International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Friday 25th October 2019

A stand-alone meeting in Singapore this weekend, as we are fixtureless this Sunday 27th October. But all is not lost as there are 9 races to make sense of, this Friday 25th October 2019 and a few competitive races could present some value for punters. 

INHERIT looks progressive in race 7, having followed his maiden up with a solid 3rd last time out. That was over this C&D and a repeat of that last run should be good enough to put that race to bed. For value, LITTLE MASTER could kick punters off to a lucrative start in race 1. He has dropped in the ratings and is starting to look threatening as his form improves. From a good draw, he should be worth following.

Best Bet: INHERIT (Race 7)
Value Bet: LITTLE MASTER (Race 1)

Race 1 – 12:20
Selections: 7 – 8 – 3 – 5 – 1 
LITTLE MASTER has improved with each of his last four starts, since returning from a four-month absence. He has been dropping in the ratings during that time and appears to have landed on a mark where he should start to go close to winning. Back over the 1000m after a good effort over the 1400m last time, he lands a useful gate and retains the services of Ewe. The blinkers stay on and he should be a huge runner in this tricky opener. MR ALFONSO will enjoy dropping back the 5-furlongs here, despite a useful effort over 1200m last time. He has slipped another two points in the ratings and Vlad Duric does duty, having also ridden him four starts back. Although he does have a tricky draw to overcome this time, he possesses quite a forward running profile. Duric will be looking to use his speed to track over and if managing to find a fair position, he’ll be involved in the finish. MY GOLD has been finishing just off the stakes earners in his last few starts and the handicapper has taken a few points off his rating as a result. All of his last four outings have come in Class 4 company and from an improved draw today, he will be looking to take advantage of his good fortune, off that mark of 48. Woodworth takes the mount and the son of Globetrotter should be involved at the business end. COLOUR PAINT has his third run after a rest, after two fair efforts since that five-month absence. He will be looking to repeat that comeback run over this course and distance, in his penultimate start. The 3kg claiming Zyrul rode him on that occasion and he jumps back aboard this time. He has dropped in the ratings and he should be cherry ripe for this outing. 

Race 2 – 12:50
Selections: 2 – 3 – 4 – 7 – 6 
MR ALEJANDRO has featured in all three of his starts so far, with his two most recent efforts coming over this course and distance. He was just touched off in both of those runs and he now gets the services of the 3kg claiming Syahir. He still has plenty of scope to improve and from another useful draw, he will be looking to make use of that very forgiving galloping weight he has to shoulder. His followers can expect to see him fairly close to the leading bunch and he should go one better this time. STRONG N POWERFUL finished just behind the top selection in his latest start, when overcoming gate 10. That was his first effort on the Turf and he clearly took a liking to the surface. He finds an improved draw this time, as he resumes his rivalry with the former and with the 2kg claiming apprentice booked to ride him, he looks the biggest danger and must be included. MISTER DYNAMO steps up to the 1400m today, for his 5th career start.  He finished 5-lengths off them in his second career start, which also happened to be over this track and trip. His latest effort was rather encouraging when boxing on well for a 3-length beating in his second start after a short rest. He lands another useful draw and with the claimer taking 4kg’s off his back, he rates a big threat with plenty of improvement to come. CODIGOS showed good improvement in his second start when stepping up to this trip. Beaten 4-lengths on that occasion, he finds a much wider draw here and that will make things tough this time. With that said van der Merwe sticks with the ride and the son of Orpen still has oodles of scope for improvement. If finding a smooth passage in the closing stages, he should be fighting this out and must be considered. 

Race 3 – 13:20
Selections: 1 – 5 – 6 – 4 – 9 
MY WIN has shown signs of good improvement in his last two starts, since coming back from a 3,5-month absence from the course. He is a regular campaigner over this course and distance and he has gone close from a similar draw 4 starts back. If he can overcome the draw, he appears to have found the right kind of race to have a realistic chance of winning this. THOTH WARRIOR showed that he is in useful form last time out when finding the lead early and boxing on well late. Duric takes the mount this time and he will be looking to replicate those tactics. If he isn’t overused too much in the early parts, he will be challenging strongly and is an obvious inclusion. INVINCIBLE MAN has been featuring prominently in his last couple of starts and three of those have been from wide draws. He finds a very handy draw this time and if repeating his penultimate start when drawn in pole, he will be involved at the business end. ALARANCH beat the former last time out, but he is 4kg worse off at the weights for that 3-length beating. He has been a consistent sort and despite the fact that he is drawn out wide, he deserves to be considered again.

Race 4 – 13:50
Selections: 2 – 5 – 9 – 3 – 6 
LIM’S PASSION has a solid record here and he will be looking to add another victory to the two he already has, with this being his 11th start. He clearly enjoyed stepping up to this course and distance last time out, after two good efforts on the Poly. All three of his last three starts have started from wide draws and Woodworth will be looking to take advantage of the much-improved draw this time. He retains the ride and this should be a formality. QUADCOPTER has only had the 11 starts so far and he has found some solid recent form in his last four starts. He wasn’t disgraced in his penultimate start, when stepping up to Class 3 company and followed that up with an eye-catching effort last time out. A regular performer over this course and distance, he rates the biggest threat. MAGNUM FORCE has his third run after a rest and he steps up to his preferred track and trip this time. Both of those comeback runs were on the Poly and he did well to finish third in both, despite the fact that he was stepping up to this class and he found a tricky draw last time. From gate 5, he will be cherry ripe for this effort and must be included. STAR EMPIRE has been in consistent form and he is slipping back to a very competitive mark, having dropped to a rating of 62. He steps up to the 1400m here and he will get every inch of his, having performed well over further in recent times. Powell retains the ride and the 5-year old son of Not A Single Doubt should be right there.

Race 5 – 14:20
Selections: 11 – 2 – 9 – 3 – 4
VALENCIA ran 2nd on an impressive debut over this course and distance when making late headway for just a 2.50-length defeat. He would’ve come on a lot from that start and the well-bred son of Sweet Orange will be looking to go one better this time, with Duric in the irons. With natural improvement to come, he should do just that and looks the one to beat in a weak maiden. SAYONARA was only beaten by 2.70-lengths in his last start when stepping out in Class 5 company. That was over this course and distance and he will line up 0.5kg better off this time. Moor takes the mount and from a similar draw, he should feature prominently in the closing stages and must be included. APOLLO ROCK has his first start here, on the back of a useful trial just over a week ago. He will line up from barrier 4 this time, with Azzopardi in the irons and will be worth following. NATE’S HONOUR hasn’t had much luck with draws, and his luck gets worse this time as he finds barrier 14 to launch his challenge from. He proved that he has the ability to feature, if given a chance from a respectable draw, so he will be looking for a bit of luck in running in the closing stages. The son of Turffontein will be forced to take a back seat from that draw and JP van der Merwe will have plenty of decisions to make as they round the bend. He’ll be a big runner if he finds a way through.


Race 6 – 14:50
Selections: 10 – 12 – 2 – 8 – 1
GOLD KINGDOM has been knocking on the door for that elusive first win in Singapore, after 14 attempts to date. He enjoyed reverting to the poly in his last two starts when flashing home for 2nd over this course and distance and giving his followers another good display of that fast finish of his. Drawn out wide this time, he will be dropped out to the rear half of the field where he likes to settle and Moor will be looking to go one better this time. The son of Animal Kingdom has been very consistent off this mark and if finding a clear run through, he will just about win this. SUMMER GLITTER showed a fair amount of improvement last time out when turning to the poly after a few decent performances on the Turf. He clearly enjoyed the change in surface and will be looking to find another handy position from a similar draw this time. Having dropped 8-points in the ratings in his last 5 starts, he looks competitive off his current mark and his winning turn is just around the corner. HENG KINGDOM is another son of Animal Kingdom lining up at the start. He has been drawn wide in both of his last two starts, after a solid effort over the 1800m from gate 6. He showed an eye-catching turn of foot on that occasion, to finish strongly in 2nd place and from gate 2 this time, he will be involved in the finish. WHAKAARIA MAI has had just the 7 starts so far and he finds another tricky draw after drawing wide in his last two starts. He put up a fast finish in his penultimate start, when dropping to the 1200m on the poly and will more than likely be looking to settle off the pace once again. Duric takes the mount and if finding a bit of luck in running, he could go close.

Race 7 – 15:20
Selections: 2 – 6 – 8 – 14 – 4 
INHERIT put in a solid effort last time out when reverting to the Turf and stepping up to the 1400m. That was just his second start here, after winning his first over 1200m on the Poly. Both starts have been against this class of opposition and this progressive son of Pierro looks to be on the way to bigger and better. He finds another good draw, Azhar retains the ride and if building on his current form, he’ll be hard to beat. SILVER SKY went close last time when stepping back up to the 1400m and returning to the Turf. That was just his 2nd start after picking up his most recent victory and he showed a good turn of foot to run on strongly for 2nd. He will launch his challenge from exactly the same barrier draw this time and Lerner retains the ride. With plenty of improvement to come, he should be in with a reasonable shout. PING PONG showed the expected improvement last time out, after finding himself ‘all at sea’ on debut. He clearly enjoyed the extra furlong and he returns to the same course and distance here. Collett retains and he will be expecting to fight this one out once again, despite the fact that he steps up in class. MY BOSS gets the services of Woodworth for his 14th outing here. He gave a solid account of himself last time out when having his second start in this class and stepping back up to this course and distance where he has excelled. He lands a useful draw this time and must be considered for minor money.

Race 8 – 15:50
Selections: 3 – 4 – 5 – 2 – 8 
SURPASS NATURAL is hard to look past, having notched up four wins from four attempts. He followed up his latest win in this class, with a solid trial behind a Gr1 winner and it is no surprise to see Powell sticking with the ride. He has plenty of speed, so overcoming gate 8 should pose no concerns to the son of Elvstroem and he is expected to win again. KISS YOUR SONG has found some very useful form and he has performed admirably against stronger company as well, having finished a close second against Class 2 opposition in his penultimate start. From gate 1, Duric takes the mount and he’s the biggest threat to the unbeaten top selection. LIM’S KNIGHT has been in consistent recent form and he wasn’t disgraced in his last start, when stepping up to Class 3 company. From gate 4, he will be fairly prominent and his followers can expect to see him boxing on late over the extra 100m and he must be considered. SACRED SHAM drops back into Class 3 company after performing relatively well against stronger. He won his last start in this class, when beating YUBADABADOO by just under a length and that was only 5-starts back. He lands a useful draw and gets the services of apprentice Nizar who claims the 3kg’s off his back. He will be looking to get a little closer to the front, from the word ‘go’ and he has the form and ability to be right there at the finish.

Race 9 – 16:20
Selections: 1 – 10 – 7 – 4 – 3
SIAM BLUE VANDA has only had the 10 starts so far and he has performed well in Group company, before having a rest after that run three starts back. He is drawn well for his third run after a rest and he’ll relish stepping back up to the 1400m, where he was beaten by just 1.60 lengths in Gr2 company recently. He drops into Class 4 company here and Azzopardi takes the mount. From a slightly handier position this time, he will be hard to shake off in the closing stages a looks the one to beat. LIM’S RAY has plenty of scope to show more, with this just being his 8th start here. He finished just 3.20 lengths behind BASILISK last time out and lines up 2.50kg’s better off at the weights with the latter, on this occasion. Despite the fact that he has landed a tough draw to negate, he does have the ability to turn it on over the closing furlong and if finding a clear run, he should be involved in the finish. The latter, as mentioned above, beat the second selection last time out and he too will be drawn a little wider this time. Having won his last two attempts at this course and distance, he looks set for another big effort if finding a bit of luck in running. Woodworth retains the ride and he must be included. LORD OF CLOUD has been in good consistent form, having finished just off them in his last five starts. He dropped back into this class last time out, after a solid showing against stronger in his penultimate start and with both efforts having been over this course and distance, he has a lot going for him. Beuzelin takes the mount and from a reasonable draw, he looks a big danger.