Can Affleck redeem himself after a disappointing last start?
A new month and new challenges for Singapore’s best horses with three feature races in August including the Woodlands Handicap (ninth), the Causeway Classic Stakes (fourteenth) and the SG50 Trophy getting things started on Sunday.
Singapore turns 50 this month and the race in question (race 9) will do the republic proud given the field assembled in the 1400m set-weight event includes the exciting AFFLECK and his equally talented stablemate, DANIEL. In fact DANIEL is rated higher than AFFLECK and comes into this in spanking form after knocking in his first Group victory courtesy of a brilliant first-up win in the Paititi Gold Trophy.
AFFLECK on the other hand was disappointing last start – his first in Open company – but it will pay to forgive that effort given his trainer, Laurie Laxon, suggested he had suffered a slight set-back prior to that race. Also in his favour is a recent trial with pacifiers added was excellent which all points to a return to his Guineas winning best which should be good enough to win this at the set weight conditions.
And the Guineas form should more than hold up in race 10 on the card when JIMMY REA takes on a competitive BM89 field over 1200m. The Kiwi-bred 4YO has been a revelation since making his debut in December last year winning five and placing twice in just eight starts. His second placing behind AFFLECK in the Guineas was a beauty and when you consider all his wins have been over 1200m, he is extremely hard to beat on Sunday.
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Sunday 2 August
Best Bets: (TIMO race 8, win), (JIMMY REA race 10, win) and (DRAGON SPIRIT race 11, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (2, 3 and 8), race 9 (1, 6 and 7), race 10 (2, 3, 4 and 6), race 11 (1, 2 and 5).
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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 TIMO – 8 RAFAELLO – 3 SHANGHAI BUND – 6 SATCHMO
A Novice over 1200m sees the promising TIMO go round after his strong Singapore debut win which followed good trials in South Australia. The well-bred gelding has struck a moderate field and should be hard to beat. In saying that, RAFAELLO broke through last start and gets a very nice pull at the weights. He too looks a horse of some promise and may be hard to run down. SHANGHAI BUND is consistent at this level and gets blinkers which could see enough improvement to win while GET GOING could show up on a good day and SATCHMO should improve on what was a solid debut.
1 RIKIOH * Resuming. Only win was on poly and tested here. 20
2 TIMO *** Ear Muffs on. Won well at debut and looked a promising type. Can go on with it. 2.00
3 SHANGHAI BUND *** Blinkers on. Placed at past two starts in this company. Should be in the finish. 5.50
4 GET GOING ** Racing fairly at KSD and Class 4 level. Only win was at 1400m but yet to win in Singapore. 12
5 GADAWON * Not in well enough at the weights. 33
6 SATCHMO ** Debuted nicely on poly but will find this tougher. 33
7 YU LONG GLORIOUS * Having first start. Half-brother to three winners all over middle distance. Mots recent trial his best but prefer to watch in this field. 50
8 RAFAELLO *** Broke through last start and gets a good weight advantage here. Should be prominent throughout. 2.50
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Race 9
Selections; 6 AFFLECK – 1 DANIEL – 7 DARCI CHARMER – 5 GOLD RUTILE
The SG50 over 1400m celebrating 50 years of Singapore and unsurprisingly Laurie Laxon has the strongest hand. AFFLECK disappointed last start after his Guineas win but had missed some work after a mild bout of colic and his recent trial with pacifiers was very strong. Manoel Nunes will give him every chance. The stablemate DANIEL ran on very strongly to win the Paititi Gold and is better suited this trip though he has to give them all weight. DARCI CHARMER is racing in good form and likes this distance; he could be surging late. Of the others, GOLD RUTILE is very honest, TRUDEAU will battle away and ALBANY REUNION could improve on his Singapore debut.
1 DANIEL *** Ran on strongly in Paititi Gold and better suited this trip. Has to give them all weight but is top-class. 2.80
2 TRUDEAU ** Honest fellow but only battling this preparation. Distance suits and recent trail was promising. 10
3 PACHELBEL’S CANON * Highly rated Argentinean who has yet to beat a runner home in three Singapore starts. Only wins have been on poly. Prefer others. 33
4 ALBANY REUNION ** Only battled at Singapore debut but improves for the run and may be better suited this trip. 12
5 GOLD RUTILE ** Very honest mare who gets earmuffs. Will be thereabouts. 8.00
6 AFFLECK *** Guineas Winner who only battled last start. Trialed brilliantly in pacifiers and Nunes gets on to make amends. 2.50
7 DARCI CHARMER *** Racing in good form and likes this distance. Could be surging late. 6.00
8 BOGART ** Honest and could pinch a place with no weight. 25
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Race 10
Selections; 2 JIMMY REA – 6 HERMANO MENOR – 4 FLAK JACKET – 3 INDIAN JADE
A strong BM89 field over 1200m, which sees the return of JIMMY REA. The 4YO NZ bred gelding found AFFLECK too much in the Guineas but was far from disgraced and is unbeaten at this distance in five outings; his recent trial was strong and he should be hard to beat. The will be plenty of speed with FLAK JACKET likely to burn forward and if left alone he can be hard to run down. HERMANO MENOR is a promising type working his way through the grades and while this is harder, he has the speed to be prominent throughout. INDIAN JADE ran on well when resuming and better suited this surface and distance. FRAAJILISTIC is resuming and trialing nicely. He is very consistent and whilst he would like longer, will appreciate a solid speed and can get in the finish.
1 SOUTHERN BOSS * Speedster having his first career run on turf. Recent poly form not good enough and likely to be found out in the straight. 25
2 JIMMY REA *** Found AFFLECK too much in the Guineas but was far from disgraced. Unbeaten at this distance in five outings. Recent trial was strong and should be hard to beat. 1.90
3 INDIAN JADE *** Ran on well when resuming and better suited this surface and distance. 5.00
4 FLAK JACKET *** Has plenty of speed and will be the one they have to run down. 6.00
5 FRAAJILISTIC ** Resuming and trialing nicely. Very consistent and whilst he would like longer can get in the finish. 8.00
6 HERMANO MENOR *** Promising type working his way through the grades. This harder but has the speed to be prominent throughout. 6.00
7 BAHEN * Has battled on at two runs since resuming but can find easier. 25
8 BLACK FIERY * Blinkers off but only wins have been on poly. 50
9 PINT SIZED PRINCE * Blinkers off and goes well enough for Juglall to include at long odds in exotics. 50
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Race 11
Selections; 5 SPEEDY DRAGON – 1 GATO NEGRO – 2 GREAT SUN – 3 DRAGON SPIRIT
A Class 4 over 1000m on the poly finalizes the programme and it features one horse on the way up and one on the way down. SPEEDY DRAGON is resuming after a Maiden win over 1100m. He shows promise and is trialing nicely; with Manoel Nunes up and the ace draw he should race well. GATO NEGRO drops significantly in Grade, has won in Class 3 at this trip and if Oscar Chavez gives him a positive ride, he should be prominent throughout. The benchmark will be GREAT SUN who has won in this class and at this distance last start; he goes up 3.5kg but should race well again. Of the others MASTERMIND has plenty of speed but can be found out late, DRAGON SPIRIT usually runs a consistent race at this level and YIN JIE could be closing late.
1 GATO NEGRO *** Drops significantly in Grade. Has won in Class 3 at this trip and should be prominent throughout. 4.00
2 GREAT SUN *** Won this class and distance last start. Up 3.5kg but should race well again. 4.50
3 DRAGON SPIRIT ** Respiratory issues last start and should be thereabouts in what is a suitable race. 6.00
4 YIN JIE ** Ran on fairly over 1100m last start. Will be running on but might find these a bit sharp. 10
5 SPEEDY DRAGON *** Resuming after Maiden win over 1100m. Trialing nicely, has Nunes and the ace draw. Should race well. 3.50
6 MASTERMIND ** Has speed but usually gets found out late. Will give cheek from the good gate. 8.00
7 ORIGIN FAST * Last start was an improvement but still needs to show more. 33
8 EASY EASY * Won in Class 5 last start but suited this distance and can give some cheek. 16
9 CAIYAYA * Will enjoy being back on poly but these look too sharp. 25
10 PUBLIC FIGURE ** Maiden but good enough to include in exotics. 50
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