International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Friday 11th October 2019

With the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Cup only a week away, a modest card greets us here and punters will have to settle for a mix of Class 3,4 and 5 events to make sense of. With that said, there are plenty of opportunities to find a few winners and these summaries should make things a little easier.

 The pick of the bunch appears to be FIELD MARSHALL in the 8th Race. He is unbeaten in two start so far and he seems to be on the way to bigger and better. The value comes at the half-way mark, in Race 4. GROS PITON was caught flat footed last time and that cost him dearly. With Duric back up today, he’ll give his followers a good run for their money. More below:

Best Bet: FIELD MARSHALL (Race 8)
Value Bet: GROS PITON (Race 4)

Race 1 – 12:50
Selections: 2 – 3 – 9 – 4 – 6 

YULONG SHENG LONG has been in good consistent for of late, having been operating in Class 4 company and giving a solid account of himself in each of his last 5 starts. He drops into weaker company for his 21st career start and lands a useful draw to launch his challenge from. A repeat of his latest effort, over the course and distance, should be good enough to land the majority share of the prize money. BLUE CHIP has also been in good form, albeit from wide draws in his last two. He just tired late in his last effort, after a pedestrian start where he was chased up to a handy position. That may have cost him and his effort predictably fizzled out in the closing stages. He jumps from gate 2 today and should be able to find the run of the race. On his recent course and distance record, he’ll be right there and is the obvious danger. CLOUD SHADOW finished just behind the latter, four starts back. He showed a good turn of foot in that run and did well to finish within a length of the winner, having had a wide draw to negotiate at the start. His luckless run with wide draws continued into his next two starts and that seems to have changed last time, when finding gate 5. He duly ran a place and from an even better draw today, he’ll be involved in the race for a stake cheque. SILVER WAY showed some improvement last time out, when dropping into this class. That was over a trip short of his best and he’ll enjoy the step up to the mile this time. From gate 4, he’ll find a mid-field position and should feature prominently.

Race 2 – 13:20
Selections: 5 – 2 – 3 – 6 – 10


GANGNAM CLASSIC seems to have the most consistent form in a race which looks very limited, ability wise. He placed over the course and distance last time out, on the back of a solid effort over further and gate 8 may present a bit more of a challenge this time. With that said, the son of Dream Ahead looks the one to beat with the apprentice retaining the ride and he has a nice chance here. SUN ELIZABETH is still a maiden after 20 appearances, but she has recently started to string a few decent performances together and on her last run she’s a big threat here. She lands another handy draw for the slight step up in trip and lands the services of recent Gr1 winner – Lerner. She’ll be looking to capitalise off her current mark of 38 and she’s expected to give a bit of cheek to the top selection, at the business end. THOTH WARRIOR finished just behind the top selection in that last start over the course and distance, when landing a much-improved draw. He jumps from barrier 9 today and that will make things tougher again, but he will line up 1kg better off with the latter on that last start and that brings him into the equation. With a bit of luck in early running, he’ll be involved in the finish. MY MIRACLE should finish just behind the top three selections, on his return to the Poly. He has been dropping in the ratings for some time and will be looking to settle closer to the fence here, after racing wide from gate 8 last time. On his best form, he can feature prominently in a field such as this one and warrants inclusion.

Race 3 – 13:50
Selections: 5 – 1 – 9 – 2 – 6 

ROCKET STAR returns after a 3-month absence from the course, hoping to follow up on a solid 2-year-old campaign. He overcame gate 11 last time out, in Gr2 company, to finish strongly for a well deserved 2nd and he’ll be looking to capitalise on a much better draw this time against weaker. Freshened up on this surface in a trial last time out, he gets the pacifiers fitted for his comeback run and he looks the obvious one to side with. The top weighted IMPERIUM was eye-catching on his return last time out, over this course and distance. That was after a 7-month absence from the course and he’ll strip a lot fitter this time. He does have a wide draw to overcome, but the son of I Am Invincible has a smart turn of foot and he’ll be flashing up late from off the pace. PEARL KING has been dropping in the ratings and he gave a solid account of himself last time out, off this mark. That was when overcoming gate 12, over this course and distance against similar company and he’ll certainly benefit from the improved draw this time. A lot looks in his favour to mount a big challenge and he deserves plenty of respect. HUGO finished just in front of the latter last time out, but as with that run, he’s drawn wide again and that should result in a reversal of finishing positions here. With that said he has been running well for this claimer, having won both starts over this course and distance prior to that. The son of Smart Missile has a useful record to his name and he’ll certainly be involved in the finish again.

Race 4 – 14:20
Selections: 4 – 7 – 1 – 2 – 6 

GROS PITON can be excused for that modest last run, when finishing further back than he should have. Flat footed at the start, he lost many lengths and was never really in the race thereafter. Post-race, he was subsequently found to be lame in his near-fore. He won both starts prior to that over a touch further and with Duric regaining the ride, he looks set to redeem himself here. From pole position, he will look to dictate proceedings and should be hard to pass at the business end. CLARTON SUPREME has just had the 6 starts so far and he finds a much-improved draw this time. Back on the Poly today, he has slipped a further 2-points in the ratings and off this mark, the son of Showcasing has a good opportunity to notch up his first win in Singapore. With this being his third run after a 5-month rest, he will strip a lot fitter this time and must be included. GOLDEN WIN is the top weight here, returning from a 3-month absence after that maiden win over the course and distance. Koh retains the ride from a tricky draw this time, sans blinkers and tongue tie; and he still has plenty of scope to improve. He has the gate speed to find a relatively handy position and rates a big threat. DECRETO has been dropping in the ratings and should’ve gone a lot closer last time, when facing this lesser opposition. He was bumped at the start and never really found himself in any sort of contention for prize money, thereafter. From another wide draw, he will be looking for a smooth passage throughout and can feature with a bit of luck in running.

Race 5 – 14:50
Selections: 5 – 1 – 2 – 7 – 9 

WIND TRAIL has put on a consistent display in his eight starts so far, having only missed the first three on two occasions. He steps up to the 2000m here, from pole position and Lerner retains the ride after that solid last start. Off a mark of 63 in this class, he appears to be due his next win and that looks to be the likely outcome here. MAJESTIC EXPRESS has been finishing just off them of late and he gave a solid account of himself last time out, when overcoming a wide draw to finish 3 lengths back. That was when dropping into this class of opposition, over the same course and distance. He finds a slightly improved draw this time and gets the services of Rodd in the irons, for his 28th appearance. With some luck in running, he should be a major contender. DAZZLE GOLD is just getting going in his career and he comes off the back of a hat-trick of wins, having stepped up slightly in trip in each of his last three starts. Two of those wins have come in this class and he attempts an extra furlong now, where he should get every last inch of it. He has been penalised a whopping 18 points for that hat-trick of wins, but with the 2kg claiming apprentice back in the irons he finds some relief. He still has scope and on current form, there is no reason to believe that he won’t put forward another telling performance. LARRY has managed to find the winners’ box twice in his last two starts, despite being drawn wide on both occasions. Both of those runs have come over this course and distance and unfortunately his luckless run with draws continues here.  With that said, he has shown a remarkable kick from well off the pace and that will most certainly be required this time. Thompson retains the ride and if finding a smooth path through at the business end, he will be in with a shout.

Race 6 – 15:20
Selections: 2 – 7 – 5 – 3 – 4 

PRINCE PEGASUS is yet to win in Hong Kong in 18 attempts, but he continues to drop in the ratings and he has been giving a decent account of himself of late. Drawn wide last time out, he opted to take a back seat and despite the fact that he made late headway, he was never in with a winning shout. That was when stepping up to this trip and back on Turf today, he finds an improved draw with Woodworth taking the mount. From a handy position, he looks well handicapped and should win this time. GIANT KILLING returned fresh last time out, after a 3-month absence and stayed on nicely to finish just 2.50 lengths back. That was over the 6 furlongs and that would’ve freshened him up nicely for the extra 2-furlongs here. He has featured over this sort of trip and from another useful draw, he returns to Class 5 company where he’s certainly not outclassed. He could be on the way up and deserves respect. LUCKY TIGER has been slipping in the ratings and he gets another nice chance here, having found an improved barrier. He went close in his penultimate start when finding a useful draw and that was probably shy of his best trip. With the scoops fitted this time and the claimer removing 3kg’s from his back, he’s in with a shout. ON THE RAZZ was hugely disappointing last time last time, having found the going too firm – as reported in the ‘boardroom’. That was in addition to casting a shoe and he’ll certainly be looking to make that effort a distant memory. He has good enough form on his two runs prior to that, to put his hat firmly in the ring here and he must be included.

Race 7 – 15:50
Selections: 9 – 7 – 3 – 4 – 10 

EXCELLING comes into this race on the back of a smart Turf debut, when having his second outing in this class. He had a tricky draw to negotiate in that last start, where a number of contenders in this race share the same form line. Caught deep throughout, he rallied wide over the last 400m and just about matched LIM’S CRAFT stride for stride for an eventual third placed finish. From a similar draw here, Duric retains the mount and he’ll be looking to go a little handier from the off. If finding a shorter route home, he’ll just about win this. The latter certainly deserves plenty of respect. The son of Smart Missile did it from an even wider draw and he lands gate 3 for his eighth start. Turning for home last time, he had an impossible task of making up many lengths and found a wall of horses in front of him. He manged to get a split and flashed home, but it was always going to be too late. He’ll be closer to the front this time and it is no surprise to see Benny Woodworth stick with him. He could go one better and must be included. FILIBUSTER enjoyed dropping to this trip last time, when winning with a strong late surge. The 5-year-old mare has already notched up 5 wins so far and she certainly has the speed to go into serious contention here. Back on Turf this time, that will suit and with Rodd up she looks an obvious inclusion in this class. WASSERGEIST is another contender from the FAME STAR form line and the son of Fastnet Rock finds himself in a useful stretch of form. From gate 2, he has the speed to settle very close to the front and will be looking for that finish he displayed in his penultimate start. He is up 2kg’s from that run in this class, but has the ability to feature regardless.

Race 8 – 16:20
Selections: 5 – 4 – 2 – 3 – 7

FIELD MARSHALL is a two-from-two winner and the son of Sweet Orange doesn’t look like he is stopping there. He has won both with some dominance and the highly thought of 3-year-old seems untapped as far as the extent of his ability is concerned. He impressed in his trial last week and returns to the course and distance where he notched up his 2nd career victory, just over a month ago. Up in class for this 3rd official outing, he is drawn mid-field and should be able to wrap things up with a fair amount of ease here. He’s the best bet on the card. SIAM ROYAL ORCHID should be the one that gives him the most cheek. He won over this course and distance four starts back and stepped up in trip for his next two starts thereafter. Returning from a four-month rest last time, he travelled well throughout and clearly enjoyed dropping back to this class / course and distance. From a good draw, Azzopardi retains the ride and he’ll go close if building on that last start. EFFORTLESS has been featuring prominently in this class of late and he appears to be very competitive off his current mark of 62. He had a tough draw to overcome last time out and rallied well to finish 3rd. From gate 4 this time, Kellady takes the moment and he’ll have a good opportunity to put in a claim for a stake cheque. HOWL is in good form and he is due for another win soon. He has tough draw to negate this time, but with his good gate speed he will more than likely find the lead and set the early tempo. On his recent course and distance record in this class, he will be looking to fight out the finish and with Woodworth retaining the ride he can feature prominently.