Huka Falls (Joao Moreeira) holds off Masthead (Manoel Nunes) to record his eighth career win
Singapore Racing, 3 March 2013
The much anticipated Three-Year-Old Sprint headlines a great days racing from Singapore on Sunday with the exciting HUKA FALLS the horse to watch. The Align-gelding had taken Singapore racing by storm winning eight from nine career starts and certainly lost no friends when beaten into fourth in Open Group company last start. His rating of 98 is some 22 points (11kg) better than his closest rival on paper, STEPITUP, and a massive 39 points (19.5kg) over the bottom rated horse, KLEVER MAN. Given the gulf in ratings, HUKA FALLS will be very short in the betting and extremely hard to beat against his own age group. If we are looking for chinks in his amour, trainer Laurie Laxon has had HUKA FALLS ‘up’ for a while now and apart form a month off racing in November, he has been in racing mode for some seven months now. But the good judges at the track suggest he is thriving and while a break must be on the horizon, he has no excuses leading into this race. STEPITUP does look the only realistic danger. The star of the Sonny Yeoh stable, STEPITUP has won four from five with plenty of excuses at his only defeat. Add the fact the Hussonet-gelding can race handy or swoop, he looks a horse to follow through the 3YO series and certainly worth thought today.
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Best Bets; HUKA FALLS (race 9, win), ZAC SPIRIT (race 11, win) and FLANEUR (race 12, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 9 (1 and 2), race 10 (2, 4 and 5), race 11 (6) and race 12 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 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; 5 G POWER – 8 YES BABA – 7 SILVER AND GOLD – 11 HE CAN DANCE
An Initiation for 4YO’s on the Polytrack over a mile featuring a number that are very much on trial at the trip. Of those that aren’t, G POWER was placed over 1700m at his last outing, he has a nice draw, Pat Shaw polish and Barend Vorster to ride; he should be able to sit just off the speed and be hard to beat. The stablemate YES BABA has got Joao Moreira. He too is nicely drawn and has put in solid efforts over shorter trips; if he can handle the journey perhaps a Shaw quinella is in the offing. HE CAN DANCE put in a useful effort two starts back over 1400m, he has a nice alley and a claim for Harry Kassim brings him in with no weight. The stablemate CHAPTER AND VERSE battles away and at least he will get a solid mile. Of those that are on trial at the trip, SILVER AND GOLD ran on well last start and the John Powell/Leticia Dragon combination is in good form; despite the awkward alley he should race well. BLAZING SPUR also runs on and looks like the mile may suit. HEART AND SOUL gets the blinkers; he led and faded over 1700m last start but has since trialed reasonably and with Zuriman’s claim could give a bold sight.
1 SECONDWAVE * Failed to show up in five starts up to 1200m; may appreciate the extra distance. 25
2 BLAZING SPUR ** Well beaten but was running on late at last outing over 1200m; should appreciate the mile. 20
3 HEART AND SOUL ** Blinkers on and has ace draw; led and faded over 1700m last start, recent trial fair and could be an improver. 14
4 CHAPTER AND VERSE * Battled away last start over a mile; engagement of senior rider may help. 20
5 G POWER *** Did not miss by much over 1700m last start; nicely drawn, enjoys the surface and a strong chance again. 3.60
6 REGAL SALUTE ** Not beaten a million miles last start and mile may suit; long-shot. 33
7 SILVER AND GOLD *** Beaten five lengths into second last start but will sit on the speed and looks one of the main hopes. 5.00
8 YES BABA *** Has put in solid efforts at only three starts over shorter journeys; mile should suit and with Moreira on top from a good alley is a strong chance. 3.00
9 MR PATRON ** Been thereabouts over shorter journeys; awkward draw but has Verenzuela steering. 14
10 CHI LIN * Battles away but wide draw does not help. 2511 HE CAN DANCE ** Useful effort on turf over 1400m two starts back; well drawn and with Harry Kassim claim is well weighted and could show up. 10
12 BIG HARVEST * Has been well back at all six starts but mile could suit. 25
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Race 9
Selections; 1 HUKA FALLS – 2 STEPITUP – 5 RONNIE BROWN – 8 SIMPLE PLEASURES
The first leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint Series over 1200m on turf and if ratings mean anything, HUKA FALLS should be close to a good thing. The Align gelding found the Merlion Trophy too hot last start but his prior form was exemplary on both turf and Polytrack; perfectly drawn and with Joao Moreira to steer he is the one they have to beat. If he is vulnerable STEPITUP could be the one to test him. The tsar of the Sonny Yeoh stable, he has done little wrong winning four of five and possesses a powerful turn of foot at the end of his races; he is not best served in the barrier draw but if he can get cover will be running on strongly. RONNIE BROWN is an out and out speedster who could be serious nuisance value and will give a bold sight for a long way; rain helps. SIMPLE PLEASURES has been lightly raced but has won two of three and shows plenty of promise; this is his biggest test but he could well be up to it. CAVALLO, PITSTOP, SUPER KENNY and MY SHINE are all nice horses who will give their best, and SOUTHERN LORD is a Group winner from New Zealand who will be improved from his first run in Singapore.
1 HUKA FALLS *** Found the Merlion Trophy too hot last start but this is much easier against own age group; should be too classy. 1.60
2 STEPITUP *** Smart and good enough to overcome bad gate and keep the fave honest; watch late. 5.00
3 SOUTHERN LORD ** Tongue tie on. Group winner in NZ who will be improved by his first Singapore outing; would prefer longer but is a knock-out hope. 10.00
4 CAVALLO * Consistent galloper who will put in an honest effort with downgrade to winkers but will find others too smart. 33
5 RONNIE BROWN *** Speedster who will give a good sight for a long way; soft track won’t hurt his chances. 8.00
6 SUPER GOOD * Caught wide last start, better drawn here but up against quality gallopers. 33
7 PITSTOP * Won Class 4 on turf last start; well drawn and should run on late. 20
8 SIMPLE PLEASURES ** Resuming. Smart performer whose two wins have been on turf. Trialed well recently and could be a surprise packet. 12
9 SUPER KENNY ** Racing consistently and will be on the speed all the way. 1610 KLEVER MAN * Won Novice two starts back and followed up with solid effort in Graduation class; will find these too smart. 20
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Race 10
Selections; 4 WHAT NOW – 2 FLAX – 12 GREAT LIGHT – 6 MARTIN
An Open Class race over 1400m on turf brings together a good field. WHAT NOW put in a good effort last start on the Polytrack which is not really his surface. He loves this trip, trialed smartly recently, is perfectly drawn and has Alan Munro on top; he will be hard to beat. FLAX is a class horse, he is being aimed at events later on but has won at the distance and can sprint well fresh; worth noting he won this race last year after a similar spell. Joao Moreira is on GREAT LIGHT who is racing in career best form; with no weight he will keep them all honest and worth noting he placed behind Deep Pockets this trip last year. GINGERBREAD MAN is a bit of a forgotten horse, but his work this week was very good and he could be ready to return to his best. ALWAYS CERTAIN has a great record over 1400m on turf. But while he is bound to be running on strongly late, the A Course isn’t the best for swoopers and he might find this tough with top-weight. MARTIN is a class 4YO coming back in distance but he is smart enough to make his presence felt. METEOR MIKE is very honest and will put in his best effort, and whilst the THE COMEDIAN is more of a rogue, at his best he could get right in the mix.
1 ALWAYS CERTAIN ** Class performer suited at the trip and can charge home late. 4.50
2 FLAX *** Top galloper resuming; well drawn, could show up fresh and worth noting won similar race first up last year. 7.00
3 GINGERBREAD MAN ** Tongue tie on, worked well this week and could be ready to return to best form. 10
4 WHAT NOW *** Trialled smartly recently, well drawn and suited at 1400m; hard to beat. 4.00
5 KEEP AWAY * Recent form ordinary, poorly drawn and better at a mile but can often surprise. 20
6 MARTIN ** Top class 4YO coming back from 2000m; smart enough to make his presence felt. 14
7 THE COMEDIAN * Has not provided many laughs lately but more than capable on his day. 33
8 EXCAVATOR * Form starting to read badly but this trip may see improvement. 33
9 METEOR MIKE ** Very honest performer but may be tested in this class. 14
10 EL PADRINO ** Better than form suggests and could surprise. 1611 FIGHTER JET * Good effort last start but these should be too smart. 20
12 GREAT LIGHT *** In super form, has no weight and top rider; will run a bold race. 4.50
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Race 11
Selections; 6 ZAC SPIRIT – 4 LUWAK COFFEE – 12 BENDICION – 2 FLAG OF COMMAND
A Novice over 1200m on turf brings together a very open field with four last start winners engaged, three of those won on debut. The best of the looked ZAC SPIRIT and happy to follow the Flying Spur 3YO today. His debut win a beauty – some four lengths over MORRIS – and certainly looks the type to go on with it. However, there are a number of others who having been knocking on the door and may get their chance here. BENDICION trained by Takaoka and ridden by his comrade-in-arms Alan Munro is at the bottom of the weights but her three starts have all been full of merit; from the good barrier draw she should be very hard to beat. FLAG OF COMMAND is unlucky and just keeps on running into one better; his only win was over 1200m on turf and with the tongue-tie applied and Jose Verenzuela on top he gets his chance again. There was a lot to like about LUWAK COFFEE’s first up run; Harry Kassim claims and from the ace draw he should get the gun run. Joao Moreira jumps on MISTER MAGNUS whose last effort in a Graduation was ordinary; this is easier but he has a tough alley. Add in others with winning form; tough race.
1 SACRED CITY * Resuming. Working well, knocked up on the Polytrack last start but may go better on turf. 33
2 FLAG OF COMMAND *** Tongue tie on, has just missed at recent outings on the Polytrack; only win was at long odds over this distance on turf. 6.00
3 JACKPOT ** Will appreciate being back on turf and despite wide draw should race well. 12
4 LUWAK COFFEE *** First up run from spell was very good; well drawn and with claim for Harry Kassim should go close. 6.00
5 BIG RESPECT * Won maiden last start; this is harder but demands respect again. 16
6 ZAC SPIRIT *** Very strong win on debut and pay to follow as looks a progressive type. 4.00
7 DAWN PROSPECT * Won maiden on Polytrack at last start; this is harder and wide draw does not help but must be considered. 16
8 MR MAGNUS ** Failed to flatter in Graduation last start but did have excuses; keep safe with best work expected late. 12
9 MY SHINE ** Good effort to win at 1100m on Polytrack at debut; this is harder but with Nunes to steer should race well. 1210 ITALIAN JOB ** Failed last start after good debut and not helped by outside alley. 20
11 BOARD WALK ** Winkers on, on trial on turf but Polytrack form is consistent; has nice alley and top rider. 16
12 BENDICION *** Followed strong maiden win with good effort in Novice last start; well drawn and should be hard to beat with light weight. 5.00
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Race 12
Selections; 1 INDICIO – 4 TO BE REMEMBERED – 5 FLANEUR – 10 VICTORY WINGS
A Class 4 over 1400m on the turf finishes the programme. INDICIO is dropping in Class, he has put in good performances in higher grade races and with the claim for Harry Kassim, is handily weighted against this field; with the blinkers on he should race well. TO BE REMEMBERED was well supported and just missed last start; Danny Beasley stays on and from the better draw should be right in the finish. FLANEUR usually travels over slightly longer trips, he has only won once from 27 starts in Singapore but usually gives a bold sight; he is down in grade, well drawn and with the claim for Troy See should put in a strong performance. SPYDER is racing in great heart, Joao Moreira steers but he will need to overcome an outside barrier; if he gets cover he could be hard to hold out. ROUGH DANCE is racing very consistently though he too has a tough barrier and a positive ride from John Powell will be required. RAZIYYA OF SYDNEY got home last start in this grade but is up in weight and also has a very tough alley. If there is to be a surprise VICTORY WINGS and HOOPER are far from the most reliable but both like the distance and the surface.
1 INDICIO *** Blinkers on, down in grade and with claim for Harry Kassim should find this too his liking; will be running on late. 4.50
2 RAZIYYA OF SYDNEY *** Awkwardly drawn and up in weight but won in this Class over this trip last start; chance again. 10
3 SPYDER *** Poorly drawn but has top rider and racing in fine form; should give a bold sight. 6.00
4 TO BE REMEMBERED *** Was well supported and just missed last start; better drawn this time and should get a gun run. 5.00
5 FLANEUR *** Trialing well, down in grade, rarely wins but usually gives a bold sight; very well weighted and should race well. 7.00
6 ROUGH DANCE *** Likes this distance, racing in top form and despite wide barrier should put up a bold show; would not mind rain. 6.00
7 WARRIOR * Has speed but could find it tough from wide gate. 338 ARROW TO POST * Often tardy at the gates and needs to improve on recent efforts although handicap conditions suit. 33
9 HOOPER ** Not the most reliable but likes this distance and surface; wide alley does not help but value for exotics. 16
10 VICTORY WINGS *** Good effort two starts back and was caught wide last start; well drawn and distance suits. 14
11 MAX VELOCITY * Prefers turf and run two back similar affair good but far from reliable; others more likely. 50
12 MR BEAN ** Racing consistently, a must for exotics but better in Class 5. 20
13 OVER EASY ** Looking for something easier. but 1400m should see improvement at long odds 50
14 DANGER MONEY * Needs Class 5. 50
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