International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Friday 4 October 2019

A tough card for punters, with four Class 5 races to make sense of and it may be worth waiting to the last race for a confident ‘bet on the nose’. That’s where the best bet on the card looks most apparent, in the form of ALTAIR. First race is off at 12:20.

He has his second start here and if building on his smart debut win, he’ll be hard to beat. YULONG FAST STEED is by no means a confident selection, as he lines up in a competitive Class 4 event where 14 runners go to post.

Best Bet: ALTAIR (Race 9)
Value Bet: YULONG FAST STEED (Race 5)

Race 1 – 12:20
Selections: 2 – 9 – 8 – 6 – 4
10 runners will canter to post, for this opening event on Turf over the 1200m. For first, we have landed on EVERYBODY HAPPY. He didn’t quite shape up on the Poly track last time out and that was when stepping up to the mile. Back on Turf and down in trip, he will be looking to repeat that penultimate start when dropping down into this class and finishing in 2nd. That came over this course and distance he lands a useful draw to launch his 20th career effort from. Blinkers go on this time and with the 2kg claimer up, he looks the one to beat. JUPITER DRAGON is another contender who drops in trip, after competing over a little further recently. He has only had the 10 starts so far and has been dropping in the ratings in his last 5 runs. Now off a mark of 44, he showed enough speed in his latest trial over the 1000m to go into the equation. From gate 6, Beuzelin takes the mount and the son of Congrats gets the visor fitted this time. With scope for improvement, he looks a danger and should be right there. HIGH LIMIT finished just in front of the top selection in his penultimate start and followed that up with a solid effort last time, when dropping back to sprints. He appears to be a little more at home on the Poly, but he did land his 2nd career win over this course and distance. Lerner retains the ride and they will get gate 7 to overcome here. He deserves to be respected and should be right there at the business end. ARCHIE looks the best of the rest. He went close to winning last time out, in Class 4 company, but that effort was over the mile and today’s trip may just be a furlong short for the son of Golden Archer. He has only had the 12 starts so far and with the 4kg claimer up this time, may look to position himself a little handier and could upset.

Race 2 – 12:50
Selections: 2 – 11 – 10 – 9 – 7 
The turn to the Poly for the 2nd race on the card and it will be a quick dash over the 5 furlongs, with 11 runners lining up at the start. A number of debutantes take part here, so punters will need to keep one eye on the betting boards for a bit of guidance. For first, we have sided with one of the raced runners, in the form of JIUYI. He took advantage of that much-improved draw last time out, when making his second official course appearance and producing a sustained finish to run 3rd. He returns to the Poly for his third attempt and the slight drop in trip could suit. Apprentice See regains the ride and his 2kg claim will come in handy, with the blinkers also assisting his cause. From gate 2, he looks the right one here. WHERE SHE’S HAPPY found plenty of betting support on debut, when finishing just over 2 lengths behind the top selection. This 3-year-old filly by Blackfriars showed a lot of immaturity in that debut effort and when questioned, Rodd advised that she would be better off reverting to this course and distance. She lands in pole and Rodd retains the ride, but whether or not she can make up 2 lengths on the JIUYI remains to be seen, with both having plenty of scope to improve. CELAVI is another filly in the race and she makes her career debut today, having won her trial over this course and distance in convincing fashion. That was done in a good time and she now has a slightly trickier draw to overcome. With a bit of luck in running, she’ll be in the frame. YOU ARE SPECIAL is another contender making his course debut. He finished well behind WHERE SHE’S HAPPY in his one and only trial, but that show of the course would’ve bought him on a lot and he will certainly reduce that margin here. Benny Woodworth sticks with him for his first official effort and he must be considered.

Race 3 – 13:20
Selections: 2 – 5 – 4 – 1 – 12
Thirteen runners go to post for the 3rd race on the card, the second event on the Poly. CROWN GIFT is the pick for the lions share of the prize money, with Woodworth doing honours for the Young Keah Yong stable. He had a tough trip last time out over further when dropping into this class of opposition. The son of Phenomenons was caught 4-wide throughout and with a much-improved draw this time, he should find the run of the race. He has dropped 8 points in the ratings in his last five runs and off this mark of 65, looks a major threat in a race like this. He looks the one to beat. FIRST CHOICE enjoyed returning to this course and distance last time out, when giving the eventual winner a lot of cheek in the closing stages. He has plenty of early speed and with the re-engagement of 2kg claiming apprentice Kok, should have no issues overcoming gate 8. If allowed to find a soft lead, he could prove very difficult to overhaul in the closing stages and must be considered. KRATOS finished just behind the former last time out, when dropping back to this course and distance. He has dropped 10 points in the ratings in his last five starts and since returning to Class 4 company, he is showing signs of a big run. From pole position, he must be included. The top-weight SOLDADO has been a consistent performer in recent times and he has followed up that recent win with two good efforts. His last outing was from a tricky draw and he did well to box on late for a respectable 4th place finish. From a very useful draw today, he has the form to feature prominently and is certainly worth including.

Race 4 – 13:50
Selections: 2 – 5 – 7 – 1 – 12
GOLD KINGDOM is still a maiden after 13 attempts and he went very close to notching up his first winners’ box appearance last time, when going down half a length in 2nd. That was when returning to this course and distance, with Rodd in the irons. The son of Animal Kingdom showed a good turn of foot in that run and he will more than likely be repeating that fast finishing asset of his once again. From a fair draw, he looks the obvious one to beat. HEPHAESTUS finished 3 lengths behind the top selection in his penultimate start, when dropping slightly in trip. He followed that up with a very modest effort last time and he will be looking to convert that run to a distant memory, with a big effort here. JP van der Merwe sticks with him from gate 6 and if regaining his prior form, he should be right there. MISS MICHELLE is a 4-year-old mare taking on the boys and she stems from the same form line as the top two, having finished just behind them in that penultimate start. After that run, she dropped another 2 points in the ratings and followed that effort up with another fair showing from a rather tricky draw. She lands in gate 4 for this outing and partners up with the 1kg claiming apprentice Koh, with a further 2 points shaved off her official rating. With the above in mind, she appears to have found the right race to give another very good account of herself and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her go close. The top-weighted PRINCE PEGASUS has enjoyed reverting to this surface in his last two runs, with the reduced rating also helping his cause. He showed an eye-catching turn of foot last time out over the 6 furlongs, which is why he is worth including from gate 12 today. He will be ridden quietly in the early parts of the race and the extra two furlongs should give him plenty of time to unwind. If building on those last two starts, he should be right there at the finish.

Race 5 – 14:20
Selections: 5 – 2 – 3 – 7 – 1
YULONG FAST STEED is the pick to win the 5th race on this card. The son of Exceed And Excel has been in good consistent form of late and he will have the benefit of finding a useful draw, having been drawn in the cheap seats in 3 of his last 5 outings. He was drawn out in gate 9 last time and did well to overcome the draw to find 3rd place, just 2.90 lengths off the winner. That was after receiving a 5-pound penalty for that win in his penultimate start and on his latest effort, he could still be a fraction ahead of the handicapper. Moor regains the ride and earns the flag as our Value Bet on the card. LIM’S ZOOM was an eye-catching winner last time out, when one considers that it was his first run this year. That was his 9th start and he should have plenty more to offer. Drawn wide today, Woodworth retains the ride for this slight rise in trip, but that shouldn’t be a concern at all. He has had three trials leading up to that latest effort and although this is his second competitive run after a long lay-off, he’ll be cherry ripe for the extra half-furlong and must be included. ARARAT LADY is a 4-year-old mare taking on the boys and she drops back into Class 4 company, after a decent showing against stronger last time.  That was when returning to the poly and she will have the benefit of jumping from gate 1 this time. Rodd regains the ride and looks a big threat to the top two, with plenty of scope for further improvement. SUN GENERAL has been competing over further in his last four outings. If one looks back to his run prior to that step up in trip, that was over this trip (on Turf) and by far his best recent performance. He jumps from an improved draw here and will be looking to race up with the early speed, where his will launch a late challenge. With the apprentice claiming the 3kg’s off his back, he deserves plenty of respect.

Race 6 – 14:50
Selections: 1 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 9 
BROADWAY SUCCESS appears to be in some good form of late and he may have converted that into a win last time, had he not had to switch at a crucial stage. That is all hearsay and he will be looking to capitalise on another good draw this time, with the 3kg claimer up. He drops back to the 6 furlongs this time, where he placed in his penultimate start and a repeat of that effort should be good enough to win here. SOLITAIRE lines up here, on the back of his 8th career win last time out. That effort was over this trip, on the poly and the 11-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus will be looking to repeat that run here. He is back on the Turf this time, where he showed a fast turn of foot three runs back and he’ll once again be positioned just off the early speed. With Woodworth retaining the ride, he must be respected. FEROCIOUS wasn’t disgraced last time out, when overcoming a wide draw to find the places. That was over slightly shorter and he showed tremendous resolve to box on late, after having to be steadied at a crucial stage. He is gradually slipping in the ratings and the son of Sebring is starting to look more and more competitive in this class. Back on the Turf this time, he lands a useful draw and gets the blinkers fitted for this run. The extra furlong will suit his solid turn of foot and he rates a big threat on his best form. MY MIRACLE finished just behind the former last time out and he will enjoy the extra furlong this time around. He has gone close over the 6 furlongs earlier in his career and will be looking to recapture that form here. The signs are certainly there, as he continues to drop in the ratings and the return to the Turf may ignite further improvement. He is drawn relatively wide, but must be considered in this smallish field.

Race 7 – 15:20
Selections: 4 – 5 – 12 – 1 – 11
HENG KINGDOM has run two good seconds in his last 2 starts, with his latest effort being a run full of merit considering his incident-filled start. He was quite badly inconvenienced on jumping in that run, which may have cost him his desired early position. He finds another wide draw here, but he’ll be dropped out as he has been in his last few starts and that will allow him to employ his fast finish. The 5-year-old son of Animal Kingdom retains the services of the young 2kg claiming apprentice and he looks a major threat if repeating his penultimate run over the extra furlong. We flag him as the one to beat. O’REILLY STAR has finished behind the top selection in both of his last two starts and from gate 7, he will be looking to employ those regular front-running tactics. He retains the services of the 3kg claimer and as a result will go to post a full 3kg’s better off with the former, on that penultimate run when finishing a length behind. He has been a consistent performer off this mark and deserves plenty of respect. OFFICIAL will be the first ride for Vlad Duric on the card and he will be looking to feature prominently, if overcoming that tricky draw. He does like to race handy and will more than likely be chased up to the front from that draw. The lightly-raced son of The Factor, will have plenty more scope for improvement and has certainly done enough to warrant inclusion. ELITE SAINT is also drawn awkwardly, but he steps up to the mile which will allow him to settle off the pace as he has done over shorter. He won over a mile in the US, just before making the long journey East and that confirms the reason for his step up in trip here. He was a fast finisher last time out and if building on that effort, should be right there at the finish.

Race 8 – 15:50
Selections: 5 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 11 
This Class 4 event is one of the tougher races on the card to analyse, mostly due to the small margins that may separate the first half of the field. For that reason, IT’S GOT IT ALL is the pick for first prize. The son of Your Song has plenty of early speed over this sort of trip and he lands a very handy draw this time around. Drawn 11 last time, he was bumped at the start and forced to race wide without cover. Needless to say, he managed to race up with the speed for most of the way, before his effort predictably came to nothing in the closing stages. He has continued to drop in the ratings and from an improved draw, he will get to front with ease. The pacifiers will help his finish and he should be good enough to win here. JUSTICE LIGHT finished well in front of the top selection last time out, his fourth start since dropping to this class and he has featured in all of those efforts. He is also a candidate for the early lead, but it may be tougher this time gate 13. With that said, Woodworth retains the ride and he has winning form so must be respected. SNIP is another who finished in front of the top selection last time and once again, he has a difficult draw to negate. He is partnered with apprentice Yusoff who claims 4kg, so he may be able to maintain a 2-3 wide position for most of the way. He looks suited to this trip and with that handy galloping weight to shoulder, he could be tough to shake off when it matters most. The top weight, MIGHTY CONQUEROR has been finishing just off them in his last three, in stronger company. He finds a very useful draw here and if the trip isn’t too sharp, he’ll just need to find his Class 4 form to go into contention.

Race 9 – 16:20
Selections: 1 – 8 – 10 – 2 – 14
ALTAIR was a smart winner on his Singapore debut, after two good trials prior to that. He had gate 12 to overcome in that run and the son of Zoustar showed enough speed to race handy, albeit wide without cover. From a slightly improved draw this time, Woodworth retains the ride and he looks suited to the extra 100m. He’s the Best Bet on the card. MR COPPOLA has put in two solid performances, since returning from that long lay-off. Both of those efforts have come over this course and distance, from useful draws. He finds another useful draw here and he’ll be cherry-ripe for this. If building on that last run in this class, he’ll feature prominently. MAGNUM FORCE clearly enjoyed dropping to this trip and reverting to this surface last time, when rising to Class 4 company. That was his first run after picking up his maiden win and he clearly has scope for more. A tougher draw to negate this time, he’ll need to use some of that early speed and try to avoid landing in the cheap seats. DESPACITO is a consistent sort, who has displayed an eye-catching turn of foot over this course and distance in recent times. He is drawn out wider today, but that shouldn’t discourage his followers. Rodd picks up the ride and he’ll more than likely be dropped out to the second half of the field. He went close in Class 3 company, four starts back and a repeat of that run will bring him right into the equation.