International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Friday 27 September 2019

We have 8 races carded for this Friday meeting at Kranji and the highlight event on the card is a Class 2 race over the 1200m, in the 7th. A field peppered with Group performers and the speed will certainly be on. First race is off at 12:50.

Our Best Bet on the card arrives in race 4, where we think the progressive looking PINDUS will be very tough to beat. Our Value Bet on the card comes two races later, in race 6. GOLD STAR has been a consistent performer and he’s been rewarded with a much-improved draw this time. He appears to have found the right race and should go very close.

Best Bet: PINDUS (Race 4)
Value Bet: GOLD STAR (RACE 6)

Race 1 – 12:50
Selections: 1 – 2 – 5 – 9 – 6
The first of 8 races on the card, is an Open Maiden over 1200m on the Poly. ROMANTIC is picked to get us off on a winning note, after that useful debut earlier this month. That effort was also in Open Maiden company, over this course and distance and he had a tough draw to overcome. He has gate 9 to negate here and will strip a lot fitter this time, having just tired in the closing stages of that debut run. With the expected improvement to come, he should be the one to beat here. GEB WARRIOR has been a regular place getter in his 11 starts so far and he wasn’t disgraced in his last two, when stepping up to Class 4 company. Back against maidens today, he lands another useful draw and the services of Benny Woodworth. On his prior form in this class, his followers can expect a bold showing. TIGER BOSS is finally on the receiving end of a good draw, as he drops into maiden company after a Class 5 campaign. Although he has trialled on the Poly, he is yet to step out on to this surface in a competitive event, but he should have no issues. He drops slightly in trip and his chances will be boosted by the engagement of Vlad Duric this time. In a modest event such as this one, he should have a realistic chance of winning. NOVA FACTOR showed good improvement last time out, when changing tactics for a much handier approach to the early running. If repeating those tactics here, he should find himself out in front with relative ease. From gate 3, he looks a big contender with a big run expected.

Race 2 – 13:20
Selections: 8 – 7 – 3 – 2 – 11
MR ALEJANDRO has just had the two starts so far and he enjoyed stepping up to this course and distance last time out, when rallying late to finish 4th. The son of Rip Van Winkle still has plenty of scope for improvement and that can be expected here, under similar race conditions as before. From a good draw, he gets the services of apprentice Amirul and his 1kg claiming allowance. If improving on that penultimate start, he looks hard to oppose here. KRUGER has just had the one start so far, finishing in third place in what his connections would consider a trip on the sharp side. The son of Choisir is bred for the mile, so he should relish the extra furlong this time and the switch to Turf. With Kellady retaining the ride, he looks a danger with the expected improvement to come. STRONG N POWERFUL has featured prominently in his three starts so far and the son of Golden Archer still has plenty of scope for further improvement. From a wide draw this time, he will be looking for a mid-field position and the extra furlong should come in handy. This will be his first Hong Kong appearance on the Turf and if taking to the surface, he should feature prominently. TELL ME reverts back to maiden company after a modest Gr2 performance in his last start, although he had a nightmare barrier draw to overcome in that run. He will be looking to build on that penultimate start, when showing a useful turn of foot over the 1200m and the step up to 1400m today looks ideal. Gate 11 won’t be much easier, but he should have the necessary gate speed to negate that draw and if he avoids being caught out wide, he’ll be a factor late on.

Race 3 – 13:50
Selections: 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 
DIAMOND BEAUTY is a mare taking on the boys and she comes off the back of two smart course and distance efforts. Rodd gave her a top ride last time out, when having gate 12 to overcome and it took a fast-finishing BUSHIDO to beat her on the line. She finds a much-improved draw this time and meets the latter on 1.5kg favourable weight terms, for that 0.10 length beating last time. A repeat of that effort should be good enough to win, at her 7th time of asking. QUADCOPTER drops into Class 4 company here, after a useful showing against stronger last time. That was over this course and distance, following a good win over the same track and trip in his penultimate start. A consistent performer in his 10 starts so far, he gets the services of recent Gr1 winning rider – Lerner and should go very close to winning. LEATHERHEAD has had two tough draws to overcome and his poor luck with draws continues here, in his third career start. Both of those efforts have come over sprints, where he has been slightly outpaced early on, so the step up in trip should suit. He comes into this race on the back of a decent trial, where Duric did duty and retains the mount this time. The blinkers go on and he will have scope to improve and if overcoming the draw, he should be right there at the business end. OCEAN CROSSING has also been a consistent performer, having landed two wins in his six career outings so far. He was a smart winner last time out, over this course and distance and with just the 6-pound penalty he could still be a fraction ahead of the handicapper. The son of All Too Hard looks progressive and if repeating that last start in this class, he’ll be a big runner.

Race 4 – 14:20
Selections: 1 – 2 – 3 – 6 – 5
As we reach the half-way mark, we also come across the proposed best bet on the card – PINDUS. The son of Exceed And Excel has only had the one start so far and he went down just 0.30 lengths in 2nd, over this course and distance. He followed that up with a decent trial last week and from a useful draw, steps up to the 1200m this time. Duric takes the mount and with the expected scope for improvement, he looks very hard to beat. GOLDEN KID finished behind the top selection last time out and he showed a solid turn of foot in that run, which may indicate that he will relish this step up in trip. He hasn’t done much wrong in his four starts so far and still has scope for more. From a useful draw, he’ll be settling just off the early pace and his followers can expect to see him flashing home late. VICTORY JOY appears to be the best of the rest, having shown a solid effort in his last start, over the course and distance. That was just his third start and the improvement was rather noticeable on his two prior starts. He finds pole position this time and with further improvement expected with Lerner up, he must be included for the minor placings. SUPREME INFINITY has just had the one start and that was over this trip, when finishing behind the useful FIELD MARSHALL. That debut run was back in July this year and the 2-month break would’ve freshened him up nicely. He will no doubt return a stronger individual and big improvement can be expected from another fair draw.

Race 5 – 14:50
Selections: 3 – 6 – 1 – 10 – 5
SHAHBAA has shown good improvement in his last two starts, since returning from a rest and dropping into Class 4 company. He boxed on well in his last start, when coming from off the pace and on that run, he’ll enjoy the slight rise in trip here. With this being his peak run after a rest, he should strip fitter and from a useful draw Duric takes the mount and he looks the one to beat. For second, we have landed on ACROSS THE SEA. He has been dropping in the ratings and shown the expected improvement as a result, particularly in his last two starts. He was touched off in his penultimate start over the course and distance and followed that up with another bold effort last time, with Benny Woodworth in the irons. He retains the ride here and will have to nullify a tricky draw this time, but with a fair amount of gate speed he’ll find his usual position just off the early speed. If building on either of those last two runs, he looks a threat. GREEN STAR finished just in front of the top selection last time out, when reverting to this surface over the mile. He certainly enjoyed stepping up an extra furlong on that occasion and he’ll enjoy the extra 100m here. He is 1kg worse off at the weights with the top selection and some may argue that the latter has a bit more scope for an improved run, with this being his peak run after a rest. With that said, GREEN STAR is in a good place since stepping into Class 4 company and he must be included. CARNELLAN had an interesting trip last time out and it’s a surprise that she finished as prominently as she did in that run. She came off the bit a long way out, but managed to box on late and appeared to find another gear over the final half-furlong. She has another light mass this time and Zaki retains the ride, from a good draw. Back over the 1700m this time and she looks a strong contender on that last run, so don’t discount her chances.

Race 6 – 15:20
Selections: 8 – 1 – 11 – 7 – 2 
GOLD STAR is just getting going here, with this being his 9th start and he brings a very useful record with him. He finished just off them in Group 1 and Group 2 company, at the end of last term and that was against some quality 3-year-olds.  He has shown an eye-catching turn of foot in his last two starts, with his latest in this class – over the course and distance. Both of those runs have originated from wide draws and he is rewarded with pole position this time. That may seem wasted on him, as he will probably look for position somewhere off the early speed, but he’ll get there for nothing and that may prove to be very beneficial in the latter stages. He looks progressive and as such, his next win is just around the corner. We tip him for first. DINGHU MOUNTAIN drops into Class 3 company, after some useful performances against stronger. He has won with weight on his back before and although he carries top weight this time, he looks well handicapped with his continued drop in the ratings. He finds another useful draw and looks the main danger to the top selection. PER POWER has won his last two starts over the course and distance and the son of Per Canto is just getting going, with 3 wins from 9 starts. He has jumped in the ratings, but with scope for more improvement and another handy draw, he has a decent chance at the hat-trick of wins and must be considered. SALAMENCE finished just behind PER POWER, three starts back and he lines up 0.5kg better off at the weights, for a 0.10 beating over the course and distance. He is a 3-time winner from 13 starts and although jumping from a slightly wider draw today, Benny Woodworth remains loyal to his cause and he’s not without a chance.

Race 7 – 15:50
Selections: 14 – 1 – 8 – 4 – 3
The penultimate race on the card is the highlight event of the race meeting and it presents a quality, but challenging race for punters. We have opted for the son of Dark Angel, GRAND KOONTA to land the biggest prize of his career so far. This will only be his 6th start, but he has sailed through the divisions and won his latest in this Class. His last four outings have been over this course and distance and three of those efforts have landed him in the winner’s enclosure. From another good draw, he looks progressive enough to have a real chance at winning this. The top weight, BOLD THRUSTER, has been competing in Group company of late and he brings three recent Gr3 victories over the course and distance, with him. An impressive 2nd in Gr2 company last time out was also over the course and distance and that was evidence of the fact that he is on the way to bigger and better. The 13 draw is going to be a real challenge however, in a race where there appears to be plenty of speed. As such, he may have to settle for minor money. WEBSTER was touched off in a Class 1 event over the course and distance, in his penultimate start and that was a continuation of his consistent recent form. He’ll be able to find his favourable handy early position, from gate 3 this time and that brings him right into the equation. He’ll have no issue with performing in this class and looks a big runner. ELITE POWER looks the best of the rest and he will be reunited with Vlad Duric for this outing, after being touched off in that penultimate start over the course and distance, when previously taking the mount. He is rarely out of the equation and with a favourable draw this time around, he’ll need to be respected.

Race 8 – 16:20
Selections: 7 – 9 – 5 – 2 – 13
A Class 4 event over 1400m closes off the meeting and once more, it’s a competitive race to analyse. The stand out in the race, not only due to her sex but also her unlucky last start, is the mare TURF PRINCESS. She hasn’t had much luck with draws in her last two starts and that luck has turned around today and she will certainly benefit from pole position. As alluded to above, she found traffic was baulked for a number of strides in her last start and would’ve gone very close to winning, had she found a clear passage through. She gets the nod for approval today. SIAM UP beat the top weight last time out, when attempting his second outing in this class and that happened to be his first effort over the course and distance. He had only run in competitive events four times prior to that and his record suggests the form of a horse that is on the way up. With the expected improvement, he’ll go close. OUR PINNACLE finished just in front of the top selection last time out, but he has a much trickier draw to deal with this time. With that said, he’s been a consistent performer over this course and distance, in this class of opposition and his chances will be boosted by the presence of Rodd in the irons. From gate 9, he’ll be one row back and having performed over further, his challenge will be a sustained one and he cannot be ignored. VITTORIA PERFETTA is a 2-time winner from 5 starts here and the son of Zoustar comes off the back of a fair performance in Gr1 company, last time out. That was four months back and he’ll take a slight drop in trip, for his return to the course. With that said, Duric hasn’t regained the ride just to give him a pipe-opener and on ability alone, he has a realistic chance. He’s still on the improve and must be respected.