Barend Vorster guides Emperor’s Banquet to victory (Photo: Singapore Turf Club)
A small field heads to the start for today’s feature – the Group 3 Woodlands Classic Stakes over 2000m – and again trainer Pat Shaw holds all the aces.
The suave South African has three runners and while the top-weight LIZARRE has to improve on recent form, EMPEROR’S BANQUET and IN FACT are leading hopes and could very well fight out the finish. With no QUECHA to contend with, the two horses get their chance after both finished runner-up to the stable star in the Gold Cup (EMPEROR’S BANQUET) and New Years Cup (IN FACT).
The race conditions and being back on the turf would put EMPEROR’S BANQUET with 56kg marginally ahead of IN FACT with 53kg but both are smart and honest and expect a ding-dong battle to the wire. The stalker will be KNIGHT’S COMMAND who is due to breakthrough in this company and over this trip.
And although the 7YO hasn’t won over anything past the mile, he is in form and the small field should suit with Nunes up. Nothing else jumps off the page but DUJARDIN has shown glimpses of late and TROPAIOS will be looking at a good run here as connections eye a $3 million race in February.
Elsewhere on the card, BLUE SWEDE looks a strong chance to continue his winning run in the lucky last. The 4YO has always shown potential and showed last start he means business this campaign and could be a terrific horse to follow in 2015. His main opposition is the under-achieving OM who comes under notice back on the turf over what looks his favourite trip (1400m).
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Best Bets; (BLUE SWEDE race 11, win), (JET SET race 10, each-way) and (KNIGHT’S COMMAND race 9, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (2, 4, 7, 8 and 11), race 9 (2, 5 and 7), race 10 (1, 2, 3 and 7), race 11 (1, 2, 4 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; 11 BROWNE’S ANATOMY – 2 BAY OF ISLAND – 4 BIG HARVEST – 7 READY FORTUNE
A Class 5 over a mile on the poly and the blinkers go back on old BAY OF ISLAND. The 10YO is a five-time winner at the trip and with the 4kg claim for Ruzaili will give a bold sight. The horse he has to beat is BROWNE’S ANATOMY who has been running on well at recent outings. This distance suits and with Oscar Chavez up he should be closing late. BIG HARVEST copped strife last start but has won twice at 1600m and can be running on late. READY FORTUNE battles away and his only win was at this journey with Manoel Nunes up he should get a good run throughout. In what is an extremely open race DOS EQUIS is suited at the trip and others such as SILVER FLY and ENZO could get in the picture. The wild card is SINGLE ACT who gets into a grade at which he can win and possibly over a suitable distance yet he has no worthwhile poly form.
1 SINGLE ACT * Blinker pacifiers and tongue tie on. Drops in grade and distance could suit but has no poly form. 16
2 BAY OF ISLAND *** Blinkers on. Five-time winner at the trip and can give a sight. 3.50
3 STAR RAINBOW * Battles away but needs to improve on recent form. 20
4 BIG HARVEST *** Copped strife last start but suited here and can be running on late. Has won twice at 1600m. 6.00
5 GOLDEN PASTURE * Unlikely. 33
6 PURE WHITE * Still a maiden but could be suited this trip. 33
7 READY FORTUNE *** Battles away and only win was at this journey. Should get a good run throughout. 6.00
8 SILVER FLY *** Ran on when resuming and this distance is more suitable. Only win was at 1700m. 10
9 ENZO ** Did little last start but this distance is more suitable. 10
10 STANZOUT * Will find this more suitable than recent outings and can show up. 25
11 BROWNE’S ANATOMY *** Has been running on well at recent outings and should be closing late. 6.00
12 DOS EQUIS ** Suited this trip and can get in the finish. 10
13 RIGHT IS RIGHT * Still a maiden and tested here. 33
14 PEREGRINE FALCON * Only win was on turf and yet to place in 10 starts on the poly. 25
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Race 9
Selections; 5 EMPEROR’S BANQUET – 7 IN FACT – 2 KNIGHT’S COMMAND – 4 DUJARDIN
A small and not particularly strong field for the Woodlands Classic over 2000m on turf. BRILLIANT DEAL will hopefully lead for Alan Munro and whilst they will leave him alone at their peril, this could set it up for the Pat Shaw runners. Notably EMPEROR’S BANQUET who was terrific in the Gold Cup and followed up with a good effort in the New Year Cup. His recent trial was strong and he should be handy throughout. The stablemate IN FACT is up in Grade but did not miss by much in the New Year Cup and could run a cheeky race. KNIGHT’S COMMAND will be running on but it is worth noting he has yet to win beyond a mile. DUJARDIN won this race last year and whilst his recent form is ordinary the small field will suit. The same remarks could apply to TROPAIOS and the veteran LIZARRE.
1 LIZARRE * Blinkers off. Grand galloper who is struggling of late. Will enjoy being back on turf and distance suits but may be a light of other days. 20
2 KNIGHT’S COMMAND *** Always running on but is yet to win beyond a mile. Will be closing late. 4.50
3 TROPAIOS ** Gold Cup winner of two years back who has struggled since. Ran 4th in 2014 Gold Cup and could show up in this. Will need a solid pace. 6.00
4 DUJARDIN ** Form has been ordinary but won this race last year and has struck a fairly weak field. Should make a bid. 6.00
5 EMPEROR’S BANQUET *** Ran a super race in the Gold Cup and followed up with a good poly effort in the New Year Cup. Trialled well and will be on the speed throughout. 2.50
6 BRILLIANT DEAL ** Looks tested by the class but could lead and with Alan Munro up run a very cheeky race. 14
7 IN FACT *** Ran a great race in the New Year Cup. Eligible for much easier but should be handy throughout. 4.50
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Race 10
Selections; 3 JET SET – 1 ALWAYS A WINNER – 2 SACRED CROWN – 7 BLUE LAGOON
The normal Class 5 over 1100m on the poly with many chances though in this case, the top three have some level of consistency. ALWAYS A WINNER is from the in-form Leslie Khoo stable and he generally gives a good sight at this level, having already won five similar races. SACRED CROWN is also racing with a degree of consistency, he too is a five-time winner and should be in the finish. JET SET has plenty of speed and he is normally prominent throughout in these. Most of the others fall in the less reliable category though BLUE LAGOON seemed to enjoy being ridden off the speed last start and horses such as HAPPY FOREVER, STATE TROOPER and SARAWI are capable of bobbing up in these.
1 ALWAYS A WINNER *** Always a chance in these and will be on the speed throughout. 4.00
2 SACRED CROWN *** Racing consistently at this level and should be in the finish. 5.00
3 JET SET *** Has speed and will be prominent throughout in what is suitable company. 5.00
4 STATE TROOPER ** Resuming and could go well fresh. 12
5 VASSILAKOS * Far from reliable but has some speed and could show up. 20
6 YOUNG LADY * Blinkers off. Gets Michael Rodd but would require a miracle. 50
7 BLUE LAGOON *** Relished being ridden off the speed last start. Should be right in the finish. 5.50
8 QUALITASE * Winkers off but has not won for nearly three years and 32 starts. 33
9 STREET RUFFIAN ** Doesn’t win often but suited this grade and will be running on. 12
10 SACRED PRINCE * Doesn’t win often and recent form ordinary. 20
11 HAPPY FOREVER ** Showed a return to form last outing and suited this trip. 8.00
12 FANTASTIC BOY * Unlikely. 33
13 SARAWI ** Not far away at recent starts and can get in the finish. 12
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Race 11
Selections; 2 BLUE SWEDE – 4 OM – 5 ASPEN – 1 IMPEL
A strong BM67 over 1400m closes the programme and a number of these will enjoy being back on turf. BLUE SWEDE won maiden over this trip and scored over 1200m in Class 4 on the poly last start. He is in form, John Powell knows him well and he has a good turn of foot late. The danger could be OM who loves 1400m but is one of those horses that can find trouble; if Craig Newitt can keep him out of strife he should be finishing better than most. The stablemate ASPEN also likes the trip and Manoel Nunes will give him every chance. IMPEL is resuming but trialling well, he is suited this trip and well up to the class. POLE PARADISE will enjoy being back on the turf and placed last attempt at this class and distance. The field is so strong it is hard to include the promising LIM’S RALLY though he could well be responsible for setting the speed and being the one they have to run down. The newcomer MUSCLE BEACH with three European wins up to a mile could also be worth watching.
1 IMPEL *** Trialling well and will enjoy being back on turf. Should be handy throughout. 5.00
2 BLUE SWEDE *** Won maiden over this trip and scored over 1200m in Class 4 last start. In form and has a good turn of foot late. 3.50
3 LUCKY MISSION * Has placed over 1400m in BM83 class but yet to win beyond 1200m. Awkwardly drawn. 20
4 OM *** Always running on and this is his trip. Should get a good run throughout. 5.00
5 ASPEN *** Will enjoy being back on turf and last win was over this trip in Class 4. Can get in the finish. 8.00
6 IZNATE * Blinkers on. Trialling well but may want longer. 33
7 POLE PARADISE ** Will enjoy being back on the turf and placed last attempt at this class and distance. Will be in the finish. 10
8 GOLD DANCER * Has been a disaster on the poly but much better on turf and could show up. 25
9 MUSCLE BEACH ** Has three wins from seven starts in Europe up to a mile. Trialling nicely and could show up. 10
10 LIM’S RALLY ** Pacifiers off. Promising type who is stepping up to 1400m but is taking on a strong field. 10
11 YES BABA * Honest but better on poly in Class 4 over a mile. 33
12 THANKFULNESS ** Racing well but this is a big jump in class. Will be tested. 25
13 KAISER BRIGHT * Suited back on turf but 1400m at this level will test. 33
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