Moreira has War Affair clear nearing the line – Singapore Racing 19 May 2013
WAR AFFAIR is a very good horse. The O’Reilly 3YO – who was crowned Singapore Champion Juvenile at the Racing Awards held on Thursday – has won six times from eight career starts and when you consider his only defeats were on debut and at his last start in Open WFA company, he is an outstanding prospect. Oddly, after his gallant defeat in the Raffles Cup, the horse moved from Mark Walker to 2014 leading trainer, Alwin Tan, and that has put some doubts on whether or not he is ready to fire first-up in what is good open company. Over 1200m, the KSA (race 10) has a strong field that includes MR BIG at the top of the weights who has the benefit of a S Noh 3kg claim. Down in the weights, EMPEROR MAX – undefeated in four Singapore starts – and ITALIAN JOB who has been super impressive since resuming last year, winning three from his last four. But WAR AFFAIR is the testing material and all eyes will be on the boom 3YO to see if a change of stables hasn’t changed his winning attitude. Elsewhere on the 12 race programme, LET GO LENNI should be better than Class 4 and anything bar a win in the last would be very disappointing and MAC VOLKS also looks to have found himself a winnable race in a KSD over 1000m (race 11).
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Best Bets; MAC VOLKS (race 9, win), LET GO LENNI (race 12, win) and LUCKY GENERAL (race 8, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 9 (2, 3, 4, 5 and 7), race 10 (1, 5, 6 and 7), race 11 (1, 2, 4, 5 and 6), race 12 (1).
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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; 5 ENZO – 8 MR BEAN – 2 LUCKY GENERAL – 11 BETTER THAN YOU
I think it’s safe to safe this race is a punters nightmare. The tote is going to give us a better guide on the day with a “watch and act” approach to the likes of SPARKLING STAR, SUI GENERIS, ATIAMURI, GENUINE BARGAIN and BETTER THAN YOU. Also in that mix is the Leslie Khoo-trained LUCKY GENERAL. His only win was this trip and given blinkers go on and visiting apprentice, Jamie Kah, he might be ready to show his best. But as it stands it looks a race in two on exposed form between ENZO and BLACK BEAN. Both horses have three wins over the trip (Mr Bean another couple over 1200m) and both have drawn well in gates 1 and 2 respectively. Ugly race and drink accordingly.
1 SPARKLING STAR ** Hard to be confident but run this company/trip three back was his best. 12
2 LUCKY GENERAL *** Blinkers on. Form reads badly but race suits so keep safe. 20
3 STYLISH LAD * Struggles. 50
4 SUI GENERIS ** Usually thereabouts and worth thought with blinkers off. 6.00
5 ENZO *** Suited grade/trip and surface and looks hard to beat from the ace. 4.00
6 ATIAMURI ** Maiden resuming but goes OK on his day. Tote a guide. 12
7 SECONDWAVE ** Has been disappointing of late but OK on his day. 12
8 MR BEAN *** Excuses last start when supported and this race looks suitable to show his best with head-gear removed. 4.00
9 SACRED GENERAL * 17 starts maiden who has been in poor form of late. 33
10 GENUINE BARGAIN ** Can be a handful for junior hoops but cheeky run expected with blinkers added right-side. 20
11 BETTER THAN YOU *** Appreciates first run back and gives this a shake on best form. 20
12 ANGE D’ORIENT ** Enjoys the turf and a must for exotics. 12
13 CHAPTER AND VERSE * Upgrade to blinkers but easier to ignore. 20
14 ROLLTHEDICE ** Also upgraded to blinkers and OK last couple. 20
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Race 9
Selections; 4 SLEW OF LODE – 3 BOARD WALK – 7 CRAZY TIMES – 2 HAMMER DOWN
A good race made all the more interesting given two progressive types in SLEW OF LODE and CRAZY TIMES compete in Class 3 for the first-time after equally impressive Class 4 wins. SLEW OF LODE – who won twice over the mile in Argentina – looks a more than handy sprinter thus far in Singapore and given his impressive recent trial, he can win again. But likewise, CRAZY TIMES has done little wrong at his three career starts and will go through the grades. It is a step-up for both though and BOARD WALK looks the benchmark. A five-time winner over this trip, the 4YO wasn’t at his best last start but you certainly wouldn’t sack him on that run. Of the rest, HAMMER DOWN showed last start the company suits and EURO ZONE could be forgiven for his last start failure with a tongue-tie added today.
1 GUARICANA * Needs to show something in Singapore before we consider. 50
2 HAMMER DOWN *** Showed last start he very much appreciates the company and in this a long way. 10
3 BOARD WALK *** A shade disappointing with support last start but wins a race like this on his day. 6.00
4 SLEW OF LODE *** Backed up very solid debut with a good win and looks well placed here to go on with the job after strong recent trial. 2.00
5 CHINESE CULTURE *** Not far away with excuses last start and pay to follow. 6.00
6 BEAUTY SUPREME ** Resuming and will keep a few honest but might need longer. 20
7 CRAZY TIMES *** This is harder but Class 4 win was impressive and pay to follow. 6.00
8 EURO ZONE ** Better than what he showed last start and worth another look with tongue-tie added. 10
9 KNIGHT SPIRIT * Prefer over longer this company. 50
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Race 10
Selections; 5 WAR AFFAIR – 6 EMPEROR MAX – 7 ITALIAN JOB – 1 MR BIG
WAR AFFAIR – Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Those will to “risk” the Singapore Champion Juvenile will be hindsight heroes if some “just fair” trial form after a change of stables see the 3YO put in a sub-par performance. But those willing to follow arguably the best horse in Singapore into what will be a career defining second campaign, will also be telling “we told you so” if he does indeed win. On paper, WAR AFFAIR resumes after being a good thing beaten in the WFA Raffles Cup and while his first trial was ordinary, his most recent suggests he is not far away. Hopefully that is good enough on Sunday but it is a test. EMPEROR MAX – undefeated in five Singapore runs – might even start favourite and obviously goes better than most. The company is a test but his last win was probably his best so he is certainly the one to beat on form. ITALIAN JOB the value after a strong trial but his turf form at this level might be tested. MR BIG is the benchmark and will look the winner at stages.
1 MR BIG *** Resuming after not at his very best last few but 3kg claim suggests he is in this a very long way. 4.00
2 GOAL KEEPER ** Another who gets a handy claim and will be in this for a long-time from the ace. 10
3 YIN XIN * Struggling. 100
4 RED BEARD ** Resuming and will be the closer late. 12
5 WAR AFFAIR *** Champion Juvenile resuming after super effort in the Raffles Cup and changing stables. Can win. 3.00
6 EMPEROR MAX *** Impossible to fault form and while this company a test, must be a big show. 3.00
7 ITALIAN JOB *** In super form and recent trial very strong. Value. 6.00
8 AWAKENED * Blinkers back on but a big ask second up in this company. 100
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Race 11
Selections; 1 MAC VOLKS – 4 PROBO CHANDROSO – 6 MAGIC OCEAN – 2 HERO SUCCESS
MAC VOLKS could be a good thing here. Although being a tad disappointing since winning on debut back in September, his efforts have been solid in nice enough races to think he very much appreciates KSD company and can win again. A Troy See 3kg claim wont hurt and although drawn a tad awkwardly in 8, he should make every post a winner. Tactics will play a part and MAGIC OCEAN will certainly appreciate a fast pace early and be the closer with PROBO CHANDROSO having excuses last start and certainly looked ready to win on form prior. HERO SUCCESS and THAT’STHEONE also in the winning mix but both hard to follow.
1 MAC VOLKS *** Back on the Poly a good move and hard to beat in this company with handy 3kg claim. 2.40
2 HERO SUCCESS *** Jockey questioned last start when home OK late and back to winning grade in his favour. 12
3 PROVIDENCE ** Pulled up lame last two starts but goes close if right. 12
4 PROBO CHANDROSO *** Plenty of excuses last start so ignore and take on previous good form. 4.00
5 THAT’STHEONE *** Nothing last start but winkers go on and the type that pops up and wins a race like this. 12
6 MAGIC OCEAN *** Will be flying late and looks a serious winning hope. 5.00
7 KING OF KOON ** Looks due but needs a win while in form. 12
8 CARNIVAL STAR * Prefer turf/longer. 33
9 XIAO LONG * NO. 200
10 DOUBLE S ** Form reads badly but appreciates being back on the Poly and will the value. 20
11 URBAN LEGEND * No. 200
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Race 12
Selections; 1 LET GO LENNI – 7 BEAUTY HARMONY – 5 LUCKY DAPPER – 2 CONVICT
LET GO LENNI, let go! Bad chant but nice enough horse and he might also be a good thing for punters to finish off the card. The former Aussie came with big wraps given the company he went round in in Melbourne and while yet to open his Singapore account, he has certainly showed enough to think he can change that here. Nunes from gate five suggests he has no excuses and they might just back him off the charts given the opposition. Corey Brown usually pilots LET GO LENNI and the top Aussie hoop can still play a part in this finish given his mount, BEAUTY HARMONY, looks the main danger. You can put a line through the 5YO’s last run and he looks a strong chance on his previous good form. Obviously LUCKY DAPPER plays a big part in this race but his lack of winning form is a concern and CONVICT certainly plays some part late on what he showed first-up.
1 LET GO LENNI *** Not far away at two starts in Singapore and goes mighty close here with winkers added. 3.00
2 CONVICT ** Good enough first-up run to think he is worth following this campaign. 8.00
3 NORTHERN GOLD ** Resuming and looks like he will handle this company but may be better over longer. 6.00
4 DO ME A FAVOUR * OK first-up run but might need longer than this. 33
5 LUCKY DAPPER ** Always in the mix but just doesn’t win often enough to be confident. 8.00
6 EASY MONEY ** Tongue-Tie on. Another youngster who goes well but better suited over longer. 12
7 BEAUTY HARMONY *** Excuses last start when supported so forget that run and take on previous good form. 6.00
8 BIG READY ** Might appreciate turf but has been disappointing of late and might need easier company. 12
9 SAVAGE STORM ** Questioned last two runs and one to keep safe as goes OK on his day. 12
10 MOONBEAM DAZZLER ** Winkers go on but maiden status a concern this company. 20
11 FUKU’S PET ** Like to see in CLass 5 but the type to include in exotics at value. 20
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