Singapore Racing – Today

Daniel (Joao Moreira, yellow cap) exacts revenge on his last-start nemesis Rite Of Spring. Picture Singapore Turf Club.06/10/2013

The Jumbo Jet Trophy highlights a very good days racing and more importantly heralds the start of what is arguably the best two months of racing in Singapore. The 1400m WFA event is the perfect introduction for Singapore’s best horses leading into a crack at the Kranji Mile and Raffles Cup (1800m) for the middle distance stars and Novembers Singapore Gold Cup for the stayers.

The best trainers and jockeys also come to the fore at this time of year and it’s no surprise Laurie Laxon has two of the serious winning hopes in GOODMAN and DANIEL. Both 4YO’s, GOODMAN and DANIEL have been in terrific form winning their past three and two respectively with GOODMAN having the edge with a WFA win to his name.

Obviously this is a big test with the likes of FLAX resuming and STEPITUP overdue for another win at this level and you could also make a case for the likes of CASH LUCK, WILD GEESE, BORN TO FLY without forgetting the only mare in the field, GOLD RUTILE.

Elsewhere on the card, FLAK JACKET looks to have found a very winnable Class 4 race to continue on his winning form in the lucky last and WAR LORD – who has been very disappointing with support of late – could find a change of stables with a gear change to his liking in race 11.

Best Bets; (FLAK JACKET race 12, win), (FARETTI race 8, each-way) and (WAR LORD race 11, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 9 (1, 6, 8, 9 and 10), race 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, 13 and 14), race 11 (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10), race 12 (1).

Race 8

Selections; 1 FARETTI – 4 SMART VINTAGE – 11 BLOSSOMS SEQUEL – 8 CALIFORNIAN JET
Great race and good luck if you like anything as most will be at nice odds given the evenness of the field. As it stands the top-weight – FARETTI – looks ready knock in his second win in Singapore. The American-bred 5YO has probably been a tad disappointing not to have won more than one race from 14 starts but his two runs this campaign suggests he is due and a switch back to the turf over the mile with a nice recent trial under his belt looks a good combination. Too many others to mention them all but at odds it may pay to keep SMART VINTAGE safe stepping up to the mile with one solid run under his belt with DAHLHAUS and SILVER AND GOLD also likely to show something at value. BLOSSOMS SEQUEL goes very close as does ROCK ESPRIT with support likely with OZYMANDIAS and CALIFORNIAN JET huge shows on recent form. Do your very best!

1 FARETTI *** Long time between wins but looks due and recent good trial suggests he is right in this. 6.00
2 SILVER AND GOLD *** Shown at his last two he handles the turf and worth a look at odds. 20
3 EDEN PARK ** Broke maiden status last start but will need to improve this company after drawing wide. 8.00
4 SMART VINTAGE *** Had no support but ran on super at Singapore debut and step up to the mile ideal. Big show with winkers on. 12
5 BUNGAE ** Disappointing last start but the type to keep safe at odds stepping up in trip. 33
6 JIMTOWN ** Form better than it reads and another that could surprise at odds with winkers off. 33
7 ROCK ESPRIT *** Won well when breaking maiden status last start and the mile looks ideal. Big show with blinkers. 4.00
8 CALIFORNIAN JET *** Excuses last start not to finish closer to the winner and right in this. 5.00
9 DAHLHAUS *** Ran on well late last start and step up in distance is in his favour. Value. 20
10 OZYMANDIAS *** Two runs this campaign have been good and happy to include somewhere. 8.00
11 BLOSSOMS SEQUEL *** Excuses not to finish closer last start when second and has to be a big winning show. 6.00
12 SILVER STREAK * No. 100

Race 9

Selections; 8 TOUCH ME NOT – 1 RUM N RAISINS – 10 STAR JET – 6 JUBILATION
A tougher Novice we have not seen of late with two last start winners and another couple coming off very nice second placings. In saying that, TOUCH ME NOT won like a good thing should on debut and that three-length margin could see him start short in this. True, that win was on the Poly but no reason to think he doesn’t go just as well on the turf and could even improve with race experience under his belt. At the top of the weights but with a handy – if not crucial – 3kg claim, RUM N RAISINS ran second to THUMPING last start and that form should hold up in this field. Throw in JUBILATION who ran a very good second on debut and last start winner, INVINCIBLE GOLD, who has Brown riding for Brown. STAR JET had excuses at his second start after winning as the short-priced fave on debut and pay to keep him safe. Forget the rest with the exception of the newcomer ROSADO who may add value to exotics.

1 RUM N RAISINS *** Smart type who gets in well with very handy 3kg claim. Goes close. 6.00
2 ROSADO ** Former Kiwi with plenty of race experience and trailed good enough to keep safe at Singapore debut. 20
3 ARMADILLO * Resuming after long lay-off. No. 200
4 BRANKSOME * Plenty of excuses last start but love to see over longer. 33
5 ESCALATION * Showed nothing at debut. 200
6 JUBILATION *** Debut a beauty and should get every chance from gate 3 with John Powell on-board. 4.00
7 HUSSAR * Struggles. 200
8 TOUCH ME NOT *** Won very well at debut – albeit on the Poly – and looks hard to beat on that effort. 2.40
9 INVINCIBLE GOLD *** Coming off a very good win and has to be respected for the brown/gold/brown combination. 4.00
10 STAR JET *** Plenty of excuses including respiratory distress last start to think we give another go. 10
11 EYE FOUR GET * Blinkers on but impossible on debut form. 100

Race 10

Selections; 12 GOODMAN – 4 STEPITUP – 1 FLAX – 13 DANIEL
Given the Gold Cup in November is at handicap conditions, the Jumbo Jet can lay claims to be the unofficial opening leg of the Singapore Triple Crown. At WFA conditions over 1400m, it is the ideal lead into the Kranji Mile and Raffles Cup with the best horses getting every opportunity to win. Obviously the top rated horses are a good place to start and FLAX resuming could easily win. The 8YO – who placed in the 2012 Singapore Airlines International Cup – has excellent first-up form and no reason to think he doesn’t show close to his best which is good enough at odds to follow. The in-form horse is GOODMAN who gets a token 0.5kg allowance at the WFA conditions. But every little bit helps and the 4YO is obviously flying and hard to beat at a likely short price. His stable-mate DANIEL is just behind him on ratings and form and has to be respected with the usually suspects in STEPITUP, CASH LUCK, WILD GEESE, BORN TO FLY and the mare, GOLD RUTILE, all well and truly in the mix.

1 FLAX *** Resuming and goes well fresh so has to be respected at WFA conditions. 12
2 CASH LUCK *** Recent trial suggests he is ready to show his best and pay to respect. 20
3 WILD GEESE *** Always gives his best and blinkers added might seem him in a winning position. 12
4 STEPITUP *** Refuses to run a bad race and gets his chance from a fair gate. 6.00
5 MR BIG ** Hasn’t saluted since winning this race last year but some hope with blinkers off. 20
6 BORN TO FLY *** Rarely wins but another who refuses to run a bad race. Respect. 12
7 CITY LAD * Gets winkers and tongue-tie but should struggle at WFA conditions. 33
8 SUPERNOVA * Competitive but another who should struggle at WFA. 33
9 KNIGHT’S COMMAND ** Excuses last start and happy to include at long odds on previous form. 33
10 NANDOWRA * Recent good form has been with less weight and easier to leave out. 33
11 PEACEFUL WARRIOR ** Rarely runs a bad one but tested at this level. 33
12 GOODMAN *** Showed last start he is up to WFA Group level and very hard to beat in this. 2.40
13 DANIEL *** Not as highly rated as his stable-mate GOODMAN but won five from 12 and right in this on recent winning form. 6.00
14 GOLD RUTILE ** Always an each-way show and another that will add value to exotics. 20

Race 11

Selections; 10 WAR LORD – 1 SUPER VOICE – 3 SINGLE ACT – 4 GEARIGURU
Tricky race with a few horses overdue for wins with punters likely gun shy given the lack of recent winning form for the fancies. Case in point is WAR LORD who hasn’t won since February 2013. That is a long time between drinks and given he has been supported of late and hasn’t produced, he is a risk. But – and it might be a big butt – his recent trial with blinkers added was very good and he might just be ready to go “woosh” with head-gear added and Lisa Allpress up for new trainer, Leslie Khoo. Also from the trials, SUPER VOICE gets blinkers and looked impressive with the addition to his gear so could easily show up with 3kg claimer, S Noh, on-board. Throw in SINGLE ACT, GEARIGURU, SUPERMART, ROUGH DANCE and the consistent, CAN’T TOUCH ME.

1 SUPER VOICE *** Form reads badly but recent trial with blinkers good and appreciates claim and grade. 12
2 HIGHLIGHT ** Surprised a few winning over 1200m on the Poly last start and have to respect. 8.00
3 SINGLE ACT *** Yet to win in Singapore but looks well-placed from gate 2 with Nunes in this company. 7.00
4 GEARIGURU *** Ignore last start as previous form this trip has him right in this. 10
5 SUPERMART *** Resuming after good run in similar affair and pay to keep safe. 12
6 ROUGH DANCE *** Frustrating run of good form without a win but gets another chance. 6.00
7 VIVA RAAJ * Excuses last start but maiden form is a concern. 33
8 STAR RAINBOW * Not the worst but better suited Class 5 over longer on the Poly. 33
9 CAN’T TOUCH ME *** Another horse overdue to win a race like this and in the mix with handy 3kg claim. 6.00
10 WAR LORD *** Has been disappointing with support but recent top trial with blinkers suggests he can win. 3.00
11 DOS EQUIS * Better suited in Class 5. 33

Race 12

Selections; 1 FLAK JACKET – 3 ALAN – 6 MISTER CANDY – 5 NEUTRINOS
Rare that the lucky last is a race without depth and as such, last start winner FLAK JACKET could be a good thing. The former Australian galloper put in two eye-catching runs before winning at his third start in Singapore and on the strength of that effort, he is a horse to follow. Add gate 1 to the equation in what is a weak field and he should be hard to beat. ALAN looks the obvious danger. The 4YO is coming off a very disappointing run when he failed as the even money fave with Moreira up but can certainly bounce back with Nunes on-board on what he showed at his two previous starts. The rest look to be making up the numbers but MISTER CANDY is honest so happy to forget his last start failure and a blanket over the rest for exotics.

1 FLAK JACKET *** Backed-up two solid runs with a strong win and pay to follow with gate 1 a bonus. 2.50
2 NATION THEATRE ** Resuming after winning over 1700m late last year. Might need the run and longer. 12
3 ALAN *** Very disappointing with support and Moreira last start but previous form has him right in this. 3.50
4 KING SAVINSKY * Former Kiwi who has had two quiet trials and will need longer. 33
5 NEUTRINOS ** Normally seen on the Poly but did place at only turf run so worth a look. 10
6 MISTER CANDY ** Disappointing last start but has subsequently trialed well so should bounce back to honest best. 6.00
7 DRAGON NINETYNINE * Can swoop but like to see on Poly and easier company. 20
8 NORTHERN GOLD ** Tries hard but place looks best with winkers added. 10
9 ALL SERENE * Recent good form in easier company and might need a tad longer. 20
10 FLAMING FIREHEART ** Mixes his form and racing pattern but the type to keep safe. 33

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