International Racing: Kranji – Friday 15th November 2019

An eight-race meeting kicks off the weekend in Singapore, this Friday 15th November 2019 and there are a few confident first picks to side with. 

None more so than PRIME TIME in the second race. He drops into maiden company this time and looks very hard to oppose. The value on the card comes in the form of NATE’S HONOUR in the fourth race. He showed good improvement when given a chance from a good draw last time and looks set to go once better, in a trappy Class 5 event. More below.

Best Bet: PRIME TIME (Race 2)
Value Bet: NATE’S HONOUR (Race 4)

Race 1 – 12:50
Selections: 7 – 8 – 12 – 4 – 1
HUMDINGER gave a very good account of himself last time out when returning to the Turf and dropping to this trip. He came from an impossible position to go down by less than a length. He has clearly benefitted from the drop in his rating and his next winning turn looks imminent, based on his current form. Azzopardi retains the ride and he will be looking to drop him out from gate 10. If repeating that last run, he looks the likely winner. FIREWORKS overcame a wide draw over this course and distance last time out and he boxed on well for a respectable 5th place finish. That was under the guidance of Michael Rodd who retains the ride here, from pole. Having won over this course and distance four starts back, he seems to be going in the right direction and he should be involved in the finish once again. RETALLICA has finished in fourth place twice since stepping into handicap conditions in his last two starts. He has had two points shaved off his rating since then and from another good draw, he’s a likely challenger with Thompson retaining the ride. With just 5 starts to his name, he has plenty of scope to improve over the extra furlong here and he must be included. OUR SHOWCASE finished just behind the former last time out when making late headway. He too looks set to enjoy the extra furlong this time around and Duric makes an appealing jockey booking for his twentieth start. From a plum draw, he should be able to find a suitable position just off the early pace and he should be in the frame at the finish.

Race 2 – 13:20
Selections: 3 – 1 – 6 – 2 – 7 
PRIME TIME gave a solid account of himself behind a useful galloper in Novice company last time out, on the back of a good performance in Restricted Maiden company prior to that. Back in Maiden company here, he lands a plum draw and Beuzelin takes the mount. The slight drop in trip will suit, as he returns to the Poly track and he looks hard to oppose. MOWGLI has only had the three starts so far and he has shown enough to be a big contender here. He has landed in gate 9, which will make things tougher this time, but Azzopardi knows him well and is certainly worth including for minor places. EUNOS AVE THREE has only had the two starts so far and he has drawn wide in both. From gate 2 this time, he will have his first real chance of making an impression. The son of Swiss Ace has plenty of scope to improve and if showing some of the ability he has displayed in his trials, he rates an outside threat. HELUSHKA returned with a good performance last time out, after a 2-month absence and the run would’ve bought him on nicely. That was when returning to this surface and Woodworth jumps aboard the son of Toronado this time. If overcoming gate 8, he has the ability to go close and must be included.

Race 3 – 13:50
Selections: 4 – 3 – 5 – 1 – 2 
AWESOME is a versatile son of Showcasing who has gone close in his last two starts, having finished second over a mile in his penultimate start, followed by a 1.70 length defeat over the 5-furlongs. He steps back up the mile here and he gets the services of the 4kg claiming Nizar in the irons. Coupled with the fact that he has dropped to a competitive looking mark of 59, he has a great shot at the winners’ box. THUNDER DRAGON gave a good account of himself last time out, when overcoming a tough draw. That was his third run after a 6-month absence when stepping up to the mile on Turf. He reverts to the Poly track this time, where he is well performed and from a fair draw, he should go close. BRACED won his last start over the 1700m, confirming that consistent recent form. He has received a 5-pound penalty for that victory, but with that being just his 7th start, he’ll have the scope for more improvement. Drawn well again, he’ll be right there at the business end. FORESTO have a fair account of himself last time out, when dropping back into this class from a tough draw. That was over slightly further and from a plum draw this time, he should enjoy the drop back to the mile. He won his previous attempt over this course and distance when overcoming a wide draw and a repeat of that run should bring him right into the equation.

Race 4 – 14:20
Selections: 2 – 5 – 1 – 4 – 6
NATE’S HONOUR went close to winning last time out, when returning to the Turf and finding some relief as far as the draws are concerned. He looks competitive off his current rating and he certainly has scope to progress on that latest effort. Drawn well again, Rodd retains the ride and he should be a big runner here. ROAN RANGER has also dropped in the ratings and he returns to a trip where he has performed well in prior attempts and he should relish the extra this time. He gets the services of a more experienced rider and he looks well set up to make a big impression. MILLENIUM’S RULE is now 4-points lower that the rating he ran off, the last time he was victorious, having dropped 8-points in his last 5 starts. He lands a tough draw this time, but with Duric in the irons his connections will be looking for a bit of magic from last seasons Champion rider. He flashed home late over this course and distance last time out and a repeat of that run should bring him into the equation. TSURIAN has dropped 8-point in the ratings in his last five outings and he lands a useful draw for this step up in trip. He is in some solid recent form and the 6-year old son of Kyllachy is going to relish the extra. From just off the early speed, he could provide a fair amount of cheek in the latter stages and must go in.

Race 5 – 14:50
Selections: 5 – 3 – 1 – 6 – 2 
ELITE INCREDIBLE went close to following up his first win with another one last time out, when stepping up to this course and distance. He has only had the 7-starts so far and he will have plenty of scope to improve. Azzopardi retains the ride from an even better draw and he should just about win this. SALAMENCE beat the top selection last time out, but he lines up with 2.5kg more on his back this time and despite the fact that the son of Foxwedge is in solid recent form, he might have his work cut out this time. Woodworth knows him well, having ridden him on a number of occasions and he retains the ride this time. From barrier 2, he looks progressive enough to feature in the finish. MCGREGOR drops into this class of opposition after finishing just off them at a higher level. He appears to have dropped to a competitive rating now and with the 2kg claimer retaining the ride from a slightly improved draw, he should have enough improvement to go into contention and he deserves respect. CARIBBEAN LADY rises back into this class and she drops slightly in trip, after showing some solid form of late over the mile. She has featured on the Turf before, so the change in surface shouldn’t be of much concern and from a reasonable draw, she should be right there.

Race 6 – 15:20
Selections: 6 – 9 – 4 – 2 – 1 
GOLD KINGDOM has been in good consistent form in recent times and he seems to be racing off a competitive mark currently. Drawn 7, he will be settled off the early speed and his followers will be expecting to see him rallying late. Thompson takes the ride and if building on his recent form, he looks the likeliest winner in a wide-open Class 5 event. GINGERMAN went well over this course and distance last time out and he now lines up for his peak run, after a 2-month absence. JP van der Merwe takes the mount from a useful draw once again and he is hard to knock on current form. He deserves plenty of respect in a trappy event such as this one. WHAKAARIA MAI finds another tough draw to deal with, but he retains the services of Vlad Duric who jumped aboard the son of Showcasing last time out. That was his third run back after a 7-month absence and he’ll be looking to make good improvement now, having slipped three-points in the ratings. He has a useful turn of foot, so there will be less pressure on him to get over from the draw and if finding a smooth passage in the closing stages, he’ll go close. YULONG HONOR has slipped 4-points in the ratings in his last five outings and on his latest effort, things appear to be going in the right direction. From a useful draw, the son of Galileo gets the services of a more experienced rider this time and if building on his last run, he should be right there in the finish.

Race 7 – 15:50
Selections: 7 – 4 – 9 – 5 – 11
TOM CAT has only had the 2 starts so far and he showed plenty of resolve to box on late, last time out over this course and distance. That was his first start since stepping into this league and he will have plenty of scope for more. Duric is an attractive jockey booking and with the expected improvement, he looks one of the better bets on the card. KA CHANCE has been in fair form and showed the expected improvement last time out, when landing a more forgiving draw. That was when making his return from a 4-month absence and it proved to be a nice prep for the son of Redoute’s Choice. He’ll strip a fitter horse this time and looks the biggest threat to the top selection. WATCH OUT BOSS has been in good consistent form and he’ll be looking to convert that into a win soon. Woodworth regains the ride, having gone down by just 0.10 lengths in both his recent engagements with the four-year-old gelding. He has shown up well since then and from off the early pace, he will be looking to mount a late challenge and he’ll be flashing home late. KRATOS has been finishing just off them as he has continued to drop in the ratings, since dropping into this class four starts back. Drawn wide, he will be forced to bounce out and avoid being caught in the cheep seats at the off. With a bit of cover, he should be able to conserve enough to launch a late challenge and he could go close with a bit of luck in running.

Race 8 – 16:20
Selections: 1 – 7 – 9 – 6 – 10 
LIM’S ZOOM has been impressive in both starts after returning from a 12-month absence from racing, winning first-up before following that up with an encouraging second last time. Both of those runs have come over this course and distance, with Woodworth in the irons and he retains the ride. He’ll be just off the early speed and should be tough to get past in the closing stages. LORD OF LIGHT finished behind a useful sort last time, who has since come out and won again before finishing just over 5-lengths back in Gr3 company. He retains the services of the 4kg claiming apprentice as he steps up to Class 4 level and he looks a major threat if overcoming barrier 9. CALIFORNIA only has the five starts behind him so far and he received a 7-point penalty for that Class 5 win last time. It was an impressive effort, with positive signs that he should cope with the step up in class here and with more improvement to come, he should go close and must be included. COMING THROUGH was an impressive debut winner and he has followed that up with two solid efforts, culminating in a good class debut last time. From barrier 2, Beuzelin takes the ride and with the expected improvement, he is certainly in with a realistic chance.