Pioneer Seven gives French jockey Davy Bonilla his first win at Kranji on 16 November 2012
Singapore racing might be winding down to a welcomed Christmas break but a crack field of Poly sprinters in the Racing for the Disabled Cup suggests there is still plenty of top racing on offer. At the handicap conditions, the 1200m Open sprint looks wide open with an even spread of weights for the fancies from EL MILAGRO with 57kg, TRUDEAU carrying 55.5kg to PIONEER SEVEN on the minimum. TRUDEAU is in red-hot form coming into this with two Group wins under his belt and given he carried 54.5kg to win at Group 3 level two starts back, he does look well-weighted to continue his remarkable post-snip run. Adding to the intrigue of the race is the fact that both EL MILAGRO and PIONEER SEVEN are resuming from spells. EL MILAGRO’s last run was in the Emirates Singapore Derby and that campaign suggests he plays a part in many of the features in 2014. His first-up form is excellent, so a big run fresh over 1200m is on the cards and he might have the class factor over a few of his opposition. PIONEER SEVEN faces the biggest test in his short and promising career but given he comes into this with a very good trial under his belt and completed a hat-trick of wins at his last campaign, he could easily win with the feather-weight. The race has depth though with HUKA FALLS and BOUNDLESS GLORY both coming off terrific runs and a supporting cast that includes some very handy handicap sprinters.
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Best Bets; SPOT ON (race 11, win), PIONEER SEVEN (race 10, each-way) and ANCHIETA (race 8, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9), race 9 (2, 4 and 7), race 10 (1, 3, 4, 5 and 12), race 11 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10).
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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; 8 MR BEAN – 10 ANCHIETA – 1 BEST BARGAIN – 5 REGAL SALUTE
Not a lot to get excited about in this Class 5 “sprint” and it might pay to see who they back early as that will be a very good guide. As it stands, MR BEAN was runner-up last start and while the form from that race won’t hold-up in any other races, it could be good enough for this. He was supported on that occasion and certainly did enough to give another chance. Down in the ratings and weights, ANCHIETA might be worth a look after an OK run with excuses behind BINGO. The form from that race should be OK with the only query his maiden status and low rating. At the top of the weights, BEST BARGAIN will very much appreciate the weak field and has to be considered after a solid first-up placing with the likes of REGAL SALUTE, STRIDE METEOR and HIS MY IDOL all some hope.
1 BEST BARGAIN *** First-up run in similar affair good and pay to follow. 8.00
2 HELLOLO ** Struggling but wont find many easier than this. 20
3 MAGIC DIVA ** Never involved last start and worth another look in what should be a suitable race. 12
4 HIS MY IDOL *** Always a show in this type of race and in the mix with gate two a bonus. 6.00
5 REGAL SALUTE *** Maiden but Poly form OK and could show up from the ace. 7.00
6 STRIDE METEOR *** Disappointing last start but knocked in three of these early this year and pay to keep very safe. 5.00
7 THE STALLONE * Struggles as a rule. 50
8 MR BEAN *** Backed up good trial with a nice effort and can win this. 3.00
9 SUBDUE * No. 100
10 ANCHIETA *** Excuses not to finish closer last start and right in this. 6.00
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Race 9
Selections; 2 GODS SPEED – 7 NINTH AVENUE – 4 MY SACRIFICE – 8 GYPSY STAR
An odd race with some horses in form but with serious queries on this surface and some old hands out of form but who are always a threat on this surface. As such we have put a line through the likes of READY FORTUNE and SUI GENERIS on the Poly although READY FORTUNE did look very good late at his last start, so he could be kept safe. Of the horses who know who to win, NINTH AVENUE is the pick. The eight-time winner – all on the Polytrack – looks to have found a suitable trip in the right company to show his best and that would be easily good enough for this. In saying that, if anything does beat him it may be a maiden in GODS SPEED. The 3YO American-bred gelding has shown enough at his seven race starts to think he is ready to win and this trip/track looks perfect. Of the rest, MY SACRIFICE looks ready to win again and GYPSY STAR could show up without surprising.
1 READY FORTUNE *** Query on this surface but showed last start he is ready to break maiden status. 6.00
2 GODS SPEED *** Raced handy last start to place in similar affair and can win this. 3.40
3 AFTERNOON DELIGHT * Not a mile away last start but struggles as a rule on the Polytrack. 12
4 MY SACRIFICE *** Winkers off and looks ready to win a race like this. 4.00
5 SILENT POWER ** Disappointing last couple but some previous form OK. 12
6 SUI GENERIS ** Last couple good and has drawn the ace but lack of Poly form a worry. 9.00
7 NINTH AVENUE *** Recent form looks ordinary but more than capable on his day. 9.00
8 GYPSY STAR *** Disappointing last start with support but should make his presence felt late. 10
9 VANQUISH ** Thereabouts on a good day. 20
10 CHENGDU WARRIOR ** OK last start and can include somewhere at value. 20
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Race 10
Selections; 12 PIONEER SEVEN – 4 TRUDEAU – 3 HUKA FALLS – 1 EL MILAGRO
The feature of the day looks a beauty with most horses in good enough form to suggest a busy finish is on the cards. Two horses resuming in EL MILAGRO and PIONEER SEVEN book-mark the ratings and weights and both play a big part in this race. PIONEER SEVEN is obviously smart and given he is first-up after stringing together three straight wins, he must be a huge show coming off a good trial with just 50kg to carry in this. EL MILAGRO has 57kg but given he is resuming after what was a very impressive Derby campaign and has very good first-up form, he can also win. Hard not to mention TRUDEAU who literally lost two testicles but grew a proverbial leg winning his last two starts at Group level and with 55.5kg, he could again be hard to beat in what is a very open race. Of the rest, it would be remiss not to mention HUKA FALLS who showed last start – albeit with a light weight – he has plenty to offer in this company with BOUNDLESS GLORY another to watch coming off a good win in a similar affair.
1 EL MILAGRO *** Resuming after good Derby campaign and goes super first up so right in this finish. 8.00
2 FLYING FULTON * Back in trip and hard to have. 200
3 HUKA FALLS *** Blinkers off, visor on after just missing with light-weight last start. Respect. 5.00
4 TRUDEAU *** In career best form winning at Group level last two and hard to beat here with what looks a fair weight. 4.00
5 BOUNDLESS GLORY *** Turned some honest form at this level into a well-deserved win at his last start and pay to follow. 10
6 DAVIDE ** Disappointing last start but has won his last two on this track and could show up again. 14
7 RAPIDO STAR ** Coming off a good turf win and goes super this surface so have to respect. 10
8 CAVALLO ** Excuses not to win last start in similar affair and pay to follow. 10
9 PETRENUI ** Fresh and in-form but might be tested this company. 12
10 TOUCH OF GOLD * Needs to show more. 200
11 BAZINGA * Enjoys the Poly but tested this company. 100
12 PIONEER SEVEN *** Very smart type resuming and while this is a test, he can win with no weight. 4.00
13 LET’S SEE ACTION ** Steady type who could figure if things go his way. 33
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Race 11
Selections; 1 SPOT ON – 5 MIDNIGHT – 2 DARING INITIATIVE – 8 EXCUSEZ MOI
Not often we have a maiden to close a meeting but this one looks a nice enough race to keep punters interested. Those looking for cab fare home will look no further than the top weight, SPOT ON, who is in-form and really should win a race like this. Bruce Marsh has gone with a 2kg claimer in Z Zuriman and with ZZ-on-top from gate 3, the 5YO should get an overdue result for connections. But it is a maiden and a few others also look ready to open their winning accounts with WHAA a leading contender. Also a 5YO, WHAA did it extremely tough at his last start so that effort late was good, as was his previous run where he wasn’t far away from SPOT ON in a similar affair to this. MIDNIGHT with Dan Beasley up also looks ready to show his best and his work late over 1200m at his last start suggest the step up to the mile is ideal. Plenty of others to consider including DARING INITIATIVE at hopefully each-way value, EXCUSEZ MOI, BEVERLY HILL and GALLANT HEIGHTS on the minimum.
1 SPOT ON *** Going everything bar win of late and must go close to breaking maiden status here. 2.50
2 DARING INITIATIVE *** Excuses last start and worth a serious look over the mile. 12
3 WHAA *** Did it tough so effort to place similar affair last start was good. Follow. 6.00
4 BERNARD’S FIGHTER ** Obviously impossible on form but blinkers added with experienced hoop could see improvement. 50
5 MIDNIGHT *** Showed more than enough to the wire last start to think he plays a part stepping to to the mile. 7.50
6 MORE THAN WORTHY * No. 100
7 BEVERLY HILL *** Not far away similar affair last time out and goes close with luck from awkward draw. 8.00
8 EXCUSEZ MOI *** Will be running on late and a winning hope in what looks an even race. 5.00
9 CELESTIAL STAR * No. 100
10 GALLANT HEIGHTS *** Has been trying for a while now but form OK and no weight suggests he goes close. 7.00
11 HONEST WIND * Impossible to have. 200
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