Spalato will have to earn it in this field
While it’s a crying shame that the showdown between Singapore’s two best horses in SPALATO and WAR AFFAIR hasn’t eventuated, the Panasonic Kranji Mile still looks a terrific race.
And why not when you consider the Group 1 event has a purse of $500,000?
But while SPALATO will start a very short favourite to take home the majority of that prizemoney, he will have to earn it in the best field he has raced against domestically in his short but spectacular career.
Yes, he is undefeated in Singapore and has a couple of Group 1’s already to his name but so has QUECHUA – the Gold Cup and Derby holder – as well as STEPITUP to name just two.
Both horses are also in cracking form with QUECHUA fresh from his Derby win over War Affair and STEPITUP a check or two away from making it four straight wins at his last start.
It’s remarkable that these two horses might even start at each-way odds given the mountains of cash expected to be thrown on SPALATO with the Turf Club preempting the avalanche by imposing a Minimum Win Dividend on this race.
Yes, we think SPALATO is lengths better than his rivals on any given day.
But on any given feature Sunday, he will need to be on his game with quality like these two (and a few more) to keep him honest.
Sunday 4 October
Best Bets: (SPALATO race 9, win), (ROCKFAST race 11, win) and (PURE TACTICS race 8, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 2, 3, 5 and 6), race 9 (1), race 10 (3, 5 and 9), race 11 (2, 3, 4, 9 and 10).
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; 5 GROENEWEGEN – 3 HYDRO – 1 PURE TACTICS – 6 HIGH COUNCIL
Some handy enough types in this Class 4 and while PURE TACTICS will find the drop in Class to his liking and looks the improver at odds, some up and coming types appeal. GROENEWEGEN certainly fits that bill after showing plenty at three career starts. In fact his effort in this company last time out – when he did it tough on the pace from a wide gate – suggests he can win this and looks a horse to follow. Likewise, HYDRO looks very progressive and his first up run after a spell suggests he has returned in good order and the extra 200m looks ideal. Of the rest with winning hopes, HIGH COUNCIL has had two solid runs in Singapore and looks ready to show his best with blinkers added while BLACK MAGIC also looks up to this company and is in winning form.
1 PURE TACTICS *** Drawn wide but significant drop in Class has him under notice at odds. 12
2 BLACK MAGIC *** Promising type who looks up to this company. 4.00
3 HYDRO *** Appreciates very good first-up run and 1400m looks ideal. 6.00
4 KNIGHT SPIRIT ** Will be doing best work late and cannot discount. 20
5 GROENEWEGEN *** Did it tough last start so effort to place was very good and can win this. 3.00
6 HIGH COUNCIL *** Gets blinkers and improves after two solid runs with extra 200m in his favour. 8.00
7 COOL CUSTOMER ** Always an each way show at odds. 20
8 HAPPY HAPPY * Reassess easier/Poly. 50
9 NATURAL NICE ** Threatening to pinch one of these at odds. 20
10 TOP OF THE TOWN * Resuming and have to take on trust on what we saw last time in. 100
11 HEE’S EGO ** Excuses last start but should need easier than this. 33
12 WILKINSON * Struggling. 100
13 RAVOUX ** In fine form in easier races than this but has to be considered with lightweight. 12
14 CHEETAH KING * Needs easier but will improve back on the turf. 33
15 REAL HERO * Reassess easier and perhaps Poly. 100
Race 9
Selections; 1 SPALATO – 2 STEPITUP – 3 QUECHUA – 8 BELIEVE YOURSELF
As you expect at the start of the “Singapore Spring” carnival, the big guns have come out and are ready to show their best. And there is no bigger gun at the moment at Kranji than SPALATO who looks extremely hard to beat. Unbeaten in eight local starts and having injury issues in Hong Kong, SPALATO looks world class and you think if he brings his “A” game on Sunday, no one gets close. But that is perhaps a tad disrespectful to the likes of multiple Group winner STEPITUP and current Gold Cup and Derby winner, QUECHUA. Both obviously keep him honest but they might just find SPALATO in a different league. Keep BELIEVE YOURSELF and WILD GEESE safe as well as EMPEROR’S BANQUET.
1 SPALATO *** Facing biggest local test to date but should win. 1.20
2 STEPITUP ** Excuses last start not to make it four wins straight and is the benchmark. 7.00
3 QUECHUA ** First up after terrific Derby win and wins too many big races to ignore. 7.00
4 SLEW OF LODE * Has placed this trip but does look a better Poly option at Group level. 33
5 EMPEROR’S BANQUET ** Resuming with winkers and always gives a good account of himself. 12
6 WILD GEESE ** Underrated and showed last start that he is right in this on a good day. 20
7 PACHELBEL’S CANON * Improving but remains a query in the turf at this level. 33
8 BELIEVE YOURSELF ** Will find it tough at the WFA conditions but exciting type who could surprise at odds. 33
Race 10
Selections; 3 IMPERIAL MARCH – 5 TWICKENHAM – 9 MIGHTY WARRIOR – 7 ABSOLUTELY
A very good punting affair and while we are very keen on IMPERIAL MARCH, there could be a couple of others that provide some nice value. But as it stands, IMPERIAL MARCH has been terrific at five starts since arriving from Argentina and given he won a similar race to this last start and actually drops a kg for the effort, he is the one to beat. However, for value it might pay to have a good look at the World Cup Rugby omen bet, TWICKENHAM. The gelding gets blinkers after having all sorts of excuses in Group company last start and will find this race more to his liking. MIGHTY WARRIOR also looks a show after placing behind IMPERIAL MARCH last start with a pull in the weights in his favour. Of the rest, we are NOT keen on ZULULAND at the handicap conditions but ABSOLUTELY is worth thought at odds, as his form is better than it reads.
1 GOLIATH * Easier to ignore on the turf. 50
2 IN FACT ** Most recent win was on the Poly but solid enough to keep safe. 12
3 IMPERIAL MARCH *** Smart type who won well enough in a similar affair to be hard to beat here. 3.00
4 NANDOWRA * Nothing last start but could include in exotics on some solid efforts prior. 33
5 TWICKENHAM *** Gets blinkers after having all sorts of excuses last start and will find this company more to his liking. 8.00
6 WALL STREET BOY ** Put in a solid effort when resuming and subsequent good trial suggests we can start to follow. 12
7 ABSOLUTELY ** Appreciates first up run where he had excuses not to finish closer. Value. 12
8 ZULULAND ** Tongue-tie added. Disappointing horse that will find this tougher than Novice company so is a risk. 4.00
9 MIGHTY WARRIOR *** Promising stayer who looks well placed on 50.5kg to have some say in the finish. 6.00
10 DRAGON FURY ** Hit a purple patch of form and must be included somewhere. 8.00
Race 11
Selections; 4 ROCKFAST – 3 STORM TROOPS – 2 NORTH ATLANTIC ICE – 10 PERFECT CHALLENGER
Hopefully the old adage “throwing good money after bad” doesn’t haunt us in the lucky last as we give ROCKFAST another chance after what can only be described as a solid (at best) Singapore debut. But the former Kiwi might just have needed a sighter and if he does reproduce his New Zealand form – which included placing behind the smart Volstockandbarrell – he surely wins races like this and the extra 1200m looks ideal. If he doesn’t show his best, STORM TROOPS looks a handy type and while winning twice on the Poly, his only turf run was good enough to think he handles both surfaces. Of the rest, NORTH ATLANTIC ICE picks himself, PERFECT CHALLENGER will be doing his best work late and hard to fault the inning for of LUCKY STRATEGY.
1 GRAVITY * hard to have on form but appreciates Class 4 and Zaki so look for improvement. 33
2 NORTH ATLANTIC ICE *** Always a chance in races like this and often each-way value. 5.00
3 STORM TROOPS *** Both wins on the Poly but showed enough at only turf start to go close. 6.00
4 ROCKFAST *** Disappointing local debut given his form from NZ but happy to give another chance. 4.00
5 SKY ELEVEN ** Always gives a good sight and pay to keep safe with handy 3kg claim. 8.00
6 DANNY * First up run just fair but would be working into this late if right. 33
7 IMPERIAL FIGHTER ** Resuming and has shown previously this trip suits fresh. 12
8 LINCOLN’S GOLD * Not supported and ran accordingly this company last start so easier to ignore from wide gate. 33
9 LUCKY STRATEGY *** This is tougher again but hard to fault winning form. 12
10 PERFECT CHALLENGER *** Foot on the till and will keep a few honest late. 6.00
11 SEASONS ECHO * No. 100
12 TENMA ** Excuses last start so worth another look with best work expected late. 20
13 CONGO ZANDOR * Easier to ignore. 50
14 LADY TRIO ** Broke through for much deserved Class 5 win last start but this is tougher. 20
15 GREAT LIGHT * Reassess easier, longer, Poly. 100
