OM (Joao Moreira) flies home on the outside to get the money for his third Kranji win. Picture Singapore Turf Club.
Ask a few horses about how tough it is having older siblings who are champions of the turf. The list is long and most don’t live up to the price tag attached to them from hopeful owners. BETTER THE EVER was the champ – he won his first twelve races in Singapore! OM is the brother who took four starts to break his maiden status and hasn’t won at his last three. But he has won three races from 11 career starts and given those wins were all over 1400m, he looks well placed in the lucky last to show his best. Sure, he won’t get into the record books like his brother, but he is more than handy and can easily win a race like this and go onto bigger and better things. Interestingly, Mark Walker has opted for a 3kg claimer in S Noh – a bold move given he has struck trouble at his last couple of runs – but that might also be a winning move as he only needs an ounce of good old fashioned luck to win again. Hopefully he is also value as COOL CUSTOMER looked terrific winning strongly over this trip at his last start and the field also has more depth than most races seen this year. So OM may even be value and a good thing in the same race – that would be nice.
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Best Bets; OM (race 11, win), GOLIATH (race 8, win) and BLACK UNICORN (race 10, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (Field), race 9 (5, 6 and 7), race 10 (3, 4, 7, 9 and 11), race 11 (1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 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; 1 GOLIATH – 3 THE RUDE WARRIOR – 4 TIGER MASTER – 6 SWEET LODGE
A small but (you guessed it) tricky field in this BM83 over 1800m and GOLIATH back on the Poly looks a good option. A five-time winner on this surface and second to DUJARDIN in the New Year Cup, GOLIATH was disappointing last start on the turf with regular hoop, Corey Brown, suggesting the grass is not his caper. And given that run was only last Sunday, Corey can back up the comment with a big run and a win would not surprise. THE RUDE WARRIOR has also looked in good order of late and also has five exclusive Poly wins to his name. Although a small field, gate one is always handy and he will be in the firing line late with Vagner Leal retaining the ride. TIGER MASTER also looks a winning hope back on his most recent winning surface and don’t discount SWEET LODGE who sneaks into this with just 50kg on the back of some very good form.
1 GOLIATH *** Switch back to preferred surface suggests he goes very close. 2.50
2 ILUMINADO * Blinkers back on after a couple of poor runs. Take on trust. 20
3 THE RUDE WARRIOR *** In-form and in plays a big part in this finish. 3.50
4 TIGER MASTER *** Hard to fault form and win two back on the Poly strong enough to play a part here. 4.00
5 FATKID * Not up to this. 20
6 SWEET LODGE *** Not seen on the Poly often and up in Class but in form and might be knock-out light-weight hope. 4.00
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Race 9
Selections; 7 RICH BORN – 6 ALL FORUS – 5 TRIPLE GOALS – 8 SOCIAL NETWORK
This race is so weak you would think some horses that haven’t even placed in recent times could sneak into the top three or four but realistically, there are only a few winning hopes. RICH BORN has won twice this trip/surface (and also over 1700m) and certainly goes well enough on a good day to win. In fact if he was anywhere near his best – which he hasn’t been for a while now – he would bolt a race like this in with heavy support. After drawing gate 1, he gets his chance to lead and lead well and if Lisa Allpress can make use of the good alley, he wins. It helps his biggest danger is a 29 start maiden in ALL FORUS. The 6YO has been extremely disappointing not to have won previously when in OK form and gets a good chance here after some nice recent efforts. Barend Vorster rides him well and from gate five he might not get a better chance. The only other winning hope on paper looks to be TRIPLE GOALS who, like RICH BORN, also has three Poly wins to his name. Ignore his last start (lame) and he can win if right although gate 10 a worry.
1 FEED ME MORE * Feed him something quick! 100
2 STATE TROOPER * Up in trip but struggling. 50
3 GENUINE BARGAIN ** Got away from junior hoop similar affair last start and could improve under JP. 50
4 DOUBLE HOCK ** Chance in this weak field on good effort same trip three starts back. 10
5 TRIPLE GOALS *** Excuses last start (not striding) and previous form has him winning a race like this. 4.00
6 ALL FORUS *** Long-term maiden status a worry but in-form and might not get a better chance than this. 3.00
7 RICH BORN *** Home well last start but best when ridden forward and can win if they make use of gate one. 3.00
8 SOCIAL NETWORK ** Cheeky run expected and not many have the form to pass him. 7.00
9 NEWFOUNDFAME ** Not a mile away at very long odds last start so can include in exotics. 25
10 ROLLTHEDICE ** Two runs back this trip good enough to include in skinny end of exotics. 20
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Race 10
Selections; 3 BOARD WALK – 11 CAPTIVATE – 9 BLACK UNICORN – 7 DOUBLE STAR
With five wins – three on the Poly – from some 14 starts, it’s safe to say BOARD WALK knows where the line is. He is honest too and looks a solid option in this although being asked to carry 58kg – some 7.5kg up on his last start win. Barend Vorster stays on and from gate six it may be a case of whoever beats the American-bred 4YO, wins. CAPTIVATE is also an honest type winning twice and placing another four times from eight career starts. He had excuses first-up not to finish closer to the winner and from gate two in a race that suits, he looks a live chance. BLACK UNICORN more than handles his own in this company on the Poly – he wasn’t far behind BOARD WALK last start – and while 1200m is probably his limit, he should figure late. Throw in DOUBLE STAR and ONE SMART CAT as winning hopes and you can probably forget the rest.
1 AWAKENED * Resuming sans blinkers and a risk on this surface. 33
2 BAZINGA * Struggling. 33
3 BOARD WALK *** Smart, knows how to win and hard to beat in this. 2.50
4 ONE SMART CAT *** Smart type resuming and a big run fresh is likely if any luck from wide gate. 5.00
5 DRAGON SPIRIT ** Resuming and while form last campaign was poor, recent trial good and could surprise. 33
6 ENCOSTA DIABLO ** Back in trip but freshened and will be closing late. 33
7 DOUBLE STAR *** Won with just 47kg last start but another that is worth following on this surface. 5.00
8 PRINCESS SARAH ** Excuses last start and should improve with racing in Singapore. 33
9 BLACK UNICORN *** In solid form and looks a good each-way hope. 8.00
10 WHITE COFFEE ** Form starting to read badly but last win was this trip/track so pay to keep safe with blinkers back-on. 20
11 CAPTIVATE *** Excuses last start not to finish in the winning mix and pay to follow. 6.00
12 WILKINSON * Senior hoop wont hurt but hard to have. 100
13 LUCKY COME ** Best work expected late but might need easier. 33
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Race 11
Selections; 1 OM – 3 COOL CUSTOMER – 9 FARETTI – 7 FLYING ZERO
While this race looks to be wide open with plenty of nice horses ready to win, OM just might be a good thing. And with an apprentice up and with no wins from his three starts this campaign, he might be value. The fact his three wins have been this trip and he has had excuses in nice company at his last two runs, suggests he wins with any luck and will be the closer. The obvious pick in the race though is COOL CUSTOMER. The 4YO has also won exclusively over 1400m (two wins) and in fact has only raced over seven furlongs. His last start win was very good and certainly a horse to follow with Nunes staying on-board and gate two a bonus. There will be plenty of value in this race as well and happy to think the likes of FARETTI, FLYING ZERO, MEAISIN, IRISH REBEL and GOLD RUN could all figure late in what is a very good race. But OM, OM, OM….
1 OM *** Excuses not to be in the money last start and wins this with any luck for 3kg claimer. 6.00
2 VERTICAL START ** Torrid run last start so can ignore and keep safe. 12
3 COOL CUSTOMER *** Turned some good form this trip into a strong win and will be the punters elect. 2.50
4 MEAISIN *** Showed last start he handles the turf at this level and pay to follow eachway. 12
5 MR MAGNUS ** Last run better than the result and will add value to exotics. 20
6 WAR TIME * Appreciates step up in distance but might need longer again. 50
7 FLYING ZERO *** First-up run good and this trip suits so looks a leading hope. 6.00
8 IRISH REBEL *** Last start better than the result and only win in Singapore was over this trip so could be value. 12
9 FARETTI *** Plenty of excuses last start over this trip with support and happy to think he plays a bit part in this finish. 9.50
10 GOLD RUN *** Can lead and should be in this a long way. 12
11 GOLDEN CURL ** Honest but really needs a result for all the good form. 20
12 SILVER STREAK * Former Japanese galloper who might need the outing. 100
13 CALIFORNIAN JET ** Backed up some solid runs with a nice placing and pay to start following. 20
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