International Racing: Kranji (Poly) – Friday 6th December 2019

It’s the penultimate meeting from Singapore, for 2019 and Class 4 races are the order of the day with the Class 3 fifth race taking the headline honours. With that said, there appear to be a few interesting Class 5 events which are worth a closer look.

GOLDEN KID appears to be the best bet, as he goes for a hat-trick of wins. From a plum draw, he looks hard to oppose. Before that, PEGASUS JUNIOR has ‘value bet” prospects written all over him, in the fourth race. He has slipped in the ratings and finds a much-improved draw for this outing. At a decent price, he should be worth following. See more here.

Best Bet: GOLDEN KID (Race 9)
Value Bet: PEGASUS JUNIOR (Race 4)

Race 1 – 12:20 – Class 5 – 1600m
Selections: 1 – 7 – 4 – 10 – 2
CHAMPAGNE FINALE is a class dropper here, who returns to the Poly and steps back up to the mile. From gate 3, he will be expected to go forward early and the son of All Too Hard should be difficult to pass with Duric in the irons. He makes his 10th course appearance here and with the scope for improvement, he should be too strong for this field. ELENA OF AVALOR steps up in trip this time and she lands a tough draw to negate, so she will be looking to settle just off a good early speed. She has some solid form over shorter in her last two starts and with the added benefit of the 4kg claimer up, she’s worth including. HERO IN THE WIND lands a solid draw and will be looking to make big improvement on that disappointing last start. His form prior to that run has been good and a lot looks to be in his favour this time, over the Poly mile. John Sundradas takes the ride and he’s a big threat here. SILVER JOY finished just behind the top selection last time and he lines up 4,5kg better off with the former, on that run. What works against him though, is the wide gate he has to overcome this time. He likes to race just off the speed and if finding a bit of luck in running, he could shape to run a place.

Race 2 – 12:50 – Open Maiden – 1200m
Selections: 1 – 2 – 11 – 3 – 8
SIMBA went close on debut over the 5-furlongs when staying on strongly in the closing stages. He will relish stepping up to the 1200m this time and if showing the same gate speed, he displayed on debut, he’ll have no issues finding a forward position from gate 8. Noh retains the ride and this son of O’Reilly should have the necessary improvement to come, for winning effort this time. HAPPY LUCKY STAR gave a solid account of himself when returning from a 5-month absence to finish second and he will strip a lot fitter this time. He will enjoy the extra furlong and with Duric retaining the ride, the son of Epaulette will go very close. ROCKET WINNER came from the clouds last time out when overcoming a tough draw to flash home late for a length beating. That was when stepping up to this trip for the first time, albeit on the Turf course. Back on the Poly this time, he will be expected to build on that run and he must be included. GAMELY finished right behind the former last time out, when stepping on to the Turf. He will enjoy reverting back to the Poly track here if his penultimate run is anything to go by. Drawn wide, he gets the blinkers fitted this time and despite the fact that he is still a maiden after 20 attempts, he has finished in the first four places on no less than 15-occasions. Collet rides and he must have a shout.

Race 3 – 13:20 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 4 – 8 – 3 – 9 – 2
SIAM WARRIOR had excuses in that decent effort last time when he appeared to have plenty in hand in the closing stages. He has dropped to a competitive rating and finds another useful draw with Michael Rodd taking the mount. With his only win in Singapore coming on the Poly, he will enjoy reverting back to this service and should be tough to beat. PINDUS just won his maiden in weaker company, from a wide draw over the minimum trip and he has another tricky gate to overcome this time. With that said, he was touched off in this Class on debut carrying a similar weight, so he is clearly capable of stepping up to the plate. Duric jumps back aboard and he’ll be expected to go forward early and that brings him right into this. IMPERIUM is a class dropper, after being forced wide from a tough draw last time, before boxing on well in the closing stages. He is much better off on the Poly and with the return to this surface, he lands a plum draw and he’ll be looking to add to that already consistent record. COPACABANA wasn’t disgraced in that comeback run last time, after a 5-month lay-off. He has dropped even further in the ratings and he’ll strip a much fitter horse this time. A versatile performer as far as the surface is concerned, he is rather consistent over this trip and deserves inclusion once again.

Race 4 – 13:50 – Class 5 – 1600m
Selections: 5 – 3 – 11 – 4 – 10
PEGASUS JUNIOR has given a good account of himself, since stepping up to the 1400m in his last two starts. He has landed on a competitive looking mark of 37, having slipped 6-points in his last four starts and a much-improved draw will also aid his cause this time. The 2kg claiming Shafrizal takes the mount and they look hard to knock. BOUNCEBACK ABILITY gave a useful account of himself, when returning from a lengthy lay-off and he’ll strip a lot fitter for this slight step up in trip. He reverts to a surface where he has performed well in the past and the son of Pour Moi finds a good draw here. Collett takes the ride and they must be included with the expected improvement to come. YULONG HOLY FLYING slipped further in the ratings and he returns the Poly, where he seems to have a bigger preference. From a plum draw, Mertens jumps aboard the son of Frozen Power who will relish stepping back up to the mile. He is a consistent sort and one gets the feeling on his current form, that his winning turn is coming soon. GOLD KINGDOM is still a maiden after 16 attempts, but the son of Animal Kingdom has been knocking on the door for some time now. His followers shouldn’t be dissuaded by the draw, as he does have an impressive turn of foot. With the pace expected to be a good one, Rodd will be looking for a smooth passage over the final two furlongs and if luck is on his side, he’ll go close and must be considered.

Race 5 – 14:20 – Class 3 – 1600m
Selections: 4 – 5 – 1 – 2 – 6
A small field of 8-runners go to post in this Class 3 event and KARISTO looks the likely winner here. The son of Written Tycoon is still a maiden in Singapore, after the 6 outings so far and despite that fact, he will be a winner here soon. He is yet to try the Poly here, but that should be of little concern to his followers and he should get it right this time. CARIBBEAN LADY didn’t quite take to the Turf and she will enjoy reverting back to the Poly track this time. She won her penultimate start over this course and distance when going start to finish from a tricky draw. From gate 2, she will be just off them and she’ll make her presence felt once again. MAGIC WAND just missed over the 6-furlongs last time, when having the blinkers fitted. That was his second effort since dropping into this class and he will be much better over this trip, having finished just 2,30 lengths off them over the mile, three starts back. That effort was on Turf and considering that he does have form over this course and distance, he can feature and must be included. LETITGO finished behind the top selection when returning from a lengthy lay-off last time out. That run would’ve bought him on nicely and he finds an improved draw for his follow up run here. He was carrying a lot of condition in that run and he’ll strip a lot fitter for the slight step up in trip this time. Drawn well, he will be looking to repeat that penultimate start over this course and distance, when smashing his opposition by 3,50-lengths and that will bring him right into the equation.

Race 6 – 14:50 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 1 – 8 – 5 – 10 – 2
TARO SAN lost in a close battle over this course and distance last time out, after a modest Turf performance at Class 3 level. He has been a consistent campaigner in his 16 starts so far and from a tricky draw, he will be relying on a bit of luck in running. Noh retains the ride and if finding a clear passage in the closing stages, he will just about win this. SATURDAY has his first start in handicap conditions, after a very impressive victory over 7-furlongs last time. He will have no issues with the change in surface, having trialled well on the Poly before his debut run. Drawn well, Duric takes the mount and he must be included. SIAM MP drops back in trip and has his first start on the Poly, which raises a few question marks. With that said, his American pedigree speaks to him being more than capable of handling the change in surface and he’ll relish this drop-in trip. From a useful draw, he gets the services of Moor and he rates a big threat. STREET PARTY made good improvement last time out when switching back to the Poly track. That was over this trip and he showed a good turn of foot to rally home late. Drawn wide, Collett retains the ride and with the son of Congrats being well overdue for a win, he has a nice chance here and must go in.

Race 7 – 15:20 – Class 5 – 1000m
Selections: 3 – 7 – 2 – 5 – 1
 WELL DESERVED has slipped to a competitive looking rating and he now drops into Class 5 level, for his 14th outing. He has shown glimpses of going close against stronger company and conditions look ripe for him to make a bid for the winners’ box here. Duric takes the mount from a tough barrier and with a bit of luck, he’ll go close. STAR FIFTYTWO is a maiden who changes stables here (again) and he will enjoy the drop into weaker company, for his return to the same track and trip as his latest run. The son of Denman finds a very handy draw and on his penultimate run over slightly further, he rates a major threat and must be included. RAPID FIRE has landed on a competitive mark and he clearly benefitted from the drop into Class 5 company last time out, when making good improvement over the 6-furlongs. Moor takes the ride from another good draw and if building on that last run, he’ll go close to winning and must be considered. ASIA SPIRIT is a useful contender over this sort of trip and he finds another decent draw for a go at picking up his second win in Singapore. He gets the services of the 3kg claiming apprentice and with the weight off his back, he could prove very tough to catch if allowed to find his customary front running position. The son of Bel Esprit will be looking to build on that decent latest over the course and distance and he must go in.

Race 8 – 15:50 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 1 – 10 – 3 – 11 – 12
RESTRAINED gave a decent account of himself on debut, over this course and distance when going down by 4,10 lengths in 4th. He overcame barrier 9 to box on well in the closing stages and the run would’ve bought him on nicely for his follow up effort. Vlad Duric rides the ride and with the expected improvement, he looks tough to oppose. PRIME TIME has done little wrong in his career so far, having impressed in his five starts so far. He picked up his first win last time and now jumps into Class 4 company, where he will be expected to progress through the ranks. He has a tough draw to overcome, but he has the gate speed to match that task and he should be able to find cover near the front. With a bit of luck, he should be right there at this finish. UNCONQUERED is a consistent son of I Am Invincible, who lines up for his 29th start here. He is slipping in the ratings and besides his penultimate start, he hasn’t disappointed for some time. From a very tough draw this time, he will be looking to take advantage of this weaker class of opposition and if finding his best form, he will go close and must be included. YULONG FAST STEED had a tough draw to overcome last time, when stepping up to the 7-furlongs on Turf. Back on the Poly here, he drops back in trip and on his penultimate effort over this course and distance, he looks a likely contender. Mertens takes the mount from a better draw this time and he looks hard to knock on current form, in this class.

Race 9 – 16:20 – Class 4 – 1200m
Selections: 6 – 10 – 7 – 4 – 1
GOLDEN KID followed up an ultra-impressive maiden win with a last gasp dive for the line, to pick up a win on handicap debut last time out. Punished 6-points for that victory, he has the added weight to shoulder this time and that may prove tougher for the son of Per Incanto. With that said, he is yet to miss the first four places and he lands a plum draw for his hat-trick attempt. With scope for further improvement, he looks to be the best bet on the card. LORD OF LIGHT may have just needed that last run, after a 2-month recess. That run would’ve brought him on nicely and the 4kg claiming Nizar retains the ride from a similar draw. He was an impressive winner three starts back over this track and trip when landing his maiden win here by 5,30 lengths and a repeat of that effort should bring him right into contention. SIAM ROYAL ORCHID returns to the 6-furlongs after being chased down in the closing stages over the mile last time. Drawn wide for this decrease in trip, he will take a back seat and if finding that fast finish that he is capable of, he should be right there with a bit of luck in running. BARTIMAEUS was an impressive winner last week when nullifying a tough draw to win narrowly and he now lines up 2,5kg worse off at the weights on that run. Back on the Poly where he has featured previously, he lands a much better draw and with the 3kg claimer retaining the ride, he looks threatening once again.