International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Sunday 8 September 2019

Another competitive meeting in Singapore, the second one this week. At first glance it looks that way, but there are certainly horses to follow and hopefully we have found them. The highlight on the card is the 5th Race, a Class 3 event over 1700m where 11 runners line up at the start. WOLF WARRIOR looks the stand out here and he loves the Poly. He showed a good turn of foot last time out over the course and distance and from a better draw today, could be the banker to side with. Elsewhere on the card, we appear to have found some value in the form of PETITE VOIX. Her form appears to be moderate of late, but if one paid attention to her latest barrier trial on stable debut for Tim Fitzsimmons, she looked worthy of a nibble.

Best Bet: WOLF WARRIOR 
Value Bet: PETITE VOIX


Race 1
Selections: 11 – 2 – 9 – 1 – 13

We kick off the opener with this Class 5 Race over 1600m and side with OFFICIAL to land the majority share of the prize money. He has shown good improvement since reverting to the Poly in his last two starts, winning his penultimate and placing in his last start. The Aussie gelding looks to have more going for him in this line-up, compared to the rest and is a strong first selection from another good draw today. HIDDEN PROMISE improved last time out, when dropping into this class and the improved draw was a contributing factor to that performance. He has landed a wide draw this time, but that shouldn’t deter his followers. He likes to be dropped out and with Firdaus retaining the ride, one can expect a repeat of those tactics and another fast finish. ORDOS LEGEND has dropped further in the ratings and has started to show signs of significant improvement in his last start. He had to be used up in the early stages of that run, in order to overcome the draw and that cost him in the finish. From a much better draw today – his third effort in this Class 5 company, he should show further improvement and could find the places. EVERYBODY HAPPY has also dropped in ratings and is a recent entrant into Class 5 events. He faces a sharp rise in trip today, but that shouldn’t pose too many issues for him as he will be dropped out at the start. He has a fast finish and if repeating his last effort, should be closing them down in the latter stages. A place finish is likely.

Race 2
Selections: 1 – 5 – 2 – 3 – 8

AWESOME has been in competitive form before that latest effort over the mile. Dropping back to the 1200m today shouldn’t be an issue, as he has sprinted well prior to his last two 1600m attempts. He trialled well after his latest effort and with the 4kg claimer up today, looks the horse to beat. INHERIT, the former Chris Waller trained galloper, brings fair form to his Singapore debut. He won at Newcastle over this trip on Debut and placed twice over trips up to 1900m. One expects him to prefer an extra furlong at least, but this appears to be a nice trip to get him going. If his trial is anything to go by, he must be respected. HOWL has put in two solid efforts over the course and distance of late. He likes to take up the early running and from gate 4, he should get there without too much hassle. Looking at his form on paper, he may need to drop a few points in the ratings. If he has his own way out in front, he could be a hard horse to catch. JULIUS CAESAR is stripping weight and is clearly closing in on peak fitness. He was drawn wide over this trip on the turf last time out and will certainly benefit from the improved draw today. He drops further in the ratings and is fitted with the blinkers for this outing. As such, he could improve to fight out the finish.

Race 3
Selections: 6 – 1 – 2 – 5 – 3

 A modest field of Class 5 runners will line up at the 1000m mark and the speed will be on from the off. KO OLINA has put in two solid efforts in handicap company in his last two starts. He looked home and hosed last time out, until MY HORSE showed up on the scene and stole the show. With blinkers on today, he may be tougher to pass and he looks the likely winner from gate 1. COLOUR PAINT makes his handicap debut today, having been absent from official engagements since the 14th April. With that said, he has shown up well in his trials ever since and shouldn’t be too short of the run. Bred for speed, he will benefit from the 3kg claimer up today and the tongue tie could just do the trick. He looks a likely challenger. EASY SOUTH EAST was beaten by a classier sort last time out, in the form of COMING THROUGH who dominated the finish. He has placed in two of his four starts to date and with the blinkers on today, should show significant improvement. Drawn well again, he must be considered. ARCHIE drops in trip for his return to the course today, having campaigned over middle distances before his recent Summer recess. He has been a consistent sort of late and shouldn’t mind the drop in trip. The surface is a bit of a concern as he hasn’t done much in both attempts on the poly. To offset the affects of the kick-back, he will be fitted with blinker-pacifiers and if things go his way, he can find the places.

Race 4
Selections: 5 – 9 – 8 – 3 – 10

HIGH STREET showed immediate improvement when stepping back on to the Poly three starts back and since then he has duly obliged with three solid efforts in a row, placing in all three. That included a solid effort over this trip in his penultimate start and he may have just found the 1100m a touch sharp last time. This race appears to have come at the right time and he looks to be the right one here. GOLD KINGDOM reverts back to his preferred surface today, after finding the 2000m on Turf a touch too far last time. In both starts prior to that, he finished in second over 1700m. He looks well suited to this course and distance and with Rodd up for this outing, we give him the nod for second. HEPHAESTUS has been in solid form, possibly his career best form of late and he appears to have been beaten by the draw last time out. He jumps from gate 3 today and on his penultimate start over the course and distance, expect a rapid finish. SPOKESMAN was a winner by 6 lengths last time out, but the consequences of that impressive victory is a nine-point penalty and that could severely hinder his chances here. From a wide draw in that outing, he was forced to take up the early running and if repeating that effort, he could go close again.

Race 5
Selections: 3 – 4 – 8 – 11 – 6

Our best of the day, WOLF WARRIOR, lines up here and punters are assisted by the CHOCOLATS form line which appears prominently. The US-bred gelding had an unassuming start to his racing career, when well beaten in his first two starts. But the four-year-old son of Midnight Lute quickly got his act together in his third start, when winning by some six lengths on the Poly. He failed to show up in this fourth start on Turf and that confirmed where his allegiances lie as far as surfaces are concerned. Since then his Poly form has been excellent, either winning or going very close in his next six starts on the surface, with three unplaced turf runs suggesting he may be allergic to grass. Focussing on today’s outing, conditions look ideal and while he just went down to CHOCOLATS in a similar affair in August, he gets the visor fitted and from gate 1 he should turn the tables and go one better. CHOCOLATS is one kg worse off with the top selection on that run and has a wider draw to deal with today. He is a consistent campaigner and must be respected. MAJESTIC EMPRESS is one of two mares taking on the boys here. She finished 3 lengths off CHOCOLATS last time out and lines up at the start with two kg’s less to shoulder this time. She has a reasonable draw to overcome and will be expected to finish closer today. CARRIBEAN LADY is the other mare in the race. She has been in solid form of late, yet seems to be defying the handicapper. Up eight points in her last five starts, she went very close last time out over the course and distance and a repeat of that run could present an interesting finish.

Race 6
Selections: 6 – 11 – 1 – 3 – 2

We side with a mare to beat the boys in this 6th race on the card. ALARANCH has been thereabouts in her last two starts and she appears to have a few held on her last start, behind MY HORSE. She is well suited to the 1000m and from a reasonable draw, should be tough to catch. Follow KO OLINA in the 3rd race on the program, for confirmation on the strength of the MY HORSE form line. TOP BANANA runs off a very low rating of 22, yet his last two runs certainly bring him into the mix and could indicate an affinity for his rider who retains the ride here. He has another useful galloping weight to shoulder and must be included. WEST NORTH HILL has been just behind them in the majority of his last few starts. He lands another handy draw today and if everything goes in his favour, could land a stake cheque. SUN ELIZABETH is a five-year-old mare taking on the boys. She finished just 2.30 lengths behind the top selection last time out, although she has a tougher draw to overcome today. With that said, she is a kilo better off at the weights and if finding a smooth passage in the closing stages, she should give another good account of herself.


Race 7
Selections: 1 – 4 – 2 – 8 – 12

Our value bet of the day lines up at the 1100m mark, amongst a field of 12 runners. PETITE VOIS, as mentioned in our introduction, looks out of sorts at first glance, as far as her recent form is concerned. She has changed stables and impressed in her latest trial under the guidance of her new conditioner Tim Fitzsimmons. That could be an indication of improvement and on that effort, she gets the nod for first. ALTAIR, formerly from the Chris Waller stable, makes his Singapore debut here today. He had been contesting over more ground back in Sydney, but appears to be better over these shorter trips. The son of Zoustar has done exactly what was expected of him in both his trials and if finding his earlier promise, should be right there. MO ALMIGHTY has been in solid recent form on the Turf and reverts to Poly for this outing. There have been a few mentions of concern about him on this surface, coupled with the fact that Woodworth has opted to ride the 4. With that said, he is in decent form and should be right there. WATCH OUT BOSS hasn’t had the best of luck with draws of late (aside from his penultimate) and he lands a barrier 2 draw today. He made up a huge amount of ground over the 1000m last time out and from an improved draw over the extra 100m today, he looks a lively contender.

Race 8
Selections: 1 – 2 – 10 – 13 – 4

YULONG EDITION heads the penultimate race on the card, as far as selections go. He drops in class for todays outing and steps back up in trip, to a distance where he appears to be more comfortable. From barrier 8 he will most likely find a handy position, to replicate his previous tactics employed in his last start over this trip. With the 3kg claimer up today, it’s hard to imagine him not fighting this out and he should be well respected here. IRVING LIPSCHITZ gave a solid account of himself last time out, when returning from a four-month rest. That was over 1400m and he will have no issues stepping up to this trip today. He won his maiden over this course and distance five starts back and with the luxury of jumping from pole today, he looks a decent threat. LEGEND ROCKS returns to the Poly today, where he enjoys a one-from-one record. He has been in fair form of late on Turf and one may consider his latest outcome a little disappointing, considering he looked the outright winner at the 300m mark. He looks a big runner, if bringing his best form. BEBOP has been just off them of late and continues to slide in the ratings. He has shown an impressive turn of foot over the 1700m, in his last two starts and that can be expected again over this slightly shorter trip. With that in mind, his priority won’t be to take up the running, so the wide draw won’t be a massive concern. If finding a clear passage through, he could surprise.

Race 9
Selections: 4 – 1 – 10 – 7 – 12

MR COPPOLA scored an impressive win on his return after a lengthy lay-off, beating LORD OF LIGHT. The latter went on to win impressively last Friday night, confirming the strength of the form line. If not falling foul of the ‘second run after a rest’ syndrome, there is no real reason why he can’t go onto to record the double. From another good draw, he’s the one to beat. ELISE has a tricky draw to negate this time, but he has plenty of gate speed and if not having to be used up to take up the running, he could leave them in his shadows. With that said, the draw is a concern and we’ll settle for second this time. MY BOSS hasn’t missed the first three in his last four starts and from gate 5 today, looks a major contender in this field. He is just getting going in his career and we can expect to see him running on strongly once again. GOLD CROWN wasn’t disgraced in that comeback run last time, after a nine-month holiday. He had a tough draw to overcome in that run and he will surely benefit from pole position today. If not still in need of the run, he has ability to be in contention.