Spalato takes on the Group 2 Merlion Trophy
While there is a fair undercard to the main event, all eyes will be on the potential world-beater SPALATO as he takes on Singapore’s best Poly sprinters in the Group 2 Merlion Trophy.
The first leg of the Singapore Sprint Series, the Poly sprint (race 9) has always given the all-weather specialists a chance at Group glory but at the weight-for-age conditions, the cream should rise to the top.
SPALATO is the cream and while not being at his very best when winning first-up over 1000m, this race is more suitable as he heads towards possible international redemption in Dubai. But no doubt the danger is a “dirt king” and two-time reigning Merlion Trophy champ, EL PADRINO.
The 7YO goes better than most on all tracks but certainly grows a leg at the top level on any dirt surface and has the international credentials to test SPALATO. Don’t discount STEPITUP or KIWI KARMA but SPALATO is the one to beat and EL PADRINO is the only one that looks a serious danger.
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Sunday 6 March
Best Bets: (PERFECT CHALLENGER race 8, win), (SPALATO race 9, win) and (ZIP A DEE DO DAH race 10, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 3, 7 and 12), race 9 (1 and 3), race 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6), race 11 (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9).
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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 5
Selections; 1 CASING ROYAL – 8 GROENEWEGEN – 3 ASPEN – 9 KIRKS RYKER
A moderate group of Class 4’s compete over 1400m. CASING ROYAL has battled on in good company at recent outings and given he gets back to his recent winning company, he should be hard to beat. Winkers are upgraded to blinkers for GROENEWEGEN who struggles to win but is rarely far away and trialled well recently; he should be in the finish. The visor goes on ASPEN, he was not far away last start and has won three times at the trip and with Manoel Nunes up; he should be in the finish. KIRK’S RYKER ran on fairly over a mile last start after his Maiden win over 1400m and should be handy throughout. NIGHT FLIGHT won a Maiden when resuming, this is harder but the extra distance may suit. In an open race MAREA NEGRO and EL CAMINO could show up.
1 CASING ROYAL *** Has battled on in good company at recent outings and get this chance back in Class 4. 6.00
2 HOT GOLD ** Should have done better dropping to this grade last start and have to take on trust. 16
3 ASPEN *** Visor on. Not far away last start and has won three times at the trip. Gets Nunes and should be in the finish. 5.00
4 NIGHT FLIGHT *** Won Maiden when resuming. This is harder but extra distance may suit. 6.00
5 AMAZON GOLD * Tongue-tie off. Excuses last start but has struggled beyond 1200m and may need easier. 33
6 EL CAMINO ** Won Maiden over this trip last start when resuming. This is harder but should get a good run throughout. 8.00
7 WAR LORD * Distanced when resuming and needs to improve. 33
8 GROENEWEGEN *** Winkers to blinkers. Struggles to win but is rarely far away. Trialled well recently and should be in the finish. 4.00
9 KIRKS RYKER *** Ran on fairly over a mile last start after Maiden win over 1400m. Should be handy throughout. 6.00
10 MAREA NEGRO ** Ran on well last start. Has no weight and expect similar. 10
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Race 6
Selections; 6 BREAKING VAULTS – 2 BROWNE’S ANATOMY – 10 GYPSY STAR – 1 FLYING NEKO
A battlers Class 5 over 1200m on turf. BREAKING VAULTS has changed stables and gets Manoel Nunes and a good gate; His best form is over longer and prefers the turf but he placed this trip two starts back on the poly. BROWNE’S ANATOMY ran on over this distance on turf two starts back, his best form has been on the poly but he could show up. GYPSY MAGIC is not the most reliable but does know how to win and could run on late. BLACK DIAMOND’s only win was last start over 1700m; he has been freshened and could show up. Most of the others are unreliable or long-term non-winners though the Maiden FLYING NEKO threatens from time to time.
1 FLYING NEKO ** Twenty-one-start Maiden who has been failing on the polytrack. Put in two decent efforts over 1400m not long ago and could show up with 3kg claimer aboard. 10
2 BROWNE’S ANATOMY *** Ran on to place over this distance on turf two starts back. Best form has been on poly but could show up. 4.00
3 SIMPANG * Has yet to place in 20 turf outings so reassess on the Poly. 16
4 BLACK DIAMOND *** Only win was last start on poly over 1700m. Ran well on turf three starts back. Has been freshened and could show up. 5.00
5 JACKPOT * Blinkers to winkers. Only battling and prefers 1400m. 16
6 BREAKING VAULTS *** Has changed stables and gets Manoel Nunes and a good gate. Placed this trip two starts back on poly. Prefers turf but best form is over longer. 4.00
7 YUE YUAN * Hasn’t won for a long time and needs to improve. 25
8 BIG BANG KING * Struggling. 50
9 GREENBACK ** Saddle slipped last start but only win was nearly three years ago and needs to improve. 33
10 GYPSY STAR *** Has won at this distance and could run on late in what is a very weak race. 4.00
11 PRINCETON * Resuming sans tongue-tie. Has been a Maiden for a long time. Recent trials not encouraging. 33
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Race 7
Selections; 7 LIM’S KNIGHT – 5 CONFLIGHT – 1 HERO I AM – 6 LUMINIFF LAD
A small field for a 1200m Progress on turf. LIM’S KNIGHT won a Maiden easily last start, this is much harder but he has no weight and can get in the finish. The other major contenders are having their first turf outing. CONFLIGHT is racing well on the poly but is having his first start on turf over 1200m. LUMINIFF LAD won a Novice when resuming and is having his first turf outing he could show up. At the top of the weights, HERO I AM is resuming and his recent trial was solid, he is suited at this distance and will run on strongly.
1 HERO I AM *** Resuming and recent trial was solid. Suited this distance and will run on strongly. 3.00
2 IDYLLIC SCENERY * Has been racing over longer and could find these too sharp. 20
3 Q NINE MAGIC * Blinkers off but not in well at the conditions. 20
4 LIM’S BATTLE * Not suited and reassess handicap conditions over longer. 10
5 CONFLIGHT *** Racing well on poly but having first start on turf over 1200m. Take on trust. 5.00
6 LUMINIFF LAD *** Won Novice when resuming and having first turf outing. Could show up. 5.00
7 LIM’S KNIGHT *** Won Maiden easily last start. This is much harder but has no weight and can get in the finish. 3.00
8 GOLD STOCK * Has battled since maiden win in Class 5. Tested. 33
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Race 8
Selections; 3 PERFECT CHALLENGER – 1 CAPTIVATE – 12 SWIFT – 7 LEADERSHIP
No world-beaters in this KSD 1400m event (although there may be one in the next race) and it does look a field with little depth. PERFECT CHALLENGER is in form and looks the obvious choice. The horse can be hard to follow at times, however, visiting French hoop – Olivier Placais – takes the ride and his experience should be enough to knock in another win. CAPTIVATE might be the danger dropping to this company. The 7YO hasn’t been in the best of form of late but has been dropping down the ratings quick enough to think this race and company suits. SWIFT showed nothing last start but had support and this race suits and he should be more than competitive from gate 1. Of the rest, LEADERSHIP is in solid form and picks himself while KNOW EACH OTHER showed last start he is always a show but does struggle to win (outright).
1 CAPTIVATE *** Form starting to read badly but race and company suits so look for marked improvement. 8.00
2 COLONEL LINCOLN ** Improved effort when blinkers added last start and should be thereabouts throughout. 10
3 PERFECT CHALLENGER *** In form and gets senior visiting hoop. Big show. 3.00
4 KNOW EACH OTHER ** Dead-heated last start similar affair but won’t win out of turn. 4.50
5 BRANKSOME * Ordinary last couple and may need easier. 50
6 GOLD LINE * Recent trial OK but race form ordinary. 50
7 LEADERSHIP *** Drawn wide but in solid form and gives this a shake with winkers added. 5.00
8 PUZZLE * Will strip fitter for the first-up run but prefer others. 50
9 ONE MORE ACHIEVER * Might need easier and the Poly. 33
10 BRAVE BLOSSOM * Maiden and hard to have. 200
11 NATURAL NICE * Needs to find a few lengths. 20
12 SWIFT *** Disappointing last start similar affair but previous form has him having a say in what is a suitable race. 6.00
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Race 9
Selections; 1 SPALATO – 3 EL PADRINO – 9 KIWI KARMA – 2 STEPITUP
The first leg of the Singapore Sprint Series and once again, the now Group 2 Merlion Trophy looks a beauty on paper with most of the big guns ready to fire. And there is no bigger gun in Singapore than SPALATO. The NZ-bred 6YO has won nine of his 13 career starts but given he already had two Group 1 races to his name at just start four and two of his unplaced runs were under duress in HK, he is a class above. He is also super versatile so should really just win. However, EL PADRINO is a specialist and has made this race his own winning in 2014/15. His win in 2014 was by some five lengths and his subsequent Dubai Group 1 effort (fourth) the following year on the dirt was equally as good. He is the danger. Of the rest, it’s hard to be dismissive of KIWI KARMA and STEPITUP resuming, but thy will need to be at their very best to bother the best horse in SPALATO and the best Poly sprinter in EL PADRINO.
1 SPALATO *** World-class galloper who should win at the WFA conditions. 1.60
2 STEPITUP ** Resuming after Gold Cup campaign and did place in this race last year under similar circumstances. 10
3 EL PADRINO *** Dirt specialist who has been giving weight of late and better placed here in a race he has won twice to show his best. 5.00
4 HUKA FALLS ** Hard to dismiss given record this trip and track but may be tested at WFA conditions. 20
5 GOAL KEEPER * Recent trial suggests he is in good order but hard to have at the weights. 33
6 FAALTLESS * Blinkers on and tongue-tie off but struggling. 200
7 HAPPY MONEY * Can race above his rating but loos nuisance value only in this race. 33
8 WIMBLEDON ** Too honest not to include in exotics but better suited at handicap conditions. 20
9 KIWI KARMA ** Hard to fault form and has undoubted ability but facing her biggest test to date. 5.00
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Race 10
Selections; 6 ZIP A DEE DOO DAH – 2 SMART LAD – 1 SMART IDEA – 5 MAGSTOCK
An excellent Class 4 with some very progressive stayers taking part including a couple of last start maiden winners in GURU-GURU and ARCHER COMPANY – and a handy Class dropper in SMART IDEA who will improve. But there looks a couple of very progressive staying types in SMART LAD and ZIP A DEE DO DAH. Coincidentally, both come through the same race over 2000m and while SMART LAD finished second on that occasion and ZIP A DEE DO DAH another two and bit lengths back in fourth, it may very well be the later who improves. The lightly raced 4YO had excuses on that occasion and with his winning hoop back onboard, he can win again. SMART LAD does get in better at the weights though (courtesy of a 2kg claim) and should be the punters elect and a win would not surprise. Hard to leave out MAGSTOCK, TARAMEA and SUPER JOE, but you can’t pick them all.
1 SMART IDEA *** Down in grade and ran on super over 1400m last start so this does look winnable. 12
2 SMART LAD *** Very promising stayer who just missed last start and looks very well placed here with 2kg claim. 3.00
3 SUPER JOE *** Honest and another that finds himself in the right company to show his best. 12
4 TARAMEA *** Hard to fault form of horse or jockey as they head through the distances. Follow. 10
5 MAGSTOCK *** Just missed behind Taramea last start and can make amends with 1800m in his favour. 6.00
6 ZIP A DEE DOO DAH *** Lightly raced 4YO who looks more than up to this company with nice recent trial a pointer. Big show. 5.00
7 GURU-GURU ** Broke maiden status in fine style over the mile and the extra 200m looks no issue. 12
8 ARHAT ** Maiden who ran on very well behind Guru-Guru last start and worth well worth a look. 12
9 ACROSS THE SEA ** Excuses last start with support and pay to give another chance as should be thereabouts. 13
10 ARCHER COMPANY ** Another last start maiden winner who is going to be more than competitive in races like this. 12
11 KENNEDY * No. 200
12 SQUIRE BENTLEY * No. 200
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Race 11
Selections; 2 ROBIN HOOD – 4 STAR CHOICE – 6 PEER GYNT – 9 RUM N RAISINS
Two last start maiden winners in ROBIN HOOD and STAR CHOICE will get most of the punters attention in this Class 4 event over 1400m and not much separates the pair on their respective strong efforts. ROBIN HOOD had a couple of sighters in Singapore before winning well with Dan Beasley up and from gate 1, the former Kiwi maiden should get every chance again to rob from the rich and give to the punters. STAR CHOICE also arrived as a raced maiden from NZ and showed more than enough winning on debut this trip to follow. Plenty of others that keep them honest including INTENSE GOLD and ZUES who both had heavy support last start, DAMON and PEER GYNT who both come through a solid Novice event and RUM N RAISINS who is in form and often value.
1 INTENSE GOLD *** Tongue-tie off after being disappointing with support similar affair last start but worth another look. 20
2 ROBIN HOOD *** Broke maiden status in fine style last start and can go on with the job from gate 1. 4.00
3 RUSTY BROWN ** Looked to have issues last start but have to take on trust. 33
4 STAR CHOICE *** Won well on debut and will have admirers to give this a shake. 3.50
5 DAMON *** Didn’t beat a lot when breaking maiden two back but subsequent run in Novice company suggests he goes close. 8.00
6 PEER GYNT *** Just missed this trip in Novice company and that has him having a huge say. 4.00
7 SUN FORCE ** Well bred former Aussie who might want longer than this. 33
8 ZEUS *** Missed a place when supported in similar affair last start but worth following. 8.00
9 RUM N RAISINS *** In form and has been value of late so follow. 12
10 GRAVITY ** Improved effort at long odds last start and cheeky run expected. 33
11 SATCHMO ** Maiden but usually competitive and will be value. 33
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