Holy Empire (Alan Munro) hits the line strongly for this third win at Kranji
While we would all like to have a share in any one of the runners in the Saas Fee Stakes, the field is relatively weak for a Group 3 and a few horses might not get a better chance to get a black-type race on their CV. Honest types like METEOR MIKE and MATTERHORN look well placed with just 53.5kg to knock in what would be a bonus Group win for connections and the pair certainly have as good as chance as most. At the top of the weights and ratings, WHAT NOW already has a Group win to his name and while giving a few kg’s to some in-form horses, the 6YO is a 1400m specialist and another big run would not surprise. But an up-and-coming star with just 53kg on his back looks the one they all have to beat. HOLY EMPIRE has only had nine career starts but given he has won five on them – and three from his last four – he looks more than up to a race like the Saas Fee and can provide the Freedman/Munro combination another feature winner. Elsewhere on the card, Alan Munro also looks to have a big winning show on Cordoba in the lucky last. The English-bred 3YO had support and duly won at his debut and the fact the form from that race looks to have held-up, a win in Class 4 would not surprise.
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Best Bets; HOLY EMPIRE (race 9 , win), CORDOBA (race 11, win) and SOON YI (race 10, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9), race 9 (12), race 10 (2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and 11), race 12 (1, 2, 4, 6, 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; 5 BOURBON GOLDMAN – 1 SAVANNAH DANCER – 3 BLACK UNICORN – 7 LUWAK COFFEE
A great race on the turf and while a lot of the really good form from the leading hopes is on the Polytrack, expect a very busy finish. Of those with super Poly form, not much separates FLASH GIFT, BLACK UNICORN, HYPERNOVA or BOURBON GOLDMAN. FLASH GIFT, with three Poly wins from just six career starts, will get plenty of attention but HYPERNOVA with two from his last three – with a good turf placing splitting the wins – will be the value. However, BOURBON GOLDMAN looked a very good thing beaten last start and given the 4YO has a recent placing on the turf behind Desert Fox to his name, he could be the one to beat. Plenty of other chances and at the top of the weights, SAVANNAH DANCER had excuses last start (lame) and her previous form has her winning soon with LUWAK COFFEE a very progressive type who is certainly a horse to follow through the grades.
1 SAVANNAH DANCER *** Pulled up lame last start but previous form has her a huge winning show. 4.00
2 ECLAIR FLYER ** Last start better than the result and pay to keep safe at value. 20
3 BLACK UNICORN *** In form and looks very well placed in this carrying 52kg. Can win. 3.50
4 FLASH GIFT *** Looks due to get back into the winners circle and this race is suitable. 5.00
5 BOURBON GOLDMAN *** Looked a good thing beaten last start and has to be a big show here. 8.00
6 MULAN ** Appreciates being back on the turf and can consider in what is an open race. 20
7 LUWAK COFFEE *** Up in Class but first-up win was good enough to follow. 8.00
8 WARSPIRIT * Blinkers off but hard to have. 100
9 HYPERNOVA *** Progressive type who should handle step up in Class with light weight. Follow. 6.00
10 TREASUREINTHEHEART * Needs to lift. 50
11 IMACRUISER ** Disappointing last start but might appreciate switch back to turf. 50
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Race 9
Selections; 12 HOLY EMPIRE – 10 MATTERHORN – 6 METEOR MIKE – 1 WHAT NOW
With no real top-liners in the field, the race conditions make this a very interesting race and it may be a couple of in-form horses down in the weights that get a chance at Group glory. With five wins and a few placing from just nine career starts, HOLY EMPIRE certainly rates highly and with just 53kg to carry, he must go close. Alan Munro has forged a terrific association with the grey-entire and given he comes off a commanding win in a similar affair over 1400m at his last start, he should prove hard to hold out. METEOR MIKE ran second to HOLY EMPIRE on that occasion and a slight pull at the weights suggests that gap might close and it will pay to keep the honest 7YO firmly in top three thoughts. MATTERHORN also looks well placed with 53.5kg over 1400m at his second run this campaign and the booking of Corey Brown suggests he is ready to show his best. Plenty of other chances with WHAT NOW, DARK MATTER and last start winner, CAVALLO, all with winning hopes.
1 WHAT NOW *** Six career wins all over this trip and better weighted than his last start. Keep safe. 6.00
2 MARTIN ** Smart stayer resuming and expect him to show his best late. 20
3 DARK MATTER *** Improved at second run back in Singapore and this trip suits. 10
4 DEVONSHIRE ** Appreciates first-up run but prefer over longer again. 20
5 CAVALLO *** Showed last start he is up to this company and pay to follow. 12
6 METEOR MIKE *** Refuses to run a bad race and will keep them honest again. 8.00
7 DUJARDIN ** Another Laxon stayer who appreciates first run back but needs longer again. 20
8 SUPERNOVA ** Smart and in-form but query on this surface. 12
9 BOUNDLESS GLORY ** Usually seen on the Poly but has won this trip/surface before. Exotics. 12
10 MATTERHORN *** Appreciates first-up run and blinkers removed over recent winning trip. 8.00
11 LET’S SEE ACTION ** Always in the mix and have to respect with tongue-tie added. 20
12 HOLY EMPIRE *** Impressed winning last start in similar affair. Hard to beat. 3.00
13 INDICIO * Goes OK but tested this company. 50
14 HOT GOLD * Coming off a very nice win but big leap of faith at the race conditions. 50
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Race 10
Selections; 2 MANNY PACUIAO – 3 TOAST’S ANGEL – 11 SOON YI – 8 BEAT TO QUARTERS
A solid KSD and there might even be some value with more than half the field with winning hopes. With no obvious early pace in the race, tactics will play a big part in this race and that could play into Corey Brown’s favour on MANNY PACUIAO after drawing gate one. While the two-time winner does normally get back and run on, Brown could try to race handier in this field and if near enough on turning for home, he could be hard to hold out. The likely favourite, TOAST’S ANGEL, has drawn wide but again, this might force a positive ride from Harry Kassim and a bold run is expected. SOON YI might be the value and given he is back on his winning surface, he could easily run a big race for Sunduras John. Of the rest, the veteran CHILLI might give them something to catch with a 4kg claim with BEAT TO QUARTERS and STREET RUFFIAN also with live winning hopes.
1 GLOWNIGHT RACER ** Pulled up lame after closing well last start and pay to keep safe at value. 33
2 MANNY PACUIAO *** Last run a lot better than the result and wins this with any luck in running. 3.80
3 TOAST’S ANGEL *** In-form and going to win again this company. 3.00
4 CHILLI *** Will race handy and in this a long way with handy 4kg claim. 20
5 ZAC VELOCITY * Resuming and prefer on turf. 20
6 RORY ** Green last start so blinkers added and expect improvement. 20
7 THRUST ** Battled on OK last start but back to recent winning trip in his favour. 12
8 BEAT TO QUARTERS *** Always doing best work late and pay to follow in what is a suitable race. 10
9 STREET RUFFIAN *** Shown enough two starts this campaign to follow with blinkers added. 6.00
10 POWERPAC ** Excuses last start and form prior has him in the exotic mix at odds. 20
11 SOON YI *** Has looked due and switch to Poly in his favour. Keep safe. 8.00
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Race 11
Selections; 6 CORDOBA – 2 COLLECT THE CASH – 4 ALL MY WAY – 9 GOLD RUN
CORDOBA did the right thing for all concerned on debut and there looks no reason he can’t go on with the job in Class 4 company. The 3YO English-bred gelding had support on that occasion and given the strength of that win over this same trip plus the fact the runner-up has gone onto win at his next start, suggests he goes better than OK and the one to beat here. But it is a step up in Class and a horse that has done plenty of racing in higher grades than this is COLLECT THE CASH. The 7YO has recently changed stables and with blinkers off in suitable company over his recent winning trip, a big run under Harry Kassim would not surprise. Plenty more in good form and ALL MY WAY looks more than due after three close-up placings and GOLD RUN is always a big show in this type of race. You have to throw in two other last start winners in EMPEROR’S BANQUET and KISS ME with GREENBACK also a show in a race with depth.
1 EMPEROR’S BANQUET *** Winkers added after somewhat of an upset second-up win. Respect. 5.00
2 COLLECT THE CASH *** Blinkers off and step up to winning trip suggests he goes mighty close. 10
3 SUPERMART ** Ran on OK last start and pay to keep safe this company over 1400m. 20
4 ALL MY WAY *** Doing everything bar win of late and must go close. 5.00
5 BLACK RAIN ** Thereabouts on a good day this type of race. 20
6 CORDOBA *** Won very well on debut and that form looks franked. Big show. 3.00
7 GREENBACK *** Last start better than the result and must be some show at value from gate two. 10
8 KISS ME *** Turned some good maiden form into a good win and pay to follow with Dan Beasley on-board. 6.00
9 GOLD RUN *** Always an each-way show this type of race. 12
10 DRAGON NINETYNINE * No. 100
11 SUPER STAR * Needed Poly and Class 5 to win and happy to wait for that combination. 100
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