International Racing: Kranji – Friday 22nd November 2019

It’s the second last meeting of the month, with another 9 races on offer at Kranji this Friday 22nd November 2019. BIG HEARTED lines up in the 9th race on the card and he finally rises up in trip, where he is expected to be very tough to beat. 

That was on the back of a good performance in Gr3 company last time and he’s the best bet on offer here. Before then, AMAZING CHOICE has had a solid start to his career and he looks a big contender in race 5. It’s a competitive event, but he should have the scope for further improvement and is worth following at a decent price. See more here.

Best Bet: BIG HEARTED (Race 9)
Value Bet: AMAZING CHOICE (Race 5)

Race 1 – 12:20 – Class 5 – 1200m (Poly)
Selections: 8 – 2 – 9 – 1 – 3 
SUN ELIZABETH has been in good recent form of late and she handled the 5-point penalty well last time, after that good win in her penultimate start. Back on the Poly after that useful latest effort, she finds another very handy draw and on her current form at this level, she is tough to oppose. REIGN gave a solid account of himself from a wide draw last time out when dropping into this class and running on well over the final two furlongs. He has dropped to a competitive mark of 48 and lands an improved draw. With the 2kg claiming apprentice up, he looks a big danger if building on that last start. KUBERA’S CHIEF stayed on well when finishing just behind the latter in his latest effort. That was his second effort since the 5-point penalty he received for winning three starts back and he looks a threat from another good draw, with van der Merwe up. He is, however, 3.5kg worse off with the latter on that run and that could be telling in the final stages, but he must be included on current form. GOLDEN THUNDER has the tongue tie fitted this time, as he reverts back to this level after two fair performances against Class 4 opposition. He won three starts back, over this course and distance and that was the last time he faced this level of opposition. From a good draw, he gets the 1kg claimer up to do duty and he cannot be discounted here.

Race 2 – 12:50 – Open Maiden (WFA) – 1200m (Turf)
Selections: 10 – 3 – 4 – 8 – 6 
TRAFALGAR has finished 3rd in both starts so far when having tricky draws to negate and he lands another one this time, which will make things tough. With that said, Vlad Duric jumps back aboard the son of Sebring having ridden him in both starts which came back in June this year. After that solid recent trial, he should be ready for this and his followers can expect to see him charging home over the final furlong. GAMELY is still a maiden after 19 attempts, but he hasn’t finished outside of the top three places in his last 10 outings and he could finally be rewarded for consistency this time. He lands another very useful draw and with the 3kg claiming Chin Chee Seng in the irons, he cannot be discounted once again. GEB WARRIOR blew his chances at the start last time out when making contact with the barrier immediately after the start, resulting in his rider almost becoming dislodged. He also lost the use of his near-side stirrup iron which he regained a short time later.  He gave a solid account of himself at Class 4 level in his penultimate start over this trip and if repeating that effort here, he will go right into contention. HWASONG has his debut here and having finished a length in front of the top selection in his latest trial, he clearly deserves a closer look. That recent trial came on the back of two good ones and the son of Declaration of War looks well set to make a big impression if building on those exercises. He has a tricky draw to deal with and luck may be required, but he is worth including.

Race 3 – 13:20 – Class 4 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 10 – 6 – 8 – 2 – 1 
ST ALWYN is yet to land in the winners’ box, but he has finished in the first three places on no less than five occasions. He did well to overcome a wide draw last time out over this course and distance, after a solid effort at this level in his penultimate start, when beaten by just 2.80 lengths. Drawn in gate 3 for his seventh outing, he still has plenty of scope and the son of Epaulette appears to be the right one to follow here. IMPLEMENT gave a good account of himself last time out when returning from a 3-month absence. That was over a trip short of his best and he will relish stepping up to the 7-furlongs, a fitter horse. He is still a maiden after 8 efforts, but he is well performed at this level and more than capable of picking up a win here. Vlad Duric has a tough task negating the widest draw, but in a relatively small field he should be able to find some cover just off the early pace and he is certainly a likely contender. MYSTIC PRIDE has had two very good comeback runs, after a 7-month lay-off from racing. Not disgraced in his comeback run over the minimum trip, he enjoyed the step up to this distance in his follow up attempt when nullifying a wide berth. Woodworth takes the ride from barrier 2 this time and he will be cherry ripe for an assault on the winners’ box. QUADCOPTER has impressed over the past few months and he clearly enjoyed dropping into this class in his last two efforts. Having overcome gate 11 last time out, he rallied well to pick up his 3rd win here and from a useful draw, he is a big danger over this trip and must go in.

Race 4 – 13:50 – Class 5 – 1600m (Turf)
Selections: 5 – 6 – 3 – 7 – 11 
CLOUD SHADOW has found some solid form since landing a few useful draws in his last three starts and the same should apply here, from gate 5. He likes to be left alone in the early parts of his races and that smart turn of foot has the tendency to get him into useful positions a furlong out. The same tactics will no doubt be employed here and he will be making up plenty of ground in the latter stages with his second win being a likely outcome. OFFICIAL finished just in front of the top selection last time out, but he had the benefit of a much better draw and the 3kg claimer certainly helped. He is drawn wider this time, but he does get the services of Duric who will be looking to bounce him out into a handy position at the off and if overcoming the draw, he’ll be involved in the finish once again. TUSCAN ARTIST has dropped to a competitive rating and he certainly enjoyed stepping up in trip last time out, when going down a short head in second. Rehaizat retains the ride, but he has a slightly tougher draw to deal with here. With that said, he should find a mid-field position and that should be enough to bring him right into contention. MONTOYA finished right behind the top two selections last time and the son of High Chaparral should enjoy the drop back to a trip where he is well performed. Drawn in gate 12, he will be looking for a bit of luck in running and with just 10 starts to his name, he has the scope for improvement and he must be considered.

Race 5 – 14:20 – Class 4 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 7 – 2 – 9 – 10 – 1 
AMAZING CHOICE has a useful record so far and he has taken the rise into this Class 4 handicap level with plenty of promise in his last two starts. He would’ve needed his latest effort when returning from a 3-month absence and he should strip a lot fitter for this step up in trip. The 1200m last time out would’ve been a trip short of his best, but he did well to finish just 2,5-lengths off the winner. From another useful barrier, the son of Shocking gets the services of Alysha Collett and they look potential winners. ON LINE has two wins and two seconds from just five starts so far and he too has taken the rise to this class in his stride, after two good wins in his last two starts. Duric rode him in his penultimate start and he picks up the ride once again, albeit from a wider draw. He looks progressive and cannot be discounted, with this being his second run back after a rest. CHAMPAGNE FINALE has dropped two points in the ratings since that good post-maiden effort three runs back. He lands a very handy draw as he drops back to the 1400m this time and with the 3kg claiming apprentice up, he looks the likely front runner. He still has scope for more improvement and given a soft lead here, he could be very tough to catch. GOLD CROWN has dropped in the ratings and he is starting to show signs of a big bid for first prize. He lands a much-improved draw this time, after a game effort to finish 4th from gate 12 in his latest run and with the 1kg claimer up this time, he looks well placed to make a big impression here.

Race 6 – 14:50 – Class 5 – 1200m (Poly)
Selections: 3 – 2 – 5 – 1 – 4 
ASSASSIN showed some surprise improvement last time out when stepping into a handicap at this level and overcoming a wide draw. He has slipped a further two points in the ratings and gets the services of Vlad Duric or his 7th outing. If building on that latest run, he should win with the expected improvement to come. MOON CHARM has also slipped in the ratings and lands a much-improved draw. He enjoyed dropping back to this trip last time, where his latest form suggests he is a tad more effective. He finished 1,5 lengths behind the top selection last time and lines up on similar weight terms here and a repeat of that latest effort should bring him right into contention. TAVITO has been in consistent form of late, as he too drops in the ratings and he is fast approaching a mark where he is bound to pick up his next win. He drops in trip after two useful efforts over the 7-furlongs and lands another plum draw. Moor takes the mount and this son of Tavistock should be a major threat here. ELITE SAINT is another contender to stem from the LOOKS GOOD form line, having finished right behind the top two selection last time. He is drawn out wide this time and that will make things a lot tougher. With that said, he gets the services of the 3kg claiming Chin and if not caught out by the draw, he will go close once again.

Race 7 – 15:20 – Class 3 – 1200m (Turf)
Selections: 3 – 9 – 8 – 6 – 5 
FEDERATION received a 7-point penalty for that big win last time out, over this course and distance. He has built up an impressive record in his 9-career outings to date and he doesn’t appear to be stopping in this class. Drawn well, he looks progressive enough to handle the extra weight and should be one to side with here. CHARGER finished 3,60-lengths behind the former last time and with the 2kg claiming Shafrizal in the irons, he lines up a full 3kg better off on their last meeting having dropped another two points since that run. He is drawn wider this time and he does like to race up with the early speed, so if utilizing his gate speed, he should go right into contention. CENTENARY DIAMOND is a 3-time winner from ten starts and the son of Kitten’s Joy lands a useful draw for his return to racing, after a 4-month absence. He will find this trip a tad on the short side and it will be used to bring him on for a step up in trip in his next few starts, but he appears to have an element of quality about him and he must be included. KISS YOUR SONG is a consistent performer on the Poly, with all of his 3-career wins to date coming over this trip. He turns to the Turf course here and he should enjoy the slight rise in trip. Kellady takes the mount and having ridden the son of Your Song on previous occasions, he looks set for another prominent performance.

Race 8 – 15:50 – Class 4 – 1600m (Turf)
Selections: 1 – 12 – 7 – 4 – 6 
GOLDEN FLAME is a class dropper here, after a smart effort against Class 3 opposition last time out. Beaten by just 1,80 lengths, he returns to the same course and distance and lands a similar draw for a likely victory against this strength of opposition. Thompson retains and he looks hard to oppose. PERFORMANTE has clearly slipped to a competitive rating as he has his peak run after a short lay-off. With just the 5 starts to his name, he lands an improved draw for this rise in trip and the son of Super Easy should relish the extra 2-furlongs. JP van der Merwe takes the mount and with the scope for improvement, he rates a major threat. ABSOLUTE MIRACLE has also been slipping in the ratings and he subsequently showed promising signs off his current mark last time out, over this trip. Drawn well, he returns to the Turf course this time and with the 4kg claimer engaged, he could prove a handful for the leading contenders. SPIRIT OF BIG BANG is yet to miss the first two places in all fours starts to date, having picked up the one win along the way. He lands a much-improved draw after that impressive introduction to this class in his latest effort and with Moor retaining the ride, he will be right there once again and must be included.

Race 9 – 16:20 – Class 4 – 1400m (Turf)
Selections: 3 – 2 – 10 – 1 – 5 
BIG HEARTED is a classy performer with a smart record to his name already, after just five starts. He reverts back to Class 4 level after a very good 2nd at Group 3 level last time out. He lines up with 0,5kg off his back on that latest run and he finally steps up the 1400m where he should relish the extra furlong. Duric retains the ride from another helpful draw and he’ll be the best bet on the card. SIMA WARRIOR has slipped in the ratings and duly showed good improvement last time when dropping into this class from a much-improved draw. He lands another plum draw here and he should strip fitter as he too, steps up to the 7-furlongs for his 9th career outing. Thompson retains and he appears to be the biggest danger to the top selection and the likely second-place finisher. BEAR WITNESS has been slipping in the ratings of late and he gave a solid account of himself when reverting to this course and distance. He finds a perfect draw here and van der Merwe takes the mount. With another handy galloping weight to shoulder, the son of Star Witness should be involved in the finish once again. DIAMOND BEAUTY has been in solid form in recent times and the 4-year old mare lands a much-improved draw for her 9th start, after overcoming gate 11 last time. That was over this course and distance and with Michael Rodd up this time, she must be included.