Pioneer Seven gives French jockey Davy Bonilla his first win at Kranji on 16 November 2012
PIONEER SEVEN is not quite there yet. A winner of five from 15 career starts, he is obviously better than most but with all his wins on the Polytrack and yet to place at equal weights at elite level, he can’t be considered topclass.
But he is more than competitive at handicap conditions in Open company and has shown previously that he is more than up to matching the likes of HUKA FALLS with a pull in the weights.
So with HUKA FALLS resuming with 56.5kg and EL PADRINO asked to carry 57kg, PIONEER SEVEN could be a good thing on his preferred surface on the minimum (50kg). Leading hoop, Manoel Nunes, is back-on the 4YO speed machine and he might try to run the two higher rated horses ragged, although HUKA FALLS will be breathing down his neck throughout and EL PADRINO the closer if right.
Elsewhere on the card there looks to be some very open races but the depth suggest there will be plenty of value to be found. THEBUZZDOWNUNDER gets blinkers for the first-time and looks some show in race 8 while TO BE REMEMBERED looks a very solid each-way option dropping back to his winning Class in the lucky last.
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Best Bets; (PIONEER SEVEN race 9, win), (TO BE REMEMBERED race 11, each-way) and (THEBUZZDOWNUNDER race 8, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 12), race 9 (1, 2 and 5), race 10 (1, 3, 4, 5 and 10), race 11 (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 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; 4 THEBUZZDOWNUNDER – 8 HOFBURG PALACE – 7 LONESOME ME – 3 GOLDEN CURL
A tough race for punters with plenty due and the market may be a very helpful tool on raceday. It could/should be a leaders track and with this is mind, a horse like LONESOME ME is worth a second look. It has been a long-time between drinks for the 5YO and his three career wins have been on the Polytrack, but showed last start he can give a sight on the turf over the mile and will be in front for a long time on the Short Course (E). But two horses in form with gear changes get their chance. THEBUZZDOWNUNDER gets blinkers for the first time and given he won two back over 1800m in this Class and trialed very well with head-gear, he can win. Likewise, HOFBURG PALACE has been in good form and an upgrade to blinkers from winkers might be just what the doctor ordered with a good gate and Manoel Nunes in his favour. Throw in the overdue GOLDEN CURL, last start winner PRINCE MAG and MCCONAUGHEY down in the weights.
1 PRINCE MAG *** Form franked from last start KSD win but will need to be at his best with 57kg this company. 5.00
2 RIGHTEO * No. 100
3 GOLDEN CURL *** Overdue for a win but right in this with positive ride from wide gate. 12
4 THEBUZZDOWNUNDER *** Excuses last start and recent trial with blinkers good enough to think he can win this with head-gear added. 10
5 ENLIGHTEN KNIGHT * Blinkers on after showing nothing at Singapore debut. Watch market. 33
6 HARDCORE ROCK ** Coming off a solid maiden win and step up to the mile ideal. Keep safe. 5.00
7 LONESOME ME *** Led them up and battled on well last start in similar affair and worth a look on the E Course. 6.00
8 HOFBURG PALACE *** Never far away and looks well placed from gate tow with blinkers on first-time. 5.00
9 GREEN JACKET ** Recent form just fair but worth noting he returns to the turf for the first time since winning back in November. 20
10 FLYING MISSION * No. 100
11 JIM ** Disappointing with support last start over 2000m and have to take on trust. 12
12 MCCONAUGHEY *** Maiden who runs on and will appreciate light-weight. Keep safe. 6.00
13 CLERMONT CLUB ** Ran on OK over 1400m last start and can include in exotics. 12
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Race 9
Selections; 5 PIONEER SEVEN – 2 HUKA FALLS – 1 EL MILAGRO – 6 TOUCH OF GOLD
Three horses stand-out in this Open handicap and the winner should come from EL MILAGRO, HUKA FALLS and PIONEER SEVEN. Of the trio, PIONEER SEVEN looks extremely well-placed with 50kg and gets Manoel Nunes from gate 5. The 4YO has shown previously he is up to Open company with a light-weight and he could try to make very post a winner. On his shoulder, however, will be HUKA FALLS resuming after having issues at his last start. The Laurie Laxon-trained 4YO goes very well fresh and a recent good trial suggests he is in this race up to his eye-balls. EL MILAGRO gives them all weight and is coming off a poor run over 1400m but it will pay to forgive that effort as he is the highestrated horse in the race and goes very well on the Poly. Forget the rest although TOUCH OF GOLD will work into the exotic mix late.
1 EL MILAGRO *** Coming off a poor run but can bounce back over 1200m on the Poly. 4.00
2 HUKA FALLS *** Top-liner resuming after issues last start and goes well enough first-up to win this. 3.00
3 CAVALLO * Battling away in good company and might appreciate dropping back to 1200m on the Poly. 20
4 MARTIN * Not suited. 33
5 PIONEER SEVEN *** Goes better than most and can win with just 50kg. 4.00
6 TOUCH OF GOLD ** Excuses last start and can include in exotics on best form. 20
7 DOUBLE STAR * Tested this company but in the exotic mix with no weight. 20
8 CASH ADVANCE * Winning form is often good form but big jump from Class 4. 33
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Race 10
Selections; 3 NATURAL NINE – 4 THAT’STHEONE – 5 BOOMARANG DELUXE – 1 THE OMEGA MAN
A lot will depend on what happens over the first 50 or so metres in this sprint with two horses that can win drawn wide. The two horses in question – THE OMEGA MAN and BOOMERANG DELUXE – both come into this with good late runs from wide gates at their last start and not sure if this course will suit the swoopers. So a lot will depend of whether Zuriman (Omega Man) and Brown (Boomerang Deluxe) elect to go forward and if they do, both are in the mix. So a safer option might be NATURAL NINE who can race handy from gate 7 and should get a good crack at the leaders late. The former Kiwi has shown more than enough at four starts in Singapore to think he wins soon and must go close. THAT’STHEONE won on a similar race to this last start and is the likely leader so must be a huge show again. Of the others, keep RAVOUX safe at value as he will be this a long time.
1 THE OMEGA MAN *** Showed first-up he wins soon but will need positive ride from wide gate. 5.00
2 FAT BOBO ** Thereabouts last start similar affair and can include in exotics. 33
3 NATURAL NINE *** Ready to win in Singapore and goes very close in this. 3.00
4 THAT’STHEONE *** Won at a rare turf run last start in similar affair and no reason not to follow. 6.00
5 BOOMARANG DELUXE *** Good thing beaten last start and wins this if handy enough when it counts. 5.00
6 OTHELLO * Appreciates the company but might need longer. 33
7 RICHWEST * Struggling. 100
8 MARCUSINO ** Blinkers off after a couple of shockers so have to take on trust. 12
9 KINGSLEY ** Will be doing best work late but not sure if race will be run to suit. 12
10 RAVOUX *** Better suited over 1400m but will be in the mix throughout. 10
11 FISCAL WINGS * Needs easier. 100
12 JUST A MAN ** Form better than it reads and worth a look at odds. 20
13 BRILLIANT BEAUTY * Not the worst but like to see in Class 5. 33
14 RORY * Reassess easier and shorter. 100
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Race 11
Selections; 1 TO BE REMEMBERED – 6 SPUN GOLD – 4 ZAC HEAVEN – 7 YOU DA ONE
While happy to make TO BE REMEMBERED one of the better bets of the day, this race is wide open and looks a beauty on paper. And true, the Laurie Laxon-trained 4YO doesn’t win out of turn but after a solid run in open Class with some 55kg, it looks too good to be true back in his recent winning grade with just 56kg after a handy 2kg claim. Gate 2 won’t hurt given he would need to handy when it matters and he should be well and truly in the mix. But a progressive type in SPUN GOLD probably starts favourite and hard to beat if at his best. He showed at two runs back after a bleeding attack he wins soon and his last start over 1400m good enough to think the trip is perfect. Plenty of others that win without surprising and in no particular order; ZAC HEAVEN leads and could prove hard to beat, YOU DA ONE could also be on the pace and surprise at odds, GEARIGURU will be handy throughout and looks ready to win with BLACK RAIN always an each-way hope as is FLYING ZERO.
1 TO BE REMEMBERED *** Carried 55kg in Open company last start and obviously will find this grade more to his liking. Goes close. 3.00
2 ABOVE THE RAINBOW * Needs to improve on Singapore debut. 33
3 FLYING ZERO *** Hasn’t won for over a year but always a winning hope. 6.00
4 ZAC HEAVEN *** Can lead and might be hard to run down on a course that suits. 10
5 LET’S TALK NOW ** Looks due for a result and will work into the mix late. 12
6 SPUN GOLD *** Shown at two runs since resuming he wins sooner than later with gate 1 a bonus. 4.00
7 YOU DA ONE *** Form reads only fair but can run a cheeky race and will be value. 33
8 CAPTAIN MCCAW ** Won similar affair two starts back and can follow. 12
9 BLACK RAIN *** Always an each-way show in races like this and doesn’t mind the wet. 11
10 GEARIGURU *** Doesn’t look far away from a result and a must for exotics. 20
11 DRAGON ** Will be working into this late but needs race run to suit. 20
12 GALAXY EXPRESS * Placed last start easier company and like to see in Class 5. 33
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