International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Sunday 20th October 2019

There are 10-races to look forward to this Sunday 20th October 2019, with the highlight on the card coming in the form of the Group 1 – Queen Elizabeth II Cup (3-Year Old and upwards). A tantalising affair it shall be, with a number of contenders coming into this race off the back of the Raffles Cup form line.

However, the best bet on the card comes in the form of BOLD THRUSTER in the 5th race. He had excuses last time and his followers can expect another bold showing and this time he should deliver. The value on the card comes in the form of GOLD COMPANY in the 4th race. Having dropped in the ratings, he is starting to show signs of a big run and appears to be worth following in an open race.

Best Bet: BOLD THRUSTER (Race 5)
Value Bet: GOLD COMPANY (Race 4)

Race 1 – 06:55
Selections: 4 – 7 – 5 – 10 – 12
HIGH STREET gave a solid account of himself last time out, when stepping onto the Turf course. He showed a good turn of foot to rally home late, despite racing wide and a repeat of that effort will certainly stand him in good stead here. He was an impressive winner in that penultimate start, when stepping up to the mile and that was on the back of finding the first three places in his three runs prior to that. The son of Street cry lands the services of a more experienced rider this time and he should be in with a strong shout. I AM INVISIBLE has dropped in the ratings and he looks very competitive in this class, off his current mark of 46. He has finished just off them in his last two starts, over this course and distance and from a much-improved draw this time, he gets the services of Benny Woodworth. With this being his third start since dropping into this class, he looks a danger. KRANJI GOLD was rather disappointing last time out, but comments from the boardroom reported that the general consensus between trainer and jockey was that he had come to the end of his preparation. He has been dropping in the ratings and there is little doubt that Ricardo Le Grange has freshened up for this return. Duric takes the mount from a useful draw and he must be included. ARCHIE has a tough draw to overcome, but he has a remarkable turn of foot to counter that challenge. He flew up over the mile, in his penultimate start to finish second and that was when coming from well off the pace. That was against tougher opposition and he followed that up with a good run over the 6-furlongs, last time out. From gate 15, he will be dropped out and with the 4kg claimer up this time, he will be flashing home late.

Race 2 – 07:25
Selections: 4 – 1 – 6 – 8 – 2 
ADIPSON has had a very encouraging start to his career and he recently topped his record off with an eye-catching win over this course and distance, last time out. Penalised 7-points in the ratings for that win, he has the added task of having to overcome a wide draw here. With that said, he will be settled off the early speed and let loose over the final two furlongs. With Woodworth retaining the ride, he deserves plenty of respect and looks tough to beat. BOY NEXT DOOR finished 5.50 lengths behind the top selection in that penultimate run, but this progressive son of Showcasing showed further improvement and subsequently put in a very positive showing last time when flashing home late. Rodd retains the ride from another tricky draw and he will be hoping for a good early tempo, to set him up for a late rallying cry for the winner’s box. He has the ability to be go close and must be considered. BUSHIDO is another contender with a strong finish to his arsenal of attributes. He was super-impressive in his penultimate start, when getting up on the line from a hopeless position. Drawn wide last time, he was not disgraced when finishing with another fast finish, crossing the line just 3.40 lengths back. From an improved draw this time, Collett retains the mount and looks a major threat. SUN FORMATION has been right there, since stepping up to this class in his last two outings and with just the 4 starts to his name, he has plenty more to come from gate 2. Going on his last two starts over the 1400m, he is going to relish the extra furlong here and must go in.

Race 3 – 08:00
Selections: 2 – 4 – 7 – 3 – 5 
REAL SUCCESS drops back into Class 3 company after an impressive showing last time out, at just the fifth time of asking. He has plenty of scope for more and he will certainly enjoy this step up in trip. He finds an improved drawn and gets the services of Duric for this attempt at his 3rd victory. With the blinkers fitted this time, he’s a huge runner. YULONG EDITION has enjoyed the recent step up in trip and he went close over the mile last time, in Class 2 company. He is a 3-time winner from 8 starts and he seems to be getting better and better. The step up in trip may be tougher, but he has plenty more to come. SONG TO THE MOON has been dropping in the ratings for a while now, having shed 8-points in his last five starts. He was only beaten by two lengths in his last appearance in this class and that was in his penultimate start over the 10-furlongs. He followed that up with a decent effort in Gr 3 company last time out, when shifting inwards and becoming unbalanced at the 250m. He did well to finish just 6.10 lengths off the winner and he will relish this decrease in class and in trip. He looks threatening off this mark and must be included. SUPER DYNASTY finished behind the 2nd selection last time out, when boxing on well in the latter stages. He finds a useful draw here and will be looking to mount his challenge from a handy position. A winner over the mile back in July, that was in this class of opposition and he appears ready for this step up in trip.

Race 4 – 08:35
Selections: 14 – 11 – 4 – 13 – 10
GOLD COMPANY looks useful off his current rating of 32. He showed an electric turn of foot last time out, over this course and distance. He was slow away on that occasion and forced to drop back to the tail of the field. From gate 9 this time, he will more than likely opt to use the same approach and if finding a smoot passage through, he could steal this. The expected good early speed will certainly enhance his chances and he’s worth following at a fair price. BEST BAY finished behind the top selection in his penultimate start, when overcoming a wide draw to rally home late. Sliding further in the ratings, he followed that effort with a strong late run. That was his second start since reverting to this class and he now has a great opportunity to throw his hat into the ring for the winners’ box. BORN TO WIN has been knocking on the door for some time now and he still has scope for further improvement. He has slipped in the ratings and with that, his winning chance should be just around the corner, if not this time. A wide draw to overcome this time, he will need to call on that strong finish of his and with a bit of luck in running he should be involved in the finish. CAI POH WANG has been getting closer in his last three starts and he appears to have enjoyed the recent drop to this trip. A solid effort last time, he looks competitive off this current rating. He has a very tough draw to negate, but Woodworth retains the ride and he could pull this off.

Race 5 – 09:05
Selections: 1 – 3 – 6 – 2 – 7 
BOLD THRUSTER dropped back into this class last time after a competitive stint in Group company. He probably should’ve won, had luck been on his side. Slow to begin after making contact with the near-side barrier partition, he subsequently raced wide in the early stages and settled on the outside of the leaders. Boxing on well late, he stayed on strongly in 2nd for just a 0.30 length beating. Blinkers come off for this outing and Azzopardi regains the ride from an improved draw. His form looks far superior to the opposition and he will be tough to beat. FAME STAR has been in remarkable form, having recently picked up his hat-trick of wins. He clearly enjoyed the drop to this trip and now takes the plunge into Class 2. Apprentice Kok retains the ride and he will remove 2kg’s from the saddle. From a useful draw, he will more than likely take up the early running and could be tough to catch in the closing stages. QUARTER BACK returns after a 3-month lay-off, after pulling up lame in his off-hind, last time out. He didn’t enjoy the conditions on that occasion and will be looking to put that behind him. A winner in his last outing in this class of opposition, that was 4 starts back and aside from his latest Gr1 attempt, he hasn’t disappointed. He finds pole position and looks a major threat. NOWYOUSEE has dropped 5-points in the ratings in his last four starts and on the back of a solid effort behind the top selection last time, he looks a danger off this mark of 88. Drawn well, Moor retains the ride and he will be right there at the business end.

Race 6 – 09:35
Selections: 1 – 9 – 6 – 5 – 12
MAGIC WAND has been in solid form since dropping into Class 2 company, having finished just off them in his last three starts. He looks suited to this drop back in trip, considering that good effort in his penultimate start over this course and distance. From gate 2, the in-form Lerner takes the mount and he gets the blinkers removed for this outing. With the further drop into Class 3 company, he has the form to be the one to beat. SALAMENCE finds pole position for his 15th effort in Singapore. He gave a solid account of himself last time out, when racing wide for much of the way and he still managed to box on for 3rd. That was over this course and distance and with Woodworth retaining the ride, he must be included. ELITE INCREDIBLE has been ultra-consistent since arriving in Singapore. The son of Valid Stripes was a smart winner over the 6-furlongs last time in Class 4 company, but he is more than capable of the step up to this class. He was placed in the Singapore Guineas (Gr1) as well as the 3-Year-Old Classic (Gr2), just 4-months ago and if repeating any of those efforts, he will be involved in the finish. THREEANDFOURPENCE gets the blinkers fitted this time, after a disappointing effort last time out over the 6-furlongs. He won in this class, over the course and distance just three starts back and a repeat of that effort should bring him into the equation. Rodd retains the ride and he will be tasked with overcoming gate 10 this time. With a bit of luck in running, he should be right there.

Race 7 – 10:10
Selections: 2 – 8 – 4 – 10 – 3 
MAGNIFICENT GOLD won over this course and distance and in this class, just 5 starts back and the son of High Chaparral has been right there at the finish in his last two starts. He finds a much-improved draw this time and he will be looking to slot in just off the early pace. He appears to be competing off a competitive mark in this class of opposition and with Rodd retaining the mount, he looks well set up to find the winners’ enclosure. OCEAN CROSSING has a tough draw to overcome this time, but he has his third start in this class on the back of two encouraging efforts of late. With just the 7 starts to his name, he has already picked up two victories and he looks progressive. Azzopardi retains the ride and they will be looking to settle just off the early speed. He does run the risk of landing 3-deep throughout, but with a bit of luck in running he should make a very big impression. VITTORIA PERFETTA clearly needed his last start, when returning from a 4-month absence. That was after a fair effort in Gr1 company and he will strip a much fitter horse this time. A 2-time winner in just the 6-outings so far, he still has plenty more to come and deserves another chance. Duric retains the ride and he will be looking to race up near the front from a modest gate 8. On his best form in this class, he rates a major contender.

Race 8 – 10:45
Selections: 3 – 1 – 4 – 7 – 10 
ELITE POWER has been a consistent performer in this class-leading up to his last start, when having to overcome a wide draw. He finished a close second in his penultimate run over this course and distance and off the same mark today, Duric regains the mount. He will be chased up to a relatively handy position at the start and he certainly knows how to turn it on at the business end. On his prior form, he appears to have found the right race and looks tough to oppose. LIM’S SAMURAI has also been thereabouts in his last few starts. He finished 3rd in Gr3 company just three starts back and lands a solid draw this time. Top weight in this class alludes the fact that he is certainly not out of his depth and with Woodworth up, he must be a major contender with the blinkers fitted this time. TESORO PRIVADO returns after 6-months on the sidelines and he will be looking to put that modest last start behind him. He was reported to have bled on that occasion and that will go a long way to explain that below-par performance. He lands in gate 1 for his return and brings solid form with him, prior to that last start. If not too in need of this run, he has the ability to fight this out and must be included. LOYALTY MAN has been in good consistent form over the mile, in his last four starts. The son of Fastnet Rock is no stranger to this league and he finds a very handy draw for his 6th outing. JP van der Merwe claims the ride and off his current mark of 85, he looks a big threat and must be considered.

Race 9 – 11:20
Selections: 7 – 10 – 14 – 11 – 2
An intriguing affair is certain to set pulses racing for this headline event on the card. One of the better races on the Singapore calendar, this years’ renewal is set to live up to those high expectations. For first, MR CLINT is tipped to take top honours after that flying finish, he displayed in the Raffles Cup Gr1 last time. He probably should have won that race had he jumped on terms and found a clear passage in the closing stages. Not only was he unlucky last time, but he could’ve won the Singapore Derby prior to that, if luck had gone his way. That was in his penultimate start over this course and distance and a repeat of that effort should be good enough to go one better this time. Pinheiro retains the ride and has a great opportunity here. KING LOUIS may have been caught out by the pedestrian pace in the El Dorado Classic. The slight drop in trip should speed things up a bit and he is in good enough form to feature prominently at this top level. Pike retains the ride from a decent draw and he deserves plenty of respect. MAKANANI was impressive when winning a tough race in the Gr1 Raffles Cup last time. She showed a devastating turn of foot to hit the front and hold off the late challengers. The wide draw won’t help this time, but she will be dropped out and expected to repeat that fast finish. The extra furlong will suit and it is encouraging to see Lerner retain the ride. If finding a smooth path late, she will be in with a shout for back-to-back Gr1 wins. STAR EMPEROR has been in solid form in his last three starts, in Group company. He was eye-catching in the Raffles Cup last time, when overcoming a tough draw before flying up late for just a 2.20 length beating. He will relish the added furlong here and from a slightly improved draw, Benny Woodworth jumps up for the first time and they certainly have the credentials to upset.

Race 10 – 11:55
Selections: 5 – 4 – 10 – 11 – 3
INFERNO is an unbeaten 3-year old from the Clifford Brown yard. The son of Holy Roman Emperor hasn’t had much luck withdraws and that continues here. With that said, he has found a way to make light work of the wide berths and with his turn of foot in mind, Rodd will be looking to employ the same tactics here. He is a classy sort who is destined for the big leagues and this test looks a formality. One of the better bets on the card, he looks very tough to beat in this class. CAORUNN has been dropping in the ratings and he showed a fair amount of improvement last time out, in his second attempt since reverting back to this class. He finds a much-improved draw this time and off a mark of 63, he rates a threat. He might not be up to the task of taking on the top selection, but will be the likeliest to pressure him in the closing stages. CELAVI was a 3-length winner on debut, over the minimum trip. She had a tough draw to overcome on that occasion and her chances will be buoyed this time, having landed a plum draw. Beuzelin unsurprisingly retains the ride for this step up in class and she will still have plenty of improvement to come. With that said, it is quite a rise in class for just her second attempt and although she may not win this, she deserves the attention and her followers can expect a bold showing. BIG HEARTED drops into this class after a promising effort in Gr2 company last time out and he followed that up with a good trial since then. A two-time winner from just 3 starts, he too is on the way to bigger and better. Azzopardi sticks with him and he has plenty of scope for more. The draw will suit and he should give another very encouraging account of himself.