International Racing: Kranji Best Bets – Sunday 13th October 2019

Nine Races are carded this Sunday the 13th October 2019 and despite the slow start to the meeting, there are a few Class 4 for races in the second half of the meeting and they should present some quality racing for punters to indulge themselves in. 

SIERRA CONQUEROR finds himself in one of those Class 4 events, a dash over 1000m. He arrives on the back of two good efforts over the course and distance and appears to be the Best Bet on the card. Prior to that race, TSURIAN lines up in race 5, for his third outing since dropping into Class 5 company. He looks a major contender in that field and deserves another look.

Best Bet: SIERRA CONQUEROR (Race 7)
Value Bet: TSURIAN (Race 5)

Race 1 – 07:10
Selections: 6 – 7 – 8 – 2 – 1

PAKATAN WARRIOR has been in good form in recent times over this sort of trip. He picked up two wins on the trot in this class before that useful effort in Class 4 company, in his penultimate start. Back on the Turf last time out he did well to finish just 3.20 lengths back, over a trip far short of his best and he’ll enjoy returning to the Poly with a more ground on offer. He finds another useful draw and Lerner does duty this time. A lot looks to be in his favour here and he warrants plenty of respect. MILITARY CHAIRMAN has dropped in the ratings and he enters Class 5 company after a fair campaign against stronger. He reverts to the Poly track this time, where he has featured before and despite the fact that he is better on Turf, he has good enough form to go close here. From gate 3, Rodd takes the mount and he must be included off his current mark, in this class. ACE HARBOUR finished behind the top selection last time out and he lines up 3.5kg’s better off with the latter, on that run. That was on this surface, where he does have a preference in comparison to the Turf course and with Duric taking the ride this time, he must go in. TIGER FORCE lacks consistency, but on his day, he can put a field like this to sleep with consummate ease. That was on display last time out, when smashing his opposition by 4.50 lengths and taking the course record in the process. A tougher draw to negate this time, he gets the services of the 2kg claimer and that brings him right into contention.

Race 2 – 07:40
Selections: 4 – 9 – 10 – 8 – 11

ALL WE KNOW lines up in a very moderate Restricted Maiden, for his first official start on the Poly. Both starts to date have been on Turf and he has finished prominently, within 2.5 lengths of the winner on both occasions. The son of Animal Kingdom has plenty of scope for more and with Benny Woodworth retaining the ride, he will be looking to negate that wide draw to land his first win here. He won’t have to be a world beater to do so and should be worth following. QIJI STAR finished 4th in that debut effort, just under a month ago. That was when overcoming a tricky draw and he will benefit from a much-improved barrier this time. He was bumped on a number of occasions when travelling through the 200m mark and he may have finished a lot closer, had he found more room. That was over this course and distance and he will have plenty more scope for big improvement. With Thompson retaining the ride, he must go in. RESOLUTION has also just had the two runs to date and he still has room for improvement. He finds another useful draw and having finished just behind the 2nd selection in that last start, he’ll be looking to make further inroads with Beuzelin retaining the ride and he looks a likely challenger for top spot. MERCURIAL TURN stems from the same form line as the 2nd and 3rd selection, when overcoming a wide berth to cross the line 8.40 lengths behind TOM CAT.  That was on his debut outing and he lines up from an improved draw this time, with apprentice Shafrizal taking 2kg’s off his back. With natural improvement to come, he rates a big runner here.

Race 3 – 08:10
Selections: 3 – 4 – 10 – 2 – 1 

UNIVERASAL EMPIRE has just had the fours starts so far and he is yet to finish outside of the first 4 places, having notched up a win and a 2nd placed finish as well. He had a tricky draw to overcome last time, but from a handy position he managed to box on well for 2nd. That was when stepping into this class of opposition and with Benny Woodworth taking the mount this time, he has a great opportunity to go one better. With plenty of scope for improvement, he has draw 1 on his side this time and rates the one to beat. QIJI ACHEEVA was a smart winner at just his second time of asking last time out. He was very head strong with the blinkers on for the first time and it is no surprise to see the stable fitting him with a different bit to keep him under control. From another good draw, the son of Anacheeva has plenty of scope and he will be very hard to catch if allowed a soft lead. He does rise in class for this outing, which may just cast an element of doubt in his follower’s minds, but he looks a big threat to the top selection. LIM’S PRIDE has been dropping in the ratings for a while now and he lands a much-improved draw which brings him right into the equation this time, having drawn a wide berth in his last two. Saifudin retains the ride and he must be a threat off his current mark. OTTAWA has been thereabouts of late and he is starting to look threatening, having shed 5 points in the ratings in his last three starts. He lands a wide draw this time, but he does have the ability to come from off the pace and on his best form over this course and distance in this class, he cannot be discounted with Duric up.


Race 4 – 08:40
Selections: 1 – 4 – 3 – 5 – 6 

SPIRIT OF BIG BANG has finished within a length of the winner in both of his starts so far and he seemed to get every inch of the step up to the 7-furlongs last time out. The progressive looking son of Intikhab will no doubt relish the extra furlong here and he finds another useful draw for added assistance. Azzopardi retains the ride and in this sort of company, he looks tough to beat. REMARKABLE EMPIRE put in a solid effort on return to the course last time, his first official outing this year. He would’ve been in desperate need of the run and he reverts to the Turf this time, for this step up in trip. Fitted with the anti-lugging bit, he gets the services of the 3kg claiming apprentice and if not still shy of a run, should be involved in the finish and must go in. ATTENTION finished just behind the top selection last time out, his third official outing after a long absence from the course. That was when stepping up to the 1400m and tries the extra furlong now, with Rodd retaining the ride from another useful draw. He still has scope to improve and conditions look perfect for a big run from the son of Trusting. He must be considered in this field. MAJESTIC appears to be the best of the rest. He is still a maiden after 18 course appearances, but has been throwing his hat into the ring in recent times and is starting to look competitive against this sort of opposition. He has a tricky draw to overcome, but he’ll be looking to sit in mid-division where he has the ability to find a strong finish. Back on Turf for this outing, Woodworth retains the ride and he must be considered.

Race 5 – 09:10
Selections: 6 – 2 – 7 – 1 – 11

TSURIAN has been dropping in the ratings for a while now and he has finished just off them in his last two starts, since dropping into this class. Key to his chances here, is the return to the Turf course where he has gone close before. One only has to look at the turn of foot he displayed five starts back on the Turf, when running on from far back to finish just 2.20 lengths off the winner. Drawn well here, the 4kg claiming apprentice retains the ride and he looks set for a massive run. THE ICEMAN has been in reasonable form of late and he steps into Class 5 company after a useful effort over the 1400m last time out. That was in Open Maiden company on Turf and he’ll enjoy dropping back to the 6-furlongs for his third run after a lay-off. He gets the 3kg claiming apprentice up for his 7th outing and with expected improvement, the son of Darci Brahma deserves plenty of respect and should go close. UPGRADED debuts in Class 5 company and he will relish the drop back to 6-furlongs, after a respectable effort over the 1400m last time out. That will certainly stand him in good stead at the business end and with the added benefit of the 4kg claiming apprentice, he should be involved in the finish and must be considered against this modest opposition. MR ALFONSO put in a decent effort against stronger last time and he returns to the Turf course for his 7th attempt at the winners’ box. He has found the second box on three occasions and his followers can argue that he is overdue for a win. He has a useful draw once again and gets the services of the 2kg claimer, which will help at the business end of the race. If finding an incident free passage, he will have a very definite winning chance and must be respected.

Race 6 – 09:40
Selections: 3 – 6 – 1 – 5 – 4 

GINGERMAN has been in solid form of late and he has clearly taken a liking to the Poly, having won and placed second in his last two attempts on this surface. He meets a modest field here and finds a handy draw with Vlad Duric in the irons. Having picked up his first win over this course and distance which happened to be in this class, he deserves to find plenty of support and rates the one to beat. IRON FIRST has been knocking on the door as he has been dropping in the ratings and he finds a good draw to have a go at picking up his first win. If finding his prior form before those disappointing last two, he is in with a big shout here and must be considered a major threat with a lot in his favour. The top weighted SHANGANI put an end to his maiden status in his last start and he returns to the course having received a 5-pound penalty for that win. From a decent draw, he he’ll be handy and with the 2kg claimer up, he could be tough to shake off in the latter stages. He could still be ahead of the handicapper and deserves another chance. HOLY GRAIL has been consistently finishing just off them in his last few starts and with the continued slide in the ratings, he is starting to look competitive off his current mark. He drops slightly in trip and the 3kg claiming apprentice reclaims the ride. From a good draw, he is a major contender in this sort of company and he deserves plenty of respect.


Race 7 – 10:15
Selections: 2 – 1 – 3 – 8 – 9 

SIERRA CONQUEROR looks an attractive proposition, on the back of two good efforts over this course and distance. Both of those efforts have come off this mark of 63 and that appears to be evidence that he is currently well handicapped since dropping in the ratings. The 2kg claiming See retains the ride and from another useful draw, he will be right there with the early speed. Conditions here look ripe and he should have a great chance to pick up his second win in Singapore. The top weighted RED ROVER won his last start over this course and distance, his third start here. He is yet to miss the first three places and it is unlikely that he will go unplaced this time. Azhar retains the ride from a useful draw and he too will be expected to be right there in the initial stages of the race. With a repeat of that last start, he should be the main danger to the top selection. SNIP has had no luck with draws and once again, he will be forced to commit early from gate 9. He won from start to finish four starts back, which happened to be the last time he jumped from the same gate. Woodworth rode him on that occasion and he jumps aboard once again, so there is little doubt about the same tactics being employed. If he finds a soft lead, he could be hard to pass in the closing stages and must be included. ALWAYS INNOCENT is on the hunt for hat-trick of wins, having won his last two over this course and distance. Both of those victories came against Class 5 opposition and he finds a very useful draw for his shot in Class 4 company. He has clearly enjoyed switching to this surface and the drop-in distance has made a big difference. He’ll be running on late and rates a threat on current form.

Race 8 – 10:50
Selections: 1 – 6 – 4 – 2 – 8

CARBBEAN LADY has been in solid recent form and she went very close last time out, when taking on Class 3 opposition. Back in Class 4 company, where she won her penultimate start over this course and distance, Beuzelin takes the mount. It looks a little tougher this time, as she has pulled wide berth but she is clearly up to the task in this league and should be too good for this field. SUN ACE looks competitive off his current mark, having gone close in his last few starts. Collett seems to be getting a little more out of him and he retains the ride here, for this slight drop in trip. The son of Street Cry is yet to win in Singapore, but he finds a useful draw and a good opportunity at finding the winners’ box should the top two selections fluff their lines. AWESOME is back on the Poly after things didn’t go well for him in that last start. From gate 13 he was never really in the race and he’ll do well to forget about that experience. He is better off on this surface, having shown up well on the Poly prior to that last run and he’ll enjoy stepping back up to the mile. The 4kg claiming Yusoff regains the ride and he seems a worthy inclusion here. GOLDEN FLAME is back in Class 4 company after a fair effort against stronger last time. That was on Turf, when overcoming a wide berth and he stayed on nicely for just a 3.90 length defeat. He went well on the Poly in his penultimate run and should enjoy the step up to the mile, with Vlad Duric doing duty. He is a very consistent sort and deserves respect.

Race 9 – 11:20
Selections: 5 – 4 – 3 – 10 – 8 

EASTIGER was impressive on return last time out, after a 4-month absence from the course. That effort was over this course and distance. He didn’t quite see out the 1400m in his penultimate run and that effort on the Poly prior to that, proved his preference for the Turf. Drawn well for his second run after that lay-off, he’ll be looking to overturn that 0.50 length defeat behind LIMTED EDITION he suffered last time out. The latter is drawn out wide today and that leaves the top selection with a great opportunity to add another win to that solid record of his. TIME TO ROCK has been dropping in the ratings and the consistent son of Time Thief looks set to go close to winning very soon. He has finished within 2.5 lengths of the winner twice in his last three starts and both efforts have come over this course and distance. He does have gate 9 to negotiate, but Benny Woodworth retains the ride and he looks set to be involved in the finish once again. RED DAWN is another contender who has been dropping in the ratings and despite the fact that he is better off on the Poly, he is due for a big run and deserves plenty of respect with Rodd up. VULCAN has been thereabouts of late and the speedy son of Per Incanto finds a useful draw to put in a big claim for the winners’ box. He will more than likely find a position close to the front row, in the early parts and if allowed to dictate he could present a few issues for the top three. Kellady retains the ride and he must be included.