SA-bred Flax, a previous winner of the Gr1 Raffles Cup, runs on the polytack for the first time
There is no doubting that in a one race course city, an all-weather track is worth it’s weight in gold. In current memory only a once in-a-life-time storm has stopped a full meeting going ahead on the “second” track and it is good to see the Singapore Turf Club acknowledge the work- horse that is the Poly with a feature race or three throughout the year.
Sundays Poly feature is the Polytrack Mile Championship and while only in it’s infancy as far as feature races goes, it has fast become one that good horses win with an honour roll that includes Better Than Ever, Flying Fulton, Nandowra and Johnny Guitar.
This years field includes the likes of FLAX, QUECHUA and TRUDEAU – all Group 1 winners – with Poly specialist ONE RAR keeping the trio honest. But QUECHUA has the current runs on the board and comes into this with four straight wins under his belt including the time-honored Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup and the Group 3 New Years Day Cup. Importantly for form, the New Year Cup was on the Poly and given he has been freshened since that win over 1900m, the mile looks ideal and he is very hard to beat.
At the Weight-for-Age conditions, FLAX comes under notice although this will be the 8YO’s first run on the Polytrack so he is somewhat of an unknown form-wise. The Poly holds no such fears for ONE RAR who has five wins on the surface to his credit while TRUDEAU is versatile and looks well-placed to run a big race at each-way odds.
Sunday – 8 March 2015
Best Bets: (RACER KING race 8, win), (CLUTHA LAD race 10, each-way) and (CONVICT race 11, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 2, 3, 5 and 8), race 9 (2, 3 and 5), race 10 (2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10), race 11 (1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 11).
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.
Race 8
Selections; 3 RACER KING – 8 GYPSY MAGIC – 5 TIM – 2 BARNBURGH LAD
A competitive KSD over 1100m on the poly with numerous trainers looking to improve their horses chances with claims. RACER KING is down in grade and with Zuriman’s 2kg claim he should be on the speed throughout and be hard to beat. TIM also will enjoy being back on the poly and Laurie Laxon has engaged Farrick Tan with his 3kg claim. In a race in which there should be plenty of speed from the likes of KAISER and CALIFORNIA SUN, this could set it up for BARNBURGH LAD to run on strongly. The veteran GYPSY MAGIC can’t be discounted and while he is nearing a century of race starts, he is in good form, loves the Poly and might just show the youngsters a thing or two at odds.
1 KAISER *** Blinkers off. Down in grade and claim will help. Should be prominent throughout. 8.00
2 BARNBURGH LAD *** Suited this grade and surface. Should be running on. 5.00
3 RACER KING *** Drops in grade and will be hard to beat with 2kg claim. 3.00
4 CHUNGHUA ** Resuming after poor run of form but gets tongue-tie and recent trials looked OK. 33
5 TIM *** Will enjoy being back on poly and will be handy throughout. 5.00
6 CALIFORNIA SUN ** Loomed last start on turf and is better on poly. Can give a sight. 8.00
7 ACOUSTIC ** Broke through in Class 5 last start. Could show up. 16
8 GYPSY MAGIC *** Racing well this company and will be hard to hold out. 12
9 HEAR ME * Veteran getting down in ratings. Can bob up at odds but should need longer. 50
10 ROMA * Can give a sight but better in Class 5. 20
11 DRAGON NINETYNINE ** Not a mile away last start and will enjoy being back on poly. 20
12 SPECTA DILEMMA * Tested. 50
Race 9
Selections; 2 QUECHUA – 5 ONE RAR – 3 TRUDEAU – 1 FLAX
The Polytrack Mile championship and the current Singapore Gold Cup and New Year Cup winner QUECHUA looks the one to beat. The 4YO is coming back in trip but is a flexible type freshened who should be able to race handy all the way. The danger may be TRUDEAU who was forced to lead last start before being run down. The pride of the Arexevan Stable is well treated at the weights and Michael Rodd should give him a good run. The pace may be muddling and a horse such as DAVIDE could go forward and run a cheeky race. ONE RAR was not far away on the turf last start but has an outstanding poly record whilst FLAX and THUMPING have to be taken on trust on the surface. In saying that, FLAX is best suited at the WFA conditions so pay to respect.
1 FLAX ** Having his first poly outing. Honest and should be running on late. 8.00
2 QUECHUA *** Singapore Gold Cup and New Year Cup winner who is in cracking form. The one they have to beat. 3.00
3 TRUDEAU *** Was forced to lead last start and run down late. Versatile horse well treated at the weights who goes well on the poly and should be in the finish. 4.00
4 DAVIDE ** Good polytracker who surprised on turf over 1600m two starts back. Knockout hope. 12
5 ONE RAR *** Has an outstanding polytrack record and will be doing best work late. 5.00
6 SLEW OF LODE ** Not far away last start on turf and better on poly. Class may test. 8.00
7 DUJARDIN * Form poor but has raced well on the poly in the past. Would need to improve. 16
8 THUMPING ** Very honest mare having first poly start. Poorly treated at the weights and will be tested. 8.00
Race 10
Selections; 2 OM – 3 IMPEL – 8 CLUTHA LAD – 6 KNIGHT SPIRIT
A good Class 3 over a mile with a number in form. OM broke through for a deserved win last start and while he is up in grade and can find trouble, Manoel Nunes stays on and should be running on strongly once again. IMPEL has been close up over 1400m at BM67 level last his two outings, he has won at a mile in NZ and should be prominent throughout. CLUTHA LAD is the interesting runner. The 5YO has yet to win on the turf in Singapore but had plenty of excuses and ran on last start so happy to follow. KNIGHT SPIRIT ran on well last start over 1200m, he gets a handy claim, is proven at this class and distance and should be closing late. POWERNOVA is very consistent, he is up in grade and distance but has no weight and can give a sight. Of the others DANGER ZONE won last start and is very consistent as is TO BE REMEMBERED and WORLD WAR.
1 FATKID * Far from reliable but has won three times at this trip and could show up if right. 20
2 OM *** Broke through for a deserved win last start. Up in grade and can find trouble but should be running on once again. 3.50
3 IMPEL *** Close up over 1400m at BM67 level last two outings. Won at a mile in NZ and should be prominent throughout. 3.50
4 DANGER ZONE *** Ran on strongly to win at KSC level over 1800m last start. Dropping back in trip but regularly places and should make his presence felt. 6.00
5 TO BE REMEMBERED ** Up in grade but rarely far away and worth an each-way look. 12
6 KNIGHT SPIRIT *** Ran on well last start over 1200m. Proven at this class and distance. Should be closing late. 6.00
7 WORLD WAR ** Has won at this trip but Class 3 can test. 20
8 CLUTHA LAD *** Plenty of excuses last start and happy to think he plays a part in this finish with luck in running. 12
9 MUSCLE BEACH * Has shown nothing so far in Singapore. Needs to improve. 33
10 POWERNOVA *** Very consistent. Up in grade and distance but has no weight and can give a sight. 10
Race 11
Selections; 3 KNIGHT WAGER – 1 CONVICT – 11 INVINCIBLE GOLD – 9 DYLAN
A Class 4 over 1200m closes the programme and KNIGHT WAGER will find this much easier than the Three Rings Trophy. He scored well at this level two starts back (at his Singapore debut) and with Michael Rodd on board, should be hard to beat. CONVICT resuming is the interesting runner. The 7YO has a good first-up record and looks wellplaced in Class 4 with a 4kg claimer on to show his best. The Cliff Brown runner INVINCIBLE GOLD was close up last start and should be in the finish. DYLAN will be running on from the back and they look the main chances. Of the rest, SING ROULETTE could give a sight, MONT BLEU could improve and COOL CAT down in grade could show up.
1 CONVICT *** Resuming. Suited this grade and distance and has a good enough firs-up record to follow. 12
2 COOL CAT *** Veteran who drops in grade and can make his presence felt. 8.00
3 KNIGHT WAGER *** Will find this much easier than Group company and will be hard to beat. 4.00
4 HUMOR TOWN * Recent form not good enough. 50
5 MONT BLEU * NZ 1400m winner who was only fair at Singapore debut and needs to improve. 16
6 SING ROULETTE *** Excuses for only bad run and should figure prominently in this. 12
7 OCEAN GENERAL ** Ex Rappor. Blinkers on. Not often seen on the turf but goes OK
and would give this a shake at his best. 25
8 WILKINSON * Surprised two starts back before pulling up lame at recent run so take on trust. 50
9 DYLAN *** Ran on strongly last start and should do the same again. 4.00
10 EXCELLENT MAGIC ** Broke through in Maiden company last start but this is harder. 12
11 INVINCIBLE GOLD *** Close up last start in this grade and should race well again. 4.00
12 VITALLY SECRET * Best form has been on poly over longer. Tested. 33
