Affleck (Danny Beasley) strides away to an impressive win on Sunday. (Picture Singapore Turf Club)
The first meeting of the 2015 season is upon us and only time will tell whether the trio of Laurie Laxon, Manoel Nunes and Harry Kassim continue on their winning ways to more premierships.
In the training ranks, Laurie Laxon had to fight to knock in his ninth premiership but with gun 3YO AFFLECK in the barn, he will be the trainer to watch again. Manoel Nunes will get some competition in the jockey’s premiership with light-weight Aussie Craig Newitt likely to get plenty of good rides with his compatriot, Michael Rodd, also likely to be in demand.
Harry Kassim only has 1kg left on his claim and will battle to knock in his third straight apprentice title with some handy claimers on his tail. To the races.
The highlight of the meeting is obviously the New Year Cup where the Longines Singapore Gold Cup form is likely to hold up. Pat Shaw – who has four runners in the race – will saddle QUECHUA and EMPEROR’S BANQUET and the pair will be hoping to continue on from their one-two finish in the Gold Cup.
QUECHUA won the Cup and given that was a hat-trick of wins he is obviously in red-hot form and the one to beat in this. At the handicap conditions, the progressive BOOMERANG DELUXE could provide some opposition as will one of Shaw’s other runners, IN FACT, both on the minimum. TROPIAS – who won the Gold Cup in 2013 – also looks to have found form of late with blinkers added and could surprise with a good recent trial under his belt.
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Best Bets; (QUECHUA race 9, win), (ORCHARD ROAD race 11, each-way) and (FOREVER AHEAD race 8, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (2, 3, 6, 7 and 12), race 9 (2, 3, 4 and 7), race 10 (2, 3, 4 and 6), race 11 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6 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 8
Selections; 2 FOREVER AHEAD – 6 OASIS SPUR – 7 RORY – 3 SACRED CROWN
Not a great race by any stretch of the imagination and as such a Class dropper in FOREVER AHEAD might be one to watch. His form obviously reads badly but the one-time winner gets blinkers and just as importantly, Nunes. The jockey is a factor given the 2014 champion hoop replaces the inexperienced WS Chan and expect a very forward showing. In his way are the usual suspects in OASIS SPUR and RORY. OASIS SPUR has the more consistent form and while his trainer has elected to remove blinkers and the tongue-tie, he should be thereabouts in this weak field. RORY has drawn wide but placed last start and is always a show in races like this with Oscar Chavez up. Like RORY, SACRED CROWN placed last start and has to be considered as does WINFREY on his win two back. Forget the rest.
1 ACOUSTIC * Finds himself in right company but like to see over longer. 20
2 FOREVER AHEAD *** Recent form poor but gets Nunes, blinkers and drops to Class 5. Keep safe. 6.00
3 SACRED CROWN *** Drawn badly but showed last start he wins this grade sooner than later. 4.00
4 CHEETAH KING * Should be doing best work late but prefer over longer. 20
5 FIRST OPTION * Form reads terribly and drawn badly but should show more in Class 5. 33
6 OASIS SPUR *** Blinkers and tongue-tie off but in form and could be hard to beat. 4.50
7 RORY *** Wide draw some concern but always a show in races like this. 5.00
8 YOUNG LADY * Struggles. 100
9 READY FORTUNE ** Will keep a few honest but better over longer. 20
10 RICHEAST * Struggling of late. 20
11 STANZOUT * Form reads badly but the type that can surprise so keep safe. 12
12 WINFREY *** Just average last start but some hope on good win two back. 8.00
13 BULLDOZER ** Form just fair but goes OK when on song. 20
14 FAHLA FAHLA * Last run better than the result but still needs to lift on form. 20
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Race 9
Selections; 2 QUECHUA – 3 EMPEROR’S BANQUET – 7 BOOMARANG DELUXE – 10 IN FACT
The New Year Cup has attracted a very good field with the two Shaw horses that finished one-two in the Gold Cup – QUECHUA and EMPEROR’S BANQUET – up against some handy types weighted to win. QUECHUA has equal top-weight but is in cracking form coming off three three wins including the Group 1 Gold Cup. It is his first start in Singapore on the Polytrack but gives every indication at the trials he more than handles the all-weather and is the one to beat. EMPEROR’S BANQUET is more than honest and has had one run on the Poly for one win so he is right in this with Barend Vorster up. Pat has two other runners – LIZARRE and IN FACT – with the latter some hope on form with just 50kg to carry. Of the others carrying the minimum, BOOMERANG DELUXE showed last start at this level that he is more than up to the company at handicap conditions and will keep the Pat Shaw team on their toes as will TROPAIOS who looks to have found form with blinkers added.
1 LIZARRE * Gets blinkers but easier to ignore with 58kg. 20
2 QUECHUA *** In spanking form and no reason to think he won’t handle the Poly with gate 1 a bonus. 2.50
3 EMPEROR’S BANQUET *** Runner-up to Quechua in the Gold Cup and has a Poly win to his name so must be a winning hope. 4.00
4 TROPAIOS ** Showed enough in Gold Cup with blinkers to follow. 12
5 KNIGHT’S COMMAND ** Found wanting in the Gold Cup but was in form prior and pay to keep safe with Nunes up. 12
6 GOLIATH ** Disappointing back on his favourite surface last start but Poly form last year has him under notice. 20
7 BOOMARANG DELUXE *** Progressive type who looks well placed with 50kg to keep the Shaw team honest. 6.00
8 FUJIN BRIGHT ** Did the work in the Colonial Chief Stakes and could be the bolter again at odds. 33
9 VERGLATICA * Excuses last start but like to see more before we consider. 33
10 IN FACT ** Tested this company but in form and pay to include somewhere with no weight from good gate. 7.00
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Race 10
Selections; 3 TRINITY – 6 RETROSPECT – 2 FAT BOBO – 4 HIGHLIGHT
TRINITY might have taken some nine starts to break his maiden status but as often is the case, he might just go on with the job now he knows what the winning caper is about. The Shaw stable looks in good form and TRINITY is well-placed in KSD company with gate 5 and Barend Vorster a good combination. Also in his favour is no other horses jump off the page to beat him on recent form but RETROSPECT had excuses last start and looks the obvious danger. The 5YO is a two-time winner from some 14 career starts and has shown enough of late to think he adds to that tally sooner then later. He has drawn wide but gets Nunes and that could be enough. Of the rest with winning hopes, FAT BOBO had enough excuses last start to follow in what is a suitable race and HIGHLIGHT’s most recent win was in a similar affair to this so he is worth a look with Michael Rodd up.
1 RISING EMPIRE ** May have had excuses when supported last start and worth another look on best form. 8.00
2 FAT BOBO *** Last run better than the result and can win with luck in running. 8.00
3 TRINITY *** Turned some honest maiden form into a strong win and happy to follow in this company. 4.00
4 HIGHLIGHT *** Can be hard to follow on form but recent win was in similar affair to this so keep very safe. 8.00
5 LONESOME ME ** Will be working into this late but needs longer to be a winning threat. 20
6 RETROSPECT *** Excuses last start not to win in similar affair and goes close with luck from the widest gate. 4.00
7 JIM * Needs to find form. 100
8 DRAGON NINETYNINE ** Last start a lot better than the result and worth though at long odds. 33
9 MAGICAL SUNSET ** Will be working into this late and some hope on best form. 20
10 GYPSY MAGIC ** Pay to ignore last couple as usually a solid-each way show in this type of race. 20
11 ANODOUBT * Struggles as a rule. 100
12 LIVE WELL * Recent form OK but needs easier than this and turf. 50
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Race 11
Selections; 9 ORCHARD ROAD – 1 BAZINGA – 5 SMART SUPREME – 3 BLACK FIERY
Hopefully we have found a few winners earlier in the card and have the confidence to have a long look at ORCHARD ROAD at each-way odds in the lucky last. The 5YO mare has only won one race from six career starts but given she has been placed in some very good Novice and Graduation company, she looks very well-placed at the handicap conditions with a 3kg claimer a bonus. She should be value given plenty of others are in form with BAZINGA, SMART SUPREME, KAISER and BLACK FIERY all with winning hopes. Of that quartet, BAZINGA has the runs on the board with eight career wins and showed last start he is ready to win again in this company.
1 BAZINGA *** Stiff not to win last start and hard to beat from better gate. 5.00
2 KAISER *** Terrific effort in good company last start and wins a race like this sooner than later. 4.00
3 BLACK FIERY *** Appreciates first-up run and right in this on best form. 12
4 CASH DOT COM * Out of form but drop in Class could see improvement. 33
5 SMART SUPREME *** More than up to winning in this company and in this a very long way. 5.00
6 SILVER STAR *** Turned some solid placings into a strong maiden win and pay to follow. 8.00
7 TIM * Jockey reported issues last start and have to take on trust from widest gate. 20
8 LIM’S GREETING ** Backed up solid debut with a nice win over 1400m on the turf and each-way claims here. 10
9 ORCHARD ROAD *** Has plenty of ability and form around some good horses has him under notice at the handicap conditions. 6.00
10 WILKINSON * Prefer others. 50
11 ALL MY WAY ** Placed this surface last start and could surprise at odds. 20
12 CHEETAH * Wait for longer and easier. 50
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