE ** Showed last start why this type of race is his caper and can follow each-way. 12
6 INDICIO *** Went very close similar affair last start and hard to beat in this. 2.00
7 VERTICAL START ** Blinkers off and honest enough to include in exotics. 12
8 SACRED EMBLEM * Needs easier. 100
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Race 9
Selections; 7 DANIEL – 2 CITY LAD – 5 INDIAN JADE – 8 GOODMAN
Laurie Laxon plays a big hand here and without knowing what’s going on inside the great man’s head, DANIEL backing-up after a nice win could be a good thing. He is in very well at the race conditions and is in winning form, so why not? However, as he is backing-up, Laurie might have a good look at him after his final gallop and if he does not start in the race it does open up. One of his other runners, GOODMAN, is a serious chance after placing behind WAR AFFAIR (and DANIEL) and his last two starts at 3YO Group level. But INDIAN JADE won very well with blinkers added last start and is obviously a horse to follow on what he has shown at four Singapore starts. The 4YO will start favourite if DANIEL doesn’t run and could be better than most of these. However, CITY LAD is best in at the race conditions and goes mighty close if he came through an ambitious run in International company in May. The 5YO hasn’t won since January 2013 but his form has been very good with a placing in the Kranji Mile at WFA suggests he should win this with 55kg. EMPEROR’S BANQUET the only other to watch.
1 TENZING * Ran on well when resuming but best form is over longer. Rain helps. 33
2 CITY LAD *** Doesn’t win out turn but obviously finds this easier than the International Cup and goes close. 6.00
3 EMPEROR’S BANQUET *** Always a show in races like this and appreciates the ace. 5.00
4 GREENSTONE * Competitive on his day but need to be having a good day in this field. 25
5 INDIAN JADE *** Won well with blinkers added last start and have to follow. 3.00
6 TO BE REMEMBERED * Honest but not in well at the conditions and should be outclassed. 33
7 DANIEL *** Bounced back to form placing in the Guineas and winning in a similar conditions race to this last Sunday. Big show if he backs up. 3.00
8 GOODMAN *** Placed in the 3YO Classic and Guineas and pay keep safe. 6.00
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Race 10
Selections; 8 TROPICAL FOREST – 9 STORMY ALONG – 4 BOOMARANG DELUXE – 2 HOPKINS
This race could get ugly with a few horses having significant gear or jockey changes that suggest they improve and could win at odds. TROPICAL FOREST in one such horse and while the flashy grey hasn’t won for a very long time, he is around the place of late, has head-gear removed and could win at odds. A trial back in March sans head-gear was good and the fact that this is the first-time he has raced with blinkers/pacifiers off since then suggests this could be what he needs. Another horse that gets a significant change is BOOMERANG DELUXE. The 3YO won on debut and had excuses at his most recent run with 3kg claimer TR Barnabas on, so the switch to Corey Brown is significant. STORMY ALONG doesn’t have a gear or jockey change and is a maiden but given he has six places from his 13 starts, he is due and right in this mix. HOPKINS and ZAC HEAVEN (at odds) the other two that can win without surprising.
1 FLAK JACKET ** Former Australian who has a couple of quiet trials under his belt. Market only guide for the one-time winner. 12
2 HOPKINS *** Turned some strong solid form into a Class 4 win with 52kg. Respect. 3.50
3 ZAC HEAVEN *** Not often seen on the turf but handles the grass and has the pace to cross and could be value. 12
4 BOOMARANG DELUXE *** Appreciates first-up run when excuses not to finish closer and gets senior hoop. Watch. 7.00
5 GILT LAD ** Came home well last start this company and worth an each-way look. 8.00
6 RICHWEST * Struggling. 50
7 FUNCA ** Remains a Singapore maiden but always in the mix. 12
8 TROPICAL FOREST *** Around the place of late and can win with headgear and tongue-tie removed. 12
9 STORMY ALONG *** Maiden who is due and looks well placed here from gate 3. 4.00
10 PETITE VICTOIRE * Resuming after a Malaysian sojourn with market best guide. 20
11 BRILLIANT BEAUTY ** Form reads badly but appreciates the company so look for improvement. 33
12 UNIVERSAL STARLITE * Tongue-tie on but hard to have. 50
13 INVINCIBLE DRAGON ** Form reads badly but improves back on turf and appreciates first-up run. 33
14 ESCALADE PEAK * Head-gear removed and not sure that helps. 100
15 WINNING STAR * Last start better than the result but obviously still needs to improve. 50
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Race 11
Selections; 1 VECTIS – 7 SPUN GOLD – 3 HAKAMGONG – 4 STANZOUT
After having a second look at a few horses that could win and also provide value in what is a good race, it was just too hard to go past the likely favourite in VECTIS. S Noh jumped on the one-time (Singapore) winner at his last start and that run plus his previous good form in nice enough company has him the one to beat. One of the horses that was worth a second (and third) look is SPUN GOLD. The 3YO bled when winning well in maiden company and his first-up run over 1200m in a strong Graduation field has him one to watch with Corey Brown on. The race has depth and two horses that should be value and could run very well are HAKAMGONG who has excuses last start and STANZOUT who gets the upgrade to blinkers. Go wide in exotics with TAKEOVER and FRANCES right in this.
1 VECTIS *** Knocking very loudly on the door and the one to beat in this. 3.00
2 BENJI’S EMPIRE ** Leads and leads well but should be found out late over the long course. 20
3 HAKAMGONG *** Excuses last start and happy to ignore and follow each-way at odds. 20
4 STANZOUT *** In-form, recent trial good and will be odds so worth a serious look with upgrade to blinkers. 20
5 ENLIGHTEN KNIGHT ** Former Kiwi whose only win was at this trip so worth a thought. 12
6 MULAN * Not a mile away last start but still needs to lift. 50
7 SPUN GOLD *** First-up run good enough in nice Graduation company to think he is hard to beat in this. 3.30
8 TAKEOVER *** Maiden who has placed at last five starts and looks well placed in this. 4.00
9 FRANCES *** Excuses last start and did look due previously so worth thought in what is a suitable race. 10
10 ALL MY WAY ** Excuses last start in good company and previous form has him having a say at odds with winkers removed. 20
11 AFFIRMATION * Reassess easier company. 100
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