Ivaldo Santana opens his account for the new season aboard Astrostar in Race 7 on Friday. Picturre Singapore Turf Club.10/01/14
An odd card on Sunday with some good races and some not so good races on offer.
Race 7 on the card – a Class 5 (division 2) over 1200m – comes under the “not so good”category but the beauty of this sport is that every race has a winner.
Patient connections of a few long-term maidens get their chance to sip the same Champagne as the feature winners and in good news for punters, there only looks two – perhaps three – winning hopes at best.
GENUINE BARGAIN backed up a good trial with a nice enough run behind Browne’s Anatomy to think he can win a race like this and from gate 3 with a handy Zuriman 3kg claim, he won’t get a better chance.
CELESTIAL STAR looks the obvious danger with perhaps MORRIS, HAPPY FOREVER and LUCKY GENERAL in the mix.
From the ridiculous to the sublime, the BM83 (race 9) looks an absolute cracker with the likes of MYCAPTAINOBLIVIOUS, ASTROSTAR and FLASH GIFT all winning hopes on their favourite surface.
Of the trio, MYCAPTAINOBLIVIOUS is undefeated at four starts on the Poly and looks the obvious choice but will need to be at his best after drawing the widest gate in this company.
But a newcomer from Argentinean in MAGNETO could upset them all.
The Pat Shaw-trained 4YO won five from six before being shipped to Singapore to continue his racing career and has certainly shown enough at a few local trials to think he can show up over 1200m at his Kranji debut.
And hopefully, at a decent price.
Best Bets; (DARCI CHARMER race 11, win), (GENUINE BARGAIN race 7, win) and (MAGNETO race 9, each-way).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 2, 4 and 8), race 9 (1, 2, 3, 4 and 6), race 10 (1, 3, 4, 5 and 14), race 11 (1, 2, 4, 5 and 9).
Please note the odds listed are “reference odds” only.
Race 7
Selections; 8 GENUINE BARGAIN – 6 CELESTIAL STAR – 4 MORRIS – 2 HAPPY FOREVER
With due respect to all concerned, this race doesn’t deserve much of a preview given the poor form of most of the horses. In fact it will be interesting to see who runs a place as some of these won’t get a better chance to pay for some feed for both themselves and patient connections. Only two horses get a look in – GENUINE BARGAIN and CELESTIAL STAR. GENUINE BARGAIN backed up a good trial with a nice run and if he has kept that form, he wins. CELESTIAL STAR had excuses last start and while disappointing at the start prior, his previous form has him close to winning. A race in two for mine but keep an eye on the billy goat.
1 LAM EDITION * Struggling. 100
2 HAPPY FOREVER ** This race is weak enough for a solid showing. 12
3 LUCKY GENERAL ** Another who shows enough on a good day to consider in this field. 12
4 MORRIS ** Long-term maiden but could run a race on best form. 12
5 SALUTE * Not likely to salute. 50
6 CELESTIAL STAR *** Maiden who had excuses last start and would give this a shake on some of his recent runs. 2.50
7 SARAWI * Hard to have on recent form. 20
8 GENUINE BARGAIN *** Sixteen start maiden who could nudge an odds-on quote on what he showed last start. 2.00
9 STYLISH LAD * Impossible on form but gets tongue-tie and gate 1 so watch for any support. 15
Race 8
Selections; 1 ADRENALINE – 4 LUCKY DAPPER – 8 ROUGH DANCE – 2 ALL MY WAY
This KSD sprint looks interesting with a couple of surprise last start winners in ALL MY WAY and DRAGON NINETYNINE up against some horses in solid form. Of the two last start winners, ALL MY WAY won in Graduation company last start and that form will hold
up here. That win looked courtesy of a gear change – blinkers on – and with Harry Kassim staying on, he goes close. But at the top of the ratings, the lightly raced ADRENALINE could show up without surprising. Although his only career win was over 1400m on the turf and he comes into this after a poor first-up showing, he gets a good gate today and he should find this race more suitable. LUCKY DAPPER is always “due” and picks himself with a prominent run throughout likely and likewise, ROUGH DANCE is also due and could jump favourite after drawing the ace.
1 ADRENALINE *** Never likely first-up from wide gate and should be prominent in this. 6.00
2 ALL MY WAY *** Scored an upset win in good company last start when blinkers were added and has to be a chance here. 6.00
3 ZAC HEAVEN ** Expect a very cheeky run with 4kg claimer. 12
4 LUCKY DAPPER *** Due and this race looks suitable to knock in a well-deserved win. 3.00
5 DRAGON NINETYNINE ** Showed last start what he can do when race run to suit swoopers. Keep safe. 12
6 ULTIMATE WARRIOR * Winkers on back in trip. Take on trust. 20
7 HIDDEN VENTURE ** Did it tough last start and happy to follow each-way on previous solid form. 20
8 ROUGH DANCE *** Overdue for a win and gets his chance in this field from the ace. 3.50
9 BLACK FURY ** Blinkers added after two poor efforts and worth though on recent trial form. 20
10 FLY FREELY * Reassess Class 5. 50
Race 9
Selections; 1 MAGNETO – 4 MYCAPTAINOBLIVIOUS – 2 ASTROSTAR – 6 CORONET PEAK
It’s hard to fault the poly form of MYCAPTAINOBLIVIOUS who comes into this undefeated at four starts on the all-weather track. He only won narrowly at his last start but did do it tough enough to think he has more to offer although he will need some luck in running in this company after drawing gate 9. With this in mind, a smart newcomer in MAGNETO might be a good option to win at his Singapore debut. The former Argentinean arrived with an impressive resume that read five wins from six starts and with three impressive trials under his belt, he might prove the testing material. Of the rest with winning hopes, ASTROSTAR loves the surface and was unlucky not to win last start and is right in this from gate 1 with CORONET PEAK some hope after a close up second behind MYCAPTAINOBLIVIOUS at his last start. Keep FLASH GIFT safe in what is a great race.
1 MAGNETO *** Former Argentinean who won five-from-six before impressing at some trials. Big show. 5.00
2 ASTROSTAR *** Stiff not to win last start and always a show on the Poly with gate 1 a bonus. 5.00
3 FLASH GIFT *** In form and goes close back on the Poly over recent winning trip. 8.00
4 MYCAPTAINOBLIVIOUS *** Unbeaten at four Poly starts and the my captain obvious pick. 2.00
5 SICHUAN RULER ** Always worth a look in exotics at value. 33
6 CORONET PEAK *** Pushed MYCAPTAINOBLIVIOUS last start and should figure again. 8.00
7 ENCOSTA DIABLO ** Resuming and will be working into this late at long odds. 50
8 PHILANTHROPIST ** Very much appreciates first-up run after long break and could surprise at odds. 12
9 HAMMER DOWN * OK late last start but this looks tough. 50
Race 10
Selections; 5 DANNY – 4 BLACK BEAN – 3 STANZOUT – 1 SPINNING SUCCESS
DANNY is a solid horse to follow and will always give a shout late. The 1800m on the Poly should suit and Rueven’s 2kg claim looks a good move in this company. BLACK BEAN looks the benchmark given his run of consistent form of late. The 4YO has won twice on the Poly over a mile but his two recent good runs over 1700m and 1900m respectively suggests 1800m is “just right”. Of the others, STANZOUT might be the value and looks due to show his best with O’Shea remaining on-board with surprise last start winner, SPINNING SUCCESS, obviously in the mix on that run. It will pay to keep an eye on scratchings with the second emergency, OVER EASY, some hope if he gets a start.
1 SPINNING SUCCESS *** Won at long odds last start in similar affair and have to respect. 6.00
2 AMBER SHADE ** Improved at second start in Singapore and in the exotic mix. 20
3 STANZOUT *** Veteran who had excuses last start and might be ready to show his best at odds. 20
4 BLACK BEAN *** In very solid form and goes close with gate 2 a bonus. 3.00
5 DANNY *** Another in solid form and looks well-placed with 2kg Rueven claim. 4.00
6 LET IT ROCK ** Backed-up a good trial with a solid run and pay to keep safe from gate 1 with blinkers off. 8.00
7 GALLANT HEIGHTS ** Won in Class 5 two starts back and place looks best from wide gate. 12
8 I LIKE ** Also drawn wide but will be battling away throughout. 12
9 ONEPLUSZERO ONE ** Appreciates first-up run and should improve. 20
10 CONFALCON * Resuming and this looks tough first-up. 20
11 BRAVO * Gets Brown but hard to have on form. 33
12 NINTH AVENUE ** Will get back from wide gate and run on late at odds. 33
13 DOS EQUIS * Needs Class 5. 33
14 OVER EASY *** In-form and like to think he plays a big part in this if he gets a start. 8.00
Race 11
Selections; 2 DARCI CHARMER – 5 ARROWHEAD – 1 FARETTI – 9 WINNER’S SMILE
Great race to finish the card and it might make for one of the better bets of the meeting with DARCI CHARMER. The promising 4YO has won twice and placed once from just six career starts and given some of his unplaced runs have been in good company, Class 4 looks perfect as does winkers and Alan Munro. He also placed second behind GOLDEN BRILLIANT and that form holds up here. But the one he probably has to pass late to win is ARROWHEAD. The 4YO also has two wins to his name but given he likes to lead, enjoys
the Poly and has drawn the ace, he gives them something to catch with “The Juggler” riding. Of the others, FARETTI and ROYAL STYLE are always some hope in races like this and must be considered with WINNER’S SMILE one to watch at long odds as his first run back was better than the result and could surprise with blinkers off.
1 FARETTI *** Not far away last start in similar affair with support and goes very close. 3.00
2 DARCI CHARMER *** Plenty of excuses last start and looks very well placed to win this with winkers added. 3.00
3 ABOVE THE RAINBOW * Hard to have on two runs in Singapore. 100
4 ROYAL STYLE *** Very much appreciates solid first-run back and goes close on best form. 6.00
5 ARROWHEAD *** Just fair last start but gets senior hoop and the ace so cheeky run expected. 6.00
6 BIGCAT RHAPSODY * No. 100
7 HIDDEN ART * Last start better than the result but place best in this tough field. 33
8 NORTHERN GOLD ** First start on the Poly and in the exotic mix on best form. 8.00
9 WINNER’S SMILE *** Plenty of excuses at first-run back and worth some thought at odds with blinkers removed. 20
10 FOREVER AHEAD * Hard to have on recent form. 50
11 RON ** Resuming after a win over the mile. recent trial OK. Exotics. 20
