International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Friday 1st November 2019

Eight races are carded for a return to Kranji this Friday 1st November 2019. With a mix between Turf and Poly, there aren’t too many races to write home about and the lack of depth in most races should make things easier for punters. 

The best bet arrives in the 5th race, in the form of ARNANTARA who will be looking to follow up from that debut win 3 weeks ago. SIAM WARRIOR is no 33/1 shot, but he could offer his followers a fair amount of value in a trappy event over the 1200m Turf track, in the 7th race.

Best Bet: ARNANTARA (Race 5)
Value Bet: SIAM WARRIOR (Race 7)

Race 1 – 12:50
Selections: 3 – 8 – 10 – 1 – 4
CALIFORNIA has his comeback run here, after a 4 month lay-off and the signs shown in his recent trial are that he should give a good account of himself first up. With only the 4 starts to his name, he was starting to show signs of a big run, before picking up two very tough draws in his last two starts. Drawn 5 today, Vlad Duric takes the mount and the son of Written Tycoon appears to have winning credentials this time. He should be tough to beat on his handicap debut. GRATUS has been dropping in the ratings and he reverts back to a trip he prefers, after disappointing over the mile last time. He was just beaten over the 6-furlongs in his penultimate start and if repeating that effort, he should go a lot closer. Woodworth takes the mount from gate 4 and he must be included. TSURIAN has the pacifiers fitted this time and that may help him go one better here, after a solid second-place finish last time out. That was on Turf and he will relish stepping back onto the All-Weather this time, despite having gate 10 to negotiate. He gets the services of the 4kg claiming apprentice for this outing and coupled with his reduced rating, he looks very well handicapped to mount a big challenge here. The draw is a bit of a concern, but if finding some luck in running, he rates a threat. The top-weighted AABIR comes into this event on the back of a disappointing effort last time, for his third run after a rest. He gave a good account of himself in his penultimate start when returning from a rest and finding a tricky draw to negate. From another tough draw, Zawari regains the ride and on that prior form, he is a worthy inclusion, in this modest Class 5 event.

Race 2 – 13:20
Selections: 1 – 5 – 2 – 6 – 3 
LORD JUSTICE will be expected to go searching for a prominent early position and in a race like this, where there isn’t all that much speed and he may just find himself dictating matters from the front. Disappointing last time out, he had excuses having pulled up lame and he will be looking to make amends here. He steps up to an unfamiliar trip this time and if staying the mile, he should be good enough to win this on his encouraging third-placed finish over 7-furlongs, in his penultimate start. CLARTON SUPREME has dropped to a competitive rating and he brings some reasonable form in Class 5 company, to this Open Maiden. He has put in two useful efforts over the 1400m Turf in his last three starts and he is certainly bred to enjoy the mile. Drawn 13 however, he will need some luck to avoid being caught out in the cheap seats from the off and that will be a major factor in how the rest of his race materialises. If finding some luck, the son of Showcasing appears to have found the right type of field to put in a major claim for the winner’s enclosure and he should be worth including. CAUSE TO FLY has had atrocious luck with draws in his last three starts over the mile and things have finally taken a turn for the better, in that department. He lands a plum draw this time and Vlad Duric has noticeably opted to stick with the ride. The son of Excelebration has dropped to a competitive rating and off his current mark of 50, he looks a major threat. WHIZZY WALTZZY finished behind the second selection last time out, but that was just his second start after an 8-month rest and both of those comeback runs would’ve done him the world of good. He will strip a lot fitter this time and having dropped a further two points in the ratings, he should be right there at a price.

Race 3 – 13:50
Selections: 6 – 8 – 4 – 5 – 2 
AMAZING CHOICE has only missed the first three places once in his 5 starts here and that was on his local debut, when stepping out on the Poly. His form since then has been very encouraging, culminating in a solid effort when stepping out of the maidens and into this class last time out. That was over the mile and he should enjoy the drop back to 6-furlongs, where he has featured before. Woodworth reclaims the ride from a useful draw and he should be the one to beat. HEART OF COURAGE went close on the Poly last time out, when boxing on well over the final 400m. That was after dropping to a mark of 49 and he showed the improvement that his followers would’ve expected in that run. From an improved draw, he reverts to the Turf and has the blinkers and pacifiers removed for this outing. JP van der Merwe retains the ride and the son of Fastnet Rock should be a major contender here. ATLAS won his only start and he has since followed that up with a very promising trial, just over a week ago. He steps up in class now and he has been aided with a plum draw for his second start over the added furlong. The son of Atlante still has loads of scope to improve and it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see him land up in the winners’ encloser once again. VULCAN has notched up one win and four places in his seven starts so far and on the back of two decent starts in this class, over the same course and distance, he appears to be on the right track to double his win record soon. He lands another fair draw and Collett takes the mount this time. Having slipped to what appears to be a very competitive rating of 53, he looks a major threat here and must be included.

Race 4 – 14:20
Selections: 4 – 1 – 6 – 10 – 9
GANGNAM CLASSIC has the standout form in the race, leading up to this event and the lightly raced son of Dream Ahead appears to have found the right field to land his second win here. He beat all of the 7,8,10,11 in his latest effort over this course and distance and despite the wide draw that he has found here, Duric takes the mount and his followers can expect to see him finishing with big intent. MAKE U FAMOUS was just touched off into 2nd place in his penultimate start and he followed that up with a victorious effort over the same course and distance last time out, albeit having reverted back into Maiden company. He was penalised 5 points in the ratings for that win, but Rodd regains the ride and he could still be a shade in front of the handicapper off his recalibrated mark of 38. From a reasonable draw, he will be searching for the early lead and could prove tough to catch in the closing stages, if getting there with little opposition. MISS MICHELLE is a 4-year old mare who drops in trip and in the ratings for her 15th start here. She gets the pacifiers swapped for the blinkers this time and picks up another very useful draw. The blinkers will certainly sharpen her up for an assault over this unfamiliar trip and if she is allowed to roll into a handy position at the off, she could make her presence felt at the business end and should be worth including. CASSIS OOLONG finished behind the top selection last time out when making his 90th course appearance. The Japanese bred 10-year old seems to be going in the right direction in recent times and the favourable 4.5kg turn around at the weights with the former, brings him right into the equation. Zaki retains the ride and he should be involved in the finish.

Race 5 – 14:50
Selections: 1 – 3 – 4 – 2 – 6 
ARANATARA was eye-catching on debut over this course and distance, when flashing home with good intent after racing green in the early parts. That was in this class and it should be onwards and upwards from here. Apprentice rider, Joseph See, takes the mount this time and he will claim the 2kg’s off his back. From another useful draw, he has plenty more scope for improvement and appears to be the best bet on the card. For second place, ON LINE has been showing the necessary form to be involved in the finish. He has the blinkers removed for his rise into Class 4 opposition and he brings some solid form from the maiden ranks, having won his last start. That was over the mile when racing prominently throughout and he should enjoy dropping to the 6-furlongs for his first run back. From a reasonable draw, Beuzelin takes the ride and he must be considered. ALLEGRO was disappointing last time out when stepping on to the poly for his first run back after a 3-month absence. He will be looking to recapture the form he displayed over this course and distance in his penultimate start when going down by 0.90 lengths. That was in this class of opposition and a repeat of that effort from another good draw should bring him right into the equation. BRIGHT ALMIGHTY has his first run in Singapore and the lightly raced son of Patronize will be looking to make a good impression on his local debut. He is a 1200m winner in Australia and he showed enough in his trial to indicate that he is ready to feature prominently. Moore sticks with him, having ridden him in that trial and if not too in need of the run, he should be right there.

Race 6 – 15:20
Selections: 2 – 3 – 1 – 5 – 6 
ONLY WIN drops a further 2 point’s in the ratings after a fair performance in Class 2 company, last time out. That was over this course and distance and he lands another useful draw, as he drops back into Class 3 company, with Michael Rodd up. He finished just behind a useful sort, when reverting to the Poly in his penultimate start and that was in this class, over slightly further. He rates a threat off his current rating and looks the one to beat. GLOBAL KID had a wide draw to overcome on his one and only start in Singapore and he boxed well for a respectable 4.70 length beating. Despite the fact that he steps up in class this time, he has plenty of scope to improve and he will relish this step up in trip to the mile. He followed that up with a useful trial last week and from gate 2, he looks the biggest danger to the top selection. Collett takes the mount and he must go in. The top weight, SUPER DTYNASTY has slipped 4 points in the ratings in his last four starts and he is starting to show signs of a big run since then. He faced stronger over this course and distance in his penultimate start, followed up by a fair effort last time out, over a trip that may have been a touch too far. From gate 8, Vlad Duric looks an attractive booking on the son of Fastnet Rock and he must be included. GOLDEN FLAME reverts back to the Turf course this time, where he seems to be more comfortable, after a fair effort on the Poly last time out. He has also slipped in the ratings and looks very competitive off his current mark of 63. With solid prior form over the 1400m on Turf, he steps up to the mile here and lands a useful draw to mount his challenge from. Thompson takes the ride and he has an outside chance.

Race 7 – 15:50
Selections: 4 – 3 – 8 – 2 – 5
SIAM WARRIOR has dropped 9 points in the ratings in his last five starts, rounding up a fair campaign in stronger company. Despite not winning, he finished just off them when having wide draws to overcome in his last four starts and he jumps from pole for his return to Class 4 company. Thompson knows him well and from a relatively handy position, he should present good value for his followers and could surprise. SACRED ACCORD was a winner in New Zealand on debut and he has since made the trip north, to join up with the Mark Walker stable. He has shown a lot of promise in both trials here and Woodworth takes the ride from a good draw, for his Singapore debut. He should be involved in the finish and must be included. PERFORMANTE is back on the Turf, where he put in a fair performance from a wide draw – four starts back. That was in Class 3 company off a mark of 58 and he has dropped 5-point’s since then. Wong rode him on that occasion and he picks up the ride here. From gate 8, he looks a threat off his current mark and should enjoy this shorter trip and the return to Turf. NO FUN NO GAIN returns from a 5-month absence from the course and it will just be a question of fitness, after three fair efforts in Group company to end off his last campaign. He notched up two wins in his 6-starts and he’ll be using this run as a prep to bring him on for bigger and better. Duric takes the mount and he wouldn’t be a surprise winner, if not too in need of this.


Race 8 – 16:20
Selections: 2 – 6 – 1 – 5 – 4 
DAZZLE GOLD has been solid recent form and he will relish reverting back to the Poly track, where he notched up two wins in a row prior to that last start. He has a tougher draw to overcome this time, but he does have a good finish and if the 1kg claiming apprentice finds a bit of luck in running, he should be the one to beat. SACRED SEA has found some useful form and he will enjoy the extra furlong here, if his penultimate run is anything to go by. Woodworth takes the mount from a reasonable draw and he knows him well, having ridden him over this course and distance three starts back. He may just need to slip a few points in the ratings in order to find the winners’ box, but he could pop up under a classy ride and must go in. FORESTO clearly didn’t enjoy the Turf last time, in Class 3 company and he will be looking to make amends with a return to the Poly this time around. In his penultimate start, also at Class 3 level, he overcame a tricky draw to box on well for a 4 – length beating and he will have the same draw to overcome here. With that said, Rodd takes the mount this time and he drops into this lesser class of opposition which strengthens his chances. He’ll find the winners’ enclosure soon, if not this time around. YULONG MEDAL gets the services of the 3kg claiming Eaton and the son of Medaglia D’Oro will relish the return to the Poly track after two fair runs on Turf. If overcoming gate 9, he’ll be involved in the finish and must be included.