International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Saturday 15 February

Winning Form bring you all of the best bets and tips from Saturday’s racing at Kranji.

Vladimir Duric is the current leader on the Jockeys Premiership table and is seven winners clear of Marc Lerner in second. Duric has a good book of rides once again and he will be looking to increase his lead. The Trainers Championship is a lot more of a closer affair with three winners separating Mark Walker and Michael Clements. The ninth race on the cards is the feature of the day, which is the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy over a mile. MR CLINT won a Group 1 in his last start and will be looking to follow that up with another victory in a Group race.

BEST BET – MAN OF MYSTERY (Race 8)
VALUE BET – IRONCLAD (Race 10)

Race 1 
JK FORMIDABLE comes into the race after being given a 76-day break. He finished 2nd over the 1100m in his last start on this surface and if fit, he can go one better. ADMIRAL WINSTON should have finished much closer in his last start over this course and distance. Vladimir Duric takes the ride today and with a bit of luck in running, he should pose a threat to the top choice. 

Race 2 
THOMAS DE LAGO has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He was slow into stride last time and raced wide, but despite that, he rallied nicely to finish runner-up. He doesn’t have the best of draws today, but if jumping on terms, he should be closer to the leaders turning for home. LORD O’REILLY is better than his recent form suggests. He is dropping to a much more competitive rating and can cause the upset. He has won three times from fourteen starts.

RACE 3 
HEART OF COURAGE is in very good form recently. He didn’t have things go his own way last time as he had to race wide without cover around the bend. Vladimir Duric takes the ride today and if he is able to get him into a good position turning for home, he may be the one they all have to beat. TRIGAMY has come well in his last two starts on the Polytrack over the minimum distance. If transferring that form onto the turf, he should be right there in the run down to the wire.

RACE 4
AFALONHRO has produced three very good runs to date. He was his own worst enemy last time as he was laying inwards and then got himself into trouble at the 400m mark. Vladimir Duric who was aboard in his penultimate start steps back into the saddle and the pair could find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. OCEAN CROSSING won his last start well over the mile. The drop back to seven furlongs is no concern as he has won over the distance in the past. Interestingly, Duric who was aboard him last time has preferred to ride the top choice. 

RACE 5
FAME STAR is unbeaten in his last five starts. He tried the seven furlongs last time and succeeded. He drops back to the distance where he won four in a row. He continues to rise in the ratings, but he looks to have some class about him and he can continue his very good run of form. GINGERELLA is a mare taking on the males. Her last start can be ignored as she was reported to be lame post-race. On previous form, she should pose a threat to the top selection.

RACE 6 
QIJI ACHEEVA has produced two good runs since winning his maiden over six furlongs on this surface. He set the pace in his last start on the turf but was outrun in the closing stages. That was in a Grade 3 and he takes a drop in class today. HEALTHY STAR won his maiden well after finishing second in his first two starts. He does take on much stronger today, but he is lightly raced and looks to have some class about him. He jumps from a midfield draw and should be right there in the run down to the wire.

RACE 7 
TOUCH THE CLOUDS is slowly coming back to best form. He steps up to the eleven furlongs today, but the manner in which he finished off his last race suggests that he should be suited to the trip. From pole position, he may be the one that they all have to beat. MR DUJARDIN has shown fair recent form. He dropped back to nine furlongs last time and hit the line fairly well. He produced two good efforts over ten furlongs in his previous two runs and in this type of field, he may be involved in the finish.

RACE 8 
MAN OF MYSTERY is the best bet on the card. His last three runs over this course and distance have been very good. He didn’t get the best of starts last time but managed to find himself in a handy position and stayed on well at the finish. He doesn’t meet the strongest of fields this afternoon and can get back to winning ways. SUPER POSH should have finished much closer in his last start over this course and distance. He was carried wide in his last start and raced without cover. However, the manner in which he stayed on at the finish was encouraging. 

RACE 9 
The feature race on the day is the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy over a mile. MR CLINT is not the most consistent sort, but the manner in which he won his last start in a Grade 1 over 2000m was encouraging. He was bumped around quite a lot in that race and had to do it the hard way by racing wide. If repeating that run, he should go back to back. COUNTOFMONTECRISTO finished behind the top selection in his penultimate run. He finished third subsequently over seven furlongs in a Grade 3 event. On best form shown, he should give a good account of himself.

Race 10 
IRONCLAD is the value bet on today’s card. He has produced top form to date and won his maiden well in his last start over this course and distance. He does take on stronger, but he is lightly raced and looks to have a lot of scope about him. From his midfield barrier position, he is likely to be taken forward and may even set the pace. He may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. DIAMOND BEAUTY is a mare taking on the males. She had no luck in running in her last start and that effort is best ignored. From pole position and if things go her way, she should pose a threat to the top choice.