International Racing: Kranji – Friday 8th November 2019

A competitive card awaits punters in Singapore, this Friday 8th November 2019. Headlined by the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy in the 8th race on the card, there are plenty of other opportunities to find good value. 

The best bet on the card appears to come early, in the form of MIG PIERRO, in race 3. He has his second start in Singapore after going to close to winning on debut and there doesn’t appear to be much to stop him from winning this time. SUN RECTITUDE lines up in the 9th race on the card and he could be worth following at a decent price. Having dropped in the ratings, he lands a much-improved draw and must be a big factor on his current form, off that mark of 53.

Best Bet: MIG PIERRO (Race 3)
Value Bet: SUN RECTITUDE (Race 9)

Race 1 – 12:20
Selections: 1 – 2 – 12 – 3 – 5 
ATLANTEAN gave a solid account of himself last time out when stepping up to the 1400m on Turf. He had a tough draw to overcome, but kept improving his position and did well to finish within 6-lengths of the winner. He has dropped another point in the ratings and he will now revert to Class 5 company, for his return to the Poly track. He went close over this course and distance in his penultimate start, when finishing behind a very useful sort and from a solid draw this time out, he looks a leading contender. HIGH STREET is in very good form at the moment and the 7-year old son of Street Cry lands a very helpful draw this time, for this drop to the 6-furlongs. He was eye-catching in the finish last time out, when flashing home from way off the speed to go down by just a short-head in second. Another bold showing can be expected here and he’ll be involved in the finish if all goes to plan. ACCUMULATION makes his return after a short absence and he lands a good draw for his 18th start here. Woodworth retains the ride, having ridden him in his last start and having dropped to a competitive looking rating in his last few starts, he cannot be discounted. LIM’S FORCE won his last start, when dropping to the minimum trip on this surface. He received a 6-point penalty for that victory, but gets the services of the 3kg claiming apprentice which will go some way to nullifying the extra weight. From pole position, he’ll be just off the early speed and should be involved in the finish.


Race 2 – 12:50
Selections: 5 – 2 – 7 – 10 – 1 
CAVALLA COURT is a well-bred debutante, arriving with a fair amount of expectation on his back, with him being the half-brother to 7 winners. He arrives here having shown enough in his barrier to be a strong consideration and with that, is cemented with the booking of Vlad Duric to take the ride. He does have a tricky draw to negate, but should be the right one to follow. PINDUS had some very encouraging form before his disappointing last start, when having a tough draw to overcome on Turf. He has an even wider one to negate here, but he returns to the Poly where he is far better performed. Having shown up well prior to his latest effort, he will be looking to find that form and if doing so, he is a major threat. He has barriered well since his last outing and he must be included. NINETYSIX WARRIOR is another debutante lining up at the start of the second event on the card. He has shown enough in his barrier trials so far to be a strong consideration in a trappy race such as this. From a good draw, JP van der Merwe takes the mount and he must be included. NINGALOO is a three-year-old son of All Too Hard, out of the mare Savannah Dancer who was a three-time winner herself and Group 3 placed. He was given an easy trial last time, by Benny Woodworth and he appears to have plenty of scope. From a plum draw, he gets the blinkers fitted and the services of the 3kg claiming Eaton and he is worth including.

Race 3 – 13:20
Selections: 3 – 7 – 11 – 1 – 2 
MIG PIERRO was impressive on debut, when landing in the second box. He steps up slightly in trip this time, but lands another very useful draw and Lerner retains the ride. The signs indicate that he’ll shape well over the extra and with the expected improvement to come, he looks a lively contender and looks very tough to beat. STREET PARTY had a tough draw to overcome last time out, but he clearly enjoyed the drop to this trip and did well to box on for a solid showing. From a much-improved draw this time, Collett retains the ride and must be included. GOLDEN DASH clearly enjoyed this surface last time out, when dropping to today’s trip. That was after a fair effort over the mile in his penultimate start, when going down by 2.50 lengths. He lands a good draw here and gets the blinkers fitted for his 8th effort. Thompson retains and he looks the one to beat. LIMTED EDITION has had a useful start to his career. He followed up his maiden win in his penultimate start with a solid 4th last time out.  That was from a tricky draw and if overcoming gate 8 today, he’ll be in with a shout.

Race 4 – 13:50
Selections: 9 – 5 – 2 – 11 – 8 
SUPERMAX has finished second twice in his three career outings so far, with his latest effort being his most encouraging so far. He overcame gate 9 to race just off the early speed and boxed on well for just a 0.30 length defeat. That was on Turf and he now reverts to the Poly where he has shown up well in a recent trial. He should enjoy the slight drop in trip and with the weight off his back, he’s the obvious one here. HAPPY LUCKY STAR has just had the two starts so far, having placed on debut from a wide draw before running a respectable 6th in his follow up effort. Both of those runs were on Turf, but he has since given a good account of himself in a trial on the Poly and he should have no issues in that department. From a useful draw, Vlad Duric steps back aboard the son of Epaulette and he rates a threat with plenty of scope for improvement. TOP BANANA is still a maiden after 29 attempts, but he has been knocking on the door at this level for some time and in a modest field of contenders, he could pop up. Collett jumps back aboard the son of Super Easy and he must be considered for the exotics. ULURU has his debut here after showing a much-improved trial last time. That was after a 6-month absence after his first trial and Woodworth makes an attractive jockey booking, having ridden him in that latest prep. He is drawn well and could feature if not too green.

Race 5 – 14:20
Selections:  6 – 7 – 5 – 1 – 8 
KARISTO returns from a 3-month absence, after showing plenty of promise in his five starts so far and only finishing further back than a length of the winner, on one occasion. The key to his chances here is the improved draw. From gate 1, he should find the run of the race and if not too in need of this, he should very tough to beat. RICHEBURG is a three-time winner from 13 starts and he too has been showing some useful consistency of late. He gave a good account of himself in his comeback run last time out, over a trip short of his best and with the extra furlong added here, he should feature far more prominently. From a good draw, Woodworth regains the mount having ridden him in his penultimate start and he must be included. AUGUSTUS lands an improved draw after two modest performances over the mile in his last two starts. On his run prior to that, he went very close over this course and distance, in this class. The 3kg claiming Eaton jumps aboard the son of Snitzel this time and he will be looking to utilise the a much more forgiving galloping weight to be involved in the finish. ARAMAYO has his Singapore debut here and although he may not be entirely wound up for this effort, his career credentials warrant inclusion.


Race 6 – 14:50
Selections: 1 – 4 – 6 – 7 – 2 
LOOKS GOOD gave a very good account of himself last time out, when dropping a further two points in the ratings and landing a much better draw. He was perfectly positioned for most of the way in that run and just appeared to find one better on the day. From another useful draw, Rehaizat retains the ride and if repeating that last effort, he should be tough to beat. QINGDAO clearly enjoyed the drop to this trip last time out, despite it being on the Turf. That was also from a much-improved draw and he jumps from the same gate this time. Back on the Poly, he gets the services of Moore and the son of Volksraad looks a major player here. ELENA OF AVALOR has given two good accounts of herself in her last three starts and the key to those performances would have been the fact that they were sprints on the Poly, which she attempts here. She was disappointing in her penultimate start, when stepping up to the 1400m on Turf from a wide draw. Drawn wide again, she will be looking to tuck in early and attempt to repeat the latest effort when going down by just under 2 lengths. Wong retains and she must go in. HOST THE NATION has found a few wide draws in his last five starts and he lands another one here. With the 94 starts to his name, he has plenty of miles on the clock and he continues to feature prominently. Despite the wide draw once again, he looks a big runner with Woodworth retaining the ride and he can certainly find himself amongst the late challengers, if finding a bit of luck in running.

Race 7 – 15:20
Selections: 2 – 8 – 3 – 1 – 6 
DESPACITO has shown good improvement since dropping into this class three starts back. He appears to be off a competitive rating at this level and he is certainly at home over this course and distance. He lands another useful draw and gets the services of Duric, for what appears to be his best chance at finding the winners box in his last few starts. ALWAYS INNOCENT has been in solid recent form since turning to the Poly and dropping to the minimum trip. He was an impressive winner in his penultimate start, in Class 5 company and followed that up with a useful first attempt in this class of opposition. From another good draw, he gets the services of the claiming apprentice who takes a further 3kg’s off his back and he looks well placed to add to that already respectable career record. ABSOLVIDO gave a very good account of himself in stronger company last time out, when overcoming a tough draw. He returns after a three-month absence and will be looking to continue where he left off, with another bold showing. From gate 5, Woodworth takes the mount and he looks a major contender if fit. RESTRAINED is an ex-Godolphin owned horse, who won his first three starts of his career, in Australia. He has since trialled well since arriving in Singapore and with the blinkers on for his local debut, he looks a major contender and must go in.

Race 8 – 15:50
Selections: 5 – 2 – 14 – 3 – 16
SAFEER is the pick of the bunch in this feature event on the card, although he just edges out the rest on preference, as it is a rather open event. He has a solid record to his name and he proved himself last time out, when overcoming a wide draw to flash home late in the Raffles Cup Gr1. He jumps from pole this time around and with fitness not being in question, he should relish the timing of this run. He will certainly enjoy, if not prefer the drop back in trip and he’ll be tough to beat. ELITE POWER is a four-time winner from 19 attempts and he enjoyed the outing over this course and distance last time out, albeit in Class 2 company. Vlad Duric rode him on that occasion and he retains the ride here, for his first attempt at Gr2 company. A lot looks to be in his favour and from a very useful draw, he must be included and he should be involved in the finish. STAR OF JUPITER has a tricky draw to overcome for his second outing here, having won impressively on debut. He has solid form in Group company in Australia, over this sort of trip and the son of I Am Invincible still has plenty more to come. He will be cherry ripe for his biggest test in Singapore and if overcoming the draw, should be fighting out the finish. FAME STAR has some ultra-consistent form to his name, with 6 wins and 6 seconds in his 15 starts. He has won all of his last four starts and now steps up to face his strongest opposition yet. The more experienced Lerner takes the ride and he must be included.

Race 9 – 16:25
Selections: 8 – 1 – 5 – 7 – 2 
SUN RECTITUDE has been finishing just off them in this class of late and he is starting to look more and more competitive off his reduced rating. He wasn’t totally disgraced last time out, when stepping up to the 1400m on Turf and he’ll enjoy swapping the turf for the Poly here, over the 6-furlongs. From a much-improved draw, Wong jumps back aboard the son of Sepoy and he could be good value to follow at a price. CHALAZA drops to Class 4 company after performing well against stronger opposition of late. He too will enjoy reverting to the Poly course this time, where he performed well three starts back. He will be fitted with the pacifiers and blinkers this time and Duric takes the ride. From another tricky draw, he’ll be looking for a bit of luck in running and must go in. GOLDEN KID was an impressive winner in Maiden company last time out, over this course and distance. He is yet to run out of the first 4 and with just the five starts to his name, he still has plenty more to come. From another useful draw, John retains the ride and he looks to be a likely contender. KING ZOUSTAR has some very useful form in this class and it could be so much better, if he was a bit more reliable at the start. The wide draw shouldn’t dent his chances by much, as he will be looking to settle behind the first two lines before utilising his strong finish. He is due a win off his current rating and with Collett back up, the son of Zoustar looks a threat in an open field and must be considered.