Huka Falls – Singapore Racing 02-12-12
An Open Benchmark 97 dash over 1100m highlights a 11 race all-Polytrack meeting from Singapore on Sunday. Laurie Laxon will saddle the top-weight – HUKA FALLS – and even if Corey Brown finishes off all the left-over Christmas pudding, plenty of lead will be needed given the Align 4YO has to lump 59kg. But while HUKA FALLS recent form is good, it may not be good enough to win with that weight giving most, if not all, a chance to put a nice race win on their CV. EL PADRINO has won nice races before – he won in Dubai in 2012 – and he has certainly looked good enough at a few recent trials to think he can show his best first-up after a spell. Pat Shaw saddles three – VALEVOLE, MY SON and LET’S SEE ACTION – and not much separates the trio making a tote watch for stable support a must. Down in the weights, TEXAN TAKEOVER and PIONEER SEVEN look very well placed to win a race like this with the latter having excuses last start so well worth a look at possible value to bounce back to winning form. Elsewhere on the card, FAITHFULLY – who beat the smart STRUBELI when breaking his maiden status – looks perfectly placed in KSD company (race 11) to knock in what would be an overdue second career win.
.
Best Bets; FAITHFULLY (race 11, win), EL PADRINO (race 10, each-way) and GIVE ME STRENGTH (race 8, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 2, 4, 7, 9 and 13), race 9 (1, 3, 5, 6 and 8), race 10 (2, 3, 5, 6 and 9), race 11 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9).
.
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.
.
Race 8
Selections; 2 GIVE ME STRENGTH – 13 MAX RESOURCE – 9 TRIPLE GOALS – 7 BUZET
Pat Shaw has had a fair start to 2014 and happy to think GIVE ME STRENGTH can add to his winning tally. A two-time winner over 1900m, GIVE ME STRENGTH looks perfectly placed over the mile fresh to run a big race and a win would not surprise. In his favour is the biggest threat might not even get a run. MAX RESOURCE is the first emergency but the connections must have been happy to finally draw a good barrier even though a start is not assured. If he does run, gate two is a bonus and Ivaldo Santana would think he is on a very live winning hope in a race with no depth. Of the rest, TRIPLE GOALS, BUZET and CARTAGO all could win if having a good day but hard to make a serious case for the others.
1 DRAMA SUPERSTAR ** Wide gate not an issue as will be slow out and fast home. Risk. 7.00
2 GIVE ME STRENGTH *** Resuming but certainly wins a race like this on his day with 1600m ideal first-up. 4.00
3 SMART THOMAS * Might appreciate a Class 5 mile but hard to have on form. 50
4 CARTAGO *** Better suited turf and longer but will win in Class 5 sooner than later. 5.00
5 IRO OTOKO ** Another stayer resuming who should go well over the mile fresh. Keep safe. 12
6 REAL GOODMAN * Excuses last start but have to take on trust. 50
7 BUZET *** Always an each-way hope this type of race with gate four a factor. 12
8 HEAR ME ** Impossible to have on form but the type to keep safe in exotics at value. 33
9 TRIPLE GOALS *** Looks ready to win again and worth a look from gate three. 4.00
10 SOCIAL NETWORK ** Showed cheek last start in similar affair but that was from the inside draw. 10
11 RICH BORN ** Drawn wide but can run a big race when ridden forward. Market watch. 10
12 WIN THE DAY * Not a mile away last start and can write your own ticket. 50
13 MAX RESOURCE *** Queried last start when placing with support and pay to follow with senior hoop and good gate. 3.00
14 DANGER MONEY *** Trialed strongly after just fair effort over 1700m last start and happy to follow. 20
.
Race 9
Selections; 3 ZAC WARRIOR – 8 BETTER THAN YOU – 6 FOUNTAIN – 1 FABERGE
Not a lot of good form to go in this Class 5 division 2 Poly sprint and as such, a horse like ZAC WARRIOR could be the best option. Obviously his last start close-up second puts him on notice in a field as weak as this but it also the fact he has had plenty of support at runsprior to that. True, he was terribly disappointing in most of those runs but where there is smoke there is usually fire – or at least a punter having a cigarette or three in the terraces. Also in his favour is the fact that no one else looks like being able to win with the possible exceptions being FABERGE who gets blinkers and a senior hoop for the first time in Singapore, MR BEAN who at least has some form – albeit on the turf – to his name and the Yusof-trained pair of FOUNTAIN and BETTER THAN YOU – the latter coming off a enforced break and who has a good first-up record.
1 FABERGE *** Hard to have on Singapore form but blinkers on a significant move as is Nunes. Watch. 6.00
2 THE STALLONE * Struggles as a rule. 33
3 ZAC WARRIOR *** Showed last start why some recent support was warranted. Keep safe. 3.00
4 GOOD SUGGESTION * No. 50
5 MR BEAN *** Has never won on this surface but done enough to think he can change that in this weak field. 3.50
6 FOUNTAIN *** Not far away similar affair last start and has to be considered. 5.00
7 LIGHTNING ACE ** Disappointing of late but the type who can show up in a field like this. 10
8 BETTER THAN YOU *** Resuming after bleeding attack and has gone very well under similar circumstances previously. Keep safe. 12
9 DIAMONDDASH * Resuming and would like to see some support before we consider. 50
10 SUBDUE * Hard to have. 50
11 AL-HAMID * Easier to ignore. 100
12 ROLLTHEDICE * OK last start but back in trip with downgrade to winkers suggest we wait. 33
.
Race 10
Selections; 3 EL PADRINO – 9 PIONEER SEVEN – 6 TEXAN TAKEOVER – 2 VALEVOLE
This is one of the trickier high-grade Poly sprints with no horses “bang-in-form” with perhaps the exception of last start winner, BAHEN, who faces his toughest opposition to date. HUKA FALLS will give his all but it does looks a tough ask with 59kg which means we really have to look at horses that are due and can show their best on the day. One such horse could be the enigmatic EL PADRINO. The horse formally known as Ip Man, showed plenty of promise early in his career and was a rare Singapore winner in Dubai. Although winning three times since that trip, the 5YO probably should have won at the top level and gets a chance in this to show his best over 1100m first-up after a spell. PIONEER SEVEN is another who should win at this level and given he had excuses at his first-up run (respiratory), he is well worth another look with no weight. Throw in TEXAN TAKEOVER who is due and the Shaw trio in VALEVOLE, MY SON and LET’S SEE ACTION.
1 HUKA FALLS ** Will be in this a very long way but 59kg looks a big ask. 6.00
2 VALEVOLE *** More than competitive on his day and recent trial good enough to give this a shake. 10
3 EL PADRINO *** Smart type resuming and has looked like a winner at the trails. Big show. 4.50
4 BAHEN ** Hard to argue with form and loves the surface but tested this company. 6.00
5 MY SON *** Another smart sprinter resuming and goes well enough first-up to include somewhere. 7.00
6 TEXAN TAKEOVER *** Appreciates first-up run and this looks a good race to break a long winning drought. 4.50
7 TOUCH OF GOLD ** Excuses not to finish closer at first-up run and will work into this late at long odds. 33
8 LET’S SEE ACTION ** One of three Pat Shaw runners and will be more than competitive with no weight at odds. 20
9 PIONEER SEVEN *** Excuses (respiratory) at first-up run and certainly gives this a shake on best form. 6.00
10 HOT GOLD * Should need longer than this to show his best but will be closing. 33
.
Race 11
Selections; 2 FAITHFULLY – 1 PREMIER GRADE – 5 SUPER JETSET – 9 BEST BARGAIN
An OK race to close the meeting but given it’s not Class 4 quality, a progressive 3YO in FAITHFULLY might be well suited to find his elusive second career win. He has had a couple of tries already in KSD company but given he finished second to the smart EASY MAN in one of those and also placed at his other start, he does look ready to win. His last start wasn’t flattering and he has drawn wide but he has some upside and happy to think he can win this. PREMIERE GRADE has gate two, a handy 3kg claimer in S Noh and he might try to pinch this. Although never winning over this distance (all three wins over 1200m), the trip looks suitable and a bold run is expected. Of the rest, SUPER JETSET is coming off a nice win and picks himself with BEST BARGAIN also in the mix on his good form. BIG READY the closer.
1 PREMIER GRADE *** Led them up last start for a long-time and expect the same. 4.50
2 FAITHFULLY *** Not at his best last start but previous form has him winning a race like this. 4.00
3 BIG READY *** First-up run good enough to think he plays a big part late in this. 5.50
4 ALL SERENE ** Resuming. Might need longer but best work expected late. 33
5 SUPER JETSET *** Versatile and showed last start why he is always some hope. 5.00
6 VANTAGE * Looks too short. 50
7 MORRIS ** A maiden but fresh and goes OK this type of race with blinkers off. 16
8 PISTOL DAWN * No. 200
9 BEST BARGAIN *** Would love an inside gate as doing more than enough to win a race like this. 4.00
10 ZENA * Didn’t need wide gate. 50
11 ANCHIETA ** Recent form better than it reads but maiden status a real concern. 20
.
