Blossoms Sequel is worth a look in race 9
Not a great deal to get excited about on what looks a mundane at best Sunday card but it may be the calm before the storm as we head into a big month or two of Group racing. But as they say, every race has a winner and in good news for punters, there looks a couple of standouts late in the card.
STAR GENERAL in particular looks to have found a very winnable Class 4 Poly sprint over 1100m (race 7). The 4YO resumes after returning lame when finishing a close-up second to Clip The Ticket and will be hard to beat if anywhere near that form. Elsewhere on the card, last start winners are always worth a look and there just happens to be three – BLOSSOMS SEQUEL, MIGHTY MAN and MR CONNERY – in race 9; a Class 4 Polytrack mile.
But of the three, none were as impressive as BLOSSOMS SEQUEL who belted his KSD opposition by some six lengths which indicates he is a horse in career best form and can win again. From the trials and hopefully offering some value in the lucky last is ROCK ESPIRIT. The 4YO resumes after something went amiss in Graduation Company back in November but his trial easily good enough to give this a shake although he will need to be at his best to beat last start impressive maiden winner, CHOPIN’S NOCTURNE.
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Sunday 23 August
Best Bets: (STAR GENERAL race 7, win), (BLOSSOMS SEQUEL race 9, win) and (ROCK ESPIRIT race 10, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 7 (2, 3 and 7), race 8 (1, 2, 3 and 5), race 9 (1, 3, 4, 6 and 7), race 10 (2, 3, 4 and 8).
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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 7
Selections; 2 STAR GENERAL – 7 LUCKY DAPPER – 3 RIKIOH – 6 ROYAL FORTUNE
Another mundane Class 4 over 1100m and STAR GENERAL looks a very good chance to knock in another win. The 4YO returned lame last start after a bold run and given he didn’t miss by much; he could be very hard to beat. Alan Munro should have him on the speed throughout and anything over even money could be a good price. Nothing else jumps off the page to beat him although RIKIOH was placed last start in a Novice on the turf and has trialed since. In his favour is the fact his only win was on the poly. LUCKY DAPPER rarely wins but is never far away and has Manoel Nunes to help him over the line. He is always a solid each-way hope and looks the safest option. XIN JIE is better over longer but runs on and can be in the finish. ROYAL FORTUNE scrambled home in a Maiden on debut and could improve while SECRET MISSION should be doing better in this company.
1 SECRET MISSION ** Struggles to win but should be more than competitive in this company. 10
2 STAR GENERAL *** Returned lame last start after a bold run. Should be on the speed throughout. 3.00
3 RIKIOH *** Placed last start in Novice on turf and has trialed since. Only win was on poly. 5.00
4 YIN JIE ** Better over longer but runs on and can be in the finish. 10
5 DRAGON KING ** Battles away and suited this surface. Can show up. 10
6 ROYAL FORTUNE ** Won narrowly on debut. This is harder but could show up from the good gate. 7.00
7 LUCKY DAPPER *** Rarely wins but never far away. Has Nunes to get him over the line. 4.50
8 BLACK BEAN * Tested here. 25
9 GYPSY MAGIC * Won in Class 5 last start but this is harder at start 100. 16
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Race 8
Selections; 1 BILBO BAGGINS – 3 JET MAN – 2 GOOD LOOUKEN – 5 FAST JET
The usual unpredictable Class 5 over 1100m and it might be a maiden who gets the chocolates. BILBO BAGGINS is a six-start maiden who was run down late last start and with Manoel Nunes up, should give a sight once again. He has drawn awkwardly in 10 but expect a positive ride in this field. GOOD LOOKUEN has been placed at his past five starts and while he struggles to win, at some stage in the straight he will loom up. In his favour is that his two career wins have been on the Poly. JET MAN has speed and will be handy throughout. The 5YO also has trouble finishing off his races but will win sooner than later in Class 5. FAST JET has been battling on well in Maiden Company and can be in the finish while SUPER BONUS has struggled at recent outings but is trialing soundly and his only wins have been at this trip.
1 BILBO BAGGINS *** Was run down late last start and should give a sight once again. 3.00
2 GOOD LOOUKEN *** Usually thereabouts but struggles to win. Will loom up in the straight. 4.00
3 JET MAN *** Has enough speed to overcome wide gate and will be handy throughout. 4.00
4 OASIS SPUR * Tongue-tie on but needs to improve. 50
5 FAST JET *** Has been battling on well in Maiden company. Can be in the finish. 6.00
6 SUPER BONUS ** Has struggled at recent outings but is trialing nicely. Only wins have been at this trip. 10
7 MR CALIFORNIA * Yet to place in eight starts and needs to improve. 50
8 PEREGRINE FALCON * Only wins have been on turf and over longer. 33
9 BLACK LABEL * Only placing was on poly but needs to improve. 33
10 I-SCREAM NOW * Recent form poor. 33
11 POWER KING * Yet to place in 13 starts. 50
12 FOUNTAIN * Can bob up occasionally but far from reliable. 20
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Race 9
Selections; 3 BLOSSOMS SEQUEL – 1 NATION THEATRE – 7 BRING MONEY HOME – 4 MIGHTY MAN
A Class 4 over 1600m and BLOSSOMS SEQUEL won too well last start not to be the one to be on here. Yes, the win was in Kranji Stakes D Company but given he bolted in by some six lengths and Manny Nunes stays on, he can win again. The race does have depth though and a Class dropper in NATION THEATRE appeals. The 6YO is very competent on the poly and the distance suits; from the good gate he should be handy throughout. MR CONNERY is a consistent fellow suited at the trip; he too is well drawn and should get a good run throughout. Amongst the rest, MIGHTY MAN ran on strongly to win in KSD company last start; he steps up to 1600m but may find that to his liking while BRING MONEY HOME is rarely far away and well worth an each-way look. ANY RUMOUR is racing well but has failed at both poly starts.
1 NATION THEATRE *** Racing well in Class 3. Should get a good run throughout and be hard to beat on his preferred surface. 4.00
2 ANY RUMOUR ** Ran on well last start over this trip on turf. Yet to place in two poly outings but could show up. 8.00
3 BLOSSOMS SEQUEL *** Bolted in KSD company over 1800m last start. Up in grade but suited surface and distance. 8.00
4 MIGHTY MAN *** Ran on strongly to win over 1200m in KSD last start after it tough. Should be suited by the extra distance. 5.00
5 COOL CUSTOMER * Has been battling. Switch to poly and longer trip could help. 20
6 MR CONNERY *** Fought on to win in KSD company last start. Only wins have been at this trip. Should get a good run throughout. 5.00
7 BRING MONEY HOME *** Tongue-tie on. Rarely far away and suited this trip. 8.00
8 DAAD’S THE WAY ** Placed on this surface three starts back but at start 102 needs to be taken on trust. 33
9 ADRENALINE ** Has been battling and only wins are on turf. 33
10 MAREA NEGRO * Got going late last start and may be better suited this trip. 16
11 WINNING STAR * Suited this distance but struggles in Class 4. 25
12 KNOW EACH OTHER ** Has been disappointing but fought on well in KSD company on poly last start and extra distance could suit. 16
13 TWODOLLARMUPPET ** Runs on and could show up at odds. 20
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Race 10
Selections; 3 CHOPIN’S NOCTURNE – 4 ROCK ESPRIT – 2 MAKAWAO – 8 ROSEGOLD
Another one of these Class 4’s of little depth; this one over 1200m on the poly. CHOPIN’S NOCTURNE was very impressive winning a Maiden on turf last start and has trialed well since. By Elusive City, he is bred to be a good polytracker and has Manoel Nunes to steer; expect support and he might be too good for this field. From the trials, ROCK ESPRIT appeals. The 4YO is resuming after long break but was consistent and his 10 career starts and his only win was on poly at this trip; watch for support. ROSEGOLD also comes into calculation on trial form and he may be a value option. MAKAWAO has been improved by a recent turf outing, is suited by the poly and should be handy throughout. Of the rest, THANKFULNESS was checked badly in a KSD last start; he is normally consistent and can be handy throughout. RUN CHEETAH RUN was caught wide in KSD company last start and fought on, he has trialed well since and should be running on. The depth falls away after this though TENMA and JUBILATION could show up. FORTUNE WINNER is a promising horse but has been dropped substantially in trip and reverts to poly from turf.
1 FORTUNE WINNER ** Disappointed last start and drops back significantly in distance and onto poly. Take on trust. 10
2 MAKAWAO *** Improved by recent outing and suited by poly. Should be handy throughout. 5.00
3 CHOPIN’S NOCTURNE *** Won impressively on turf last start and should be suited by poly. Hard to beat. 3.00
4 ROCK ESPRIT *** Resuming after long break. Only win was on poly at this trip. Trialing well. Watch for support. 7.00
5 THANKFULNESS ** Checked badly in KSD last start. Normally consistent and can be handy throughout. 7.00
6 JUBILATION ** Struggled on turf last start and only win was on poly. 12
7 TENMA ** Broke through last start on turf but will find this harder. Should be running on late. 12
8 ROSEGOLD *** Disappointed last start but has trialed well since and might be a good value option. 14
9 RUN CHEETAH RUN ** Caught wide in KSD company last start and fought on. Trialed well since and should be running on. 12
10 BANKERS CALL * Blinkers off. Better suited in Class 5. 33
11 D’DON * Needs Class 5. 33
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