The Colonial Chief Stakes is the final feature race in Singapore for 2019, on the last race meeting of the year and it appears to be a fascinating race on paper.
ANGEL HALO appears to be the best bet on the card, having relished the drop in class last time. He finds an improved draw for his return to the same course and distance and he’ll be worth following in a modest Class 5 affair. MIGHTY EMPEROR lines up in the penultimate race on the card and it’s a trappy Class 4 event. A tricky race to judge, but he’ll give the opposition a big run for their money.
Best Bet: ANGEL HALO (Race 7)
Value Bet: MIGHTY EMPEROR (Race 10)
Race 1 – 06:15 – Class 5 – 1200m
Selections: 5 – 2 – 12 – 6 – 3
GOLDEN DASH is a class dropper and he should be set to double his win tally here, having performed well over this course and distance in his penultimate start. That was in Class 4 company, and he was an unlucky loser on that occasion. He lands a plum draw once again and with Vlad Duric doing duty, he is hard to beat in this line-up. ELITE SAINT was impressive when overcoming the draw last time out, to go start to finish. The son of More Than Ready has picked up another wide barrier and with the 7-point penalty for that win, things are going to be tougher this time. With Noh in the irons, he gets the 1kg claiming allowance taken off his back and that will help. He seems to be in good form and with a bit of luck in running, he’ll be right there. SUPER WIN has slipped in the ratings and he showed the expected improvement last time out, when dropping into this class. The son of Zoustar finds a mid-field draw here and he gets the services of Kellady this time, who has ridden him a few times before. He looks competitive off his current mark and if continuing on his current trajectory, he should be right there. GOLDEN WIN gets the blinkers fitted this time and he will relish returning to the Poly after shaping up well on this surface prior to that last effort on Turf. Drawn 10, he will be looking to settle just off the early speed and with this being his peak run back, he deserves plenty of respect.
Race 2 – 06:45 – Restricted Maiden – 1000m
Selections: 9 – 1 – 6 – 2 – 8
THE BROTHERHOOD gave a solid account of himself on debut when flashing home late to go down in second place by just 0,30-lengths. He lands a similar draw for his return to the same course and distance and Thompson retains the ride. With the expected improvement to come, he’s the likely winner. JIUYI drops in trip and returns to the Poly, after a hard run last time. He has shown a fair amount of promise in his 4 starts so far and Ewe takes the mount this time, having ridden him in his most promising effort to date. From another plum draw, the blinkers go on and he must be included. ENFORCE has only had the two trials here and the son of Pentire showed enough speed in his most recent outing to draw the attention of punters. Alysha Collett takes the mount on debut, having ridden him in both trials and he’s worth including. BARBARIAN has finished just off them in all three starts so far and he wasn’t disgraced last time out, when returning from a short lay-off over this course and distance. The son of Redoute’s Choice has a tough draw to overcome, but he gets the services of the 3kg claiming apprentice and that will help his cause. With a bit of luck in running, he should have the expected improvement to go right into contention.
Race 3 – 07:20 – Class 4 – 1000m
Selections: 2 – 6 – 1 – 12 – 8
SIERRA CONQUEROR has been in solid form in his last three starts over this course and distance, having been caught late on all three occasions. He finds another plum draw and gets the tongue tie and winkers fitted this time, and that should get home this time. WATCH OUT BOSS has been in solid recent form and Woodworth retains the ride after a winning effort last time. Drawn in gate 6, he will be settled just off the early speed and the son of Bullet Train should still have the scope for further improvement. He was penalised 6-points in the ratings for that win last time, but he could still be ahead of the handicapper and he must be respected. SUPER POSH was just caught late in his most recent outing when leading for most of the way. That was at Class 3 level and he now drops into Class 4 company for his 13th start here. He is already a three-time winner and with the 4kg claiming Nizar retaining the ride, he will be looking to hold on to the lead at the business end and he must be included again. HOTSHOTS SLAM finds a difficult draw this time, but the lightly raced son of Swiss Ace has plenty of gate speed and with the blinkers, on this time he should be able to negate the draw. Kellady retains the ride for his comeback run here, after two decent trials and if not too in need of the run, he should be right there at the business end.
Race 4 – 07:55 – Restricted Maiden – 1000m
Selections: 6 – 7 – 2 – 3 – 1
HEALTHY STAR was run down late on debut, over the 1100m and he would’ve benefitted immensely from the experience. He drops back to the slightly shorter 1000m trip this time and despite the wide draw, he should be tough to catch with the expected scope for improvement. PALETAS was very promising in that trial last week and that would’ve brought him on nicely for his debut here. He is a well-bred son of Iffraaj, being the brother to Blitz Power and with Vlad Duric taking the ride from a very handy gate, he must be included. The betting boards should be indicative of his chances. EUNOS AVE THREE showed good improvement when returning to this surface from an improved draw, in his latest effort. He finds another handy draw here and with this being just his 4th career start, he should have the scope for further improvement. Alysha Collett takes the ride aboard the son of Swiss Ace this time and if all goes to plan, he will be boxing on from a prominent position and should be involved in the finish. BOOM ALMIGHTY has only had the three starts so far, with both his Poly efforts showing far more promise than that run on Turf, in his penultimate start. He was found wanting over the 1400m in that run and the drop back to the minimum trip suits him. From a mid-field draw, the 1kg claiming Noh takes the ride and he too has scope for further improvement. If finding some, he is sure to be involved in the finish.
Race 5 – 08:35 – Class 5 – 1200m
Selections: 4 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 11
RESOLUTION found it tough from a wide barrier last time out and he lands another one here. He has only had the four starts so far, having placed two starts back in Restricted Maiden company. Thompson retains the ride after that disappointing latest and he is likely to find a forward position this time. He has a lot going for him in this modest field and if finding cover, he’ll be right there at the finish. LEO went close over the 7-furlongs last time out, having slipped to a mark of 43. He rallied well late, going down by just 0,10-lengths in second place. The change of tactics worked and from a similar draw this time, Alysha Collett retains the ride and she will be looking to go handy once again. The decrease in trip will suit and the son of Bullbars rates a threat. SPIRIT OF D’WIND has slipped 6-merit rating points in his last four starts and he returns to the course after a 7-month absence from racing. Drawn in pole position, he will be looking to build on that latest effort when stepping into this class over this course and distance. If not too in need of the run, he should be a major contender and is worth including. EASY SOUTH EAST has also dropped in the ratings and his form is certainly taking a turn for the better. He finds a tough draw this time, but Vlad Duric takes the mount and he will be looking to go forward at the off. If finding cover early on, he should be able to box on in the closing stages to go into contention here.
Race 6 – 09:10 – Class 3 – 1200m
Selections: 1 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 12
REVOLUTION wasn’t disgraced last time out when rallying late over the final furlong. He now drops in class for his second run after a short spell off from racing and he’ll strip a lot fitter this time. He has a solid record to date and his latest win five starts back happened to come over this course and distance, in this class. Duric takes the ride and he will be looking to sit back off the early pace, which should nullify the draw factor. If finding a bit of luck in running, he’ll just about win this. ARARAT LADY has shown up well in her last two starts, since dropping into this class. She was drawn wide in both of those runs and she lands an even tougher draw here, but she does appear to have the necessary gate speed to find a fairly handy position at the off. Thompson retains the ride and he’ll be looking to do just that. If finding cover, he should be right there at the business end. BAFFERT is another contender with a very tough draw to overcome, however, he gave a solid account of himself when turning to the Poly track last time out. That was on his return to racing after a 5-month absence and he will no doubt come on a lot from that run. Michael Rodd jumps back aboard the son of Exceed and Excel and if overcoming the draw, he will be a major contender off his current mark of 71. BEAU GESTE has slipped further in the ratings and the 5-year old son of Street Cry tries the Poly this time. He finds an improved draw after that decent last start when boxing on from gate 8 and if building on his useful current form he should be involved in the finish.
Race 7 – 09:45 – Class 5 – 1700m
Selections: 1 – 5 – 2 – 6 – 3
ANGEL HALO showed last time why Class 5 is where he is bound to pick up his next career victory, having overcome a tricky draw over this course and distance. He finds an improved barrier this time and Michael Rodd takes the mount. He lines up on similar weight terms here and the Japanese bred son of King Halo should be hard to pass this time. SHANGANI has been in good consistent form over the latter half of 2019 and that looks set to continue here. Drawn well, he returns to the Polytrack where he won three starts back, over the mile. Powell takes the ride and if the top selection fluffs his lines, he’ll be right there to pick up the pieces and is worth including for minor money. CARNELIAN, like the top selection, showed good improvement when dropping into this class last time out. On similar weight terms this time, Noh retains the ride and he will be looking to sit off the early speed from gate 8. If repeating that useful turn of foot he showed last time, he’ll be flashing home late and must be considered. OFFICIAL finished right behind the second selection in his penultimate start, which happened to be on the Turf course. He returns to the Poly surface this time and that shouldn’t dissuade his followers, considering that he has shaped over the poly mile prior to this. Drawn wider this time, he will be looking to sit just off the early speed and off his current mark of 40, he looks threatening.
Race 8 – 10:25 – Gr3 Colonial Chief Stakes – 1600m
Selections: 1 – 8 – 5 – 4 – 3
PREDITOR is not a regular contender on this surface, but he has won over this course and distance. He drops in trip after three performances in Gr1 company and he finally lands a useful draw for good measure. The reduced trip will suit, having gone close over the mile three starts back and despite that being on Turf, it’s a good pointer nonetheless. Powell retains the ride and from a relatively handy position, he looks hard to knock in this company. WOLF WARRIOR is up in class, but more than at home on this surface. He has an awkward draw to overcome, but he certainly knows how to turn on the pressure in the closing stages and he will be content to bide his time from off the early speed. Sundradas John takes the ride on the son of Midnight Lute and with 4 wins and 4 seconds from 14 starts, he deserves plenty of respect. CIRCUIT MISSION turns to the Poly track after shaping well over this sort of trip on Turf. Drawn wide in Gr2 company last time, he did well to box on late for a 3,20-length defeat behind a very useful sort. From barrier 5 here, Ruan Maia jumps aboard and he’ll strip a lot fitter this time, with this being his second run after a short absence. With further improvement expected, he looks a major contender. YABADABADOO has a tough draw to overcome again, after showing plenty of resolve to make late headway from a wide draw last time. That was in Gr1 company over 2000m and he will be far better off over the mile, having performed well over the shorter trips prior to that run. Wong retains the ride and he must be included.
Race 9 – 11:00 – Class 1 – 1100m
Selections: 3 – 4 – 2 – 7 – 1
BOLD THRUSTER is one of the better sprinters around in Singapore and he will be out to make amends for that disappointing last start. He lands a plum draw this time and the return to the Poly should also suit. The blinkers go on and Vlad Duric looks an attractive jockey booking. He was very impressive in a recent trial and the signs are there that he will get back to winning ways here. SACRED REBEL returns after a 3-month absence, on the back of a decent effort in Gr2 company last time out. He is a very useful sprinter on this surface and with the benefit of a useful draw here, he should be fairly prominent throughout. Woodworth retains and he looks the biggest threat to the top one. SKYWALK is an ultra-consistent sort and he will be in search of a double here, after picking up his 8th win from his 21st start last time. He’ll be just off the early speed from gate 7 and if not too in need of the run after a 5-month absence, he’ll be a contender. YOU ROKK was a surprise winner at long odds last time, at just his second attempt. That was in Class 2 company and despite the fact that he takes a rise in class now, he deserves a bit of respect and must be included.
Race 10 – 11:30 – Class 4 – 1600m
Selections: 3 – 5 – 11 – 9 – 10
MIGHTY EMPEROR has slipped to a competitive mark and he has been knocking on the door in his last two starts, over slightly further. He is drawn well again and from gate 1, he will be looking for the run of the race over this slightly shorter trip. The pace should suit and with Vlad Duric up, the South African bred son of Kahal should fight this out. MAJESTIC EMPRESS has also been slipping in the ratings and the 7-year old mare lands a plum draw for her 30th start here. She will relish the return to the Poly track, having featured prominently the last time she started on this surface and that was off a mark of 68, at Class 3 level. Drawn well, Rodd regains the ride and she looks a big threat. TIGER FORCE goes for the hat-trick here, but he steps up into Class 4 company now and that will make things tougher. With that said, he lands another useful draw and he will be looking to repeat that penultimate start over this course and distance when smashing his opposition by 4,50-lengths. An unlikely winner, but he certainly can make his presence felt and a place finish is more likely. LEGEND ROCKS followed up that good win in his penultimate start, with a very promising effort last time out. Both efforts were on this surface when dropping to the 6-furlongs with his latest run coming in this class. He won’t be averse to the rise in trip, having featured over this distance in recent times and if finding a bit of luck from that draw, he could go close.
Race 11 – 12:00 – Class 4 – 1000m.
Selections: 12 – 3 – 2 – 5 – 8
ADMIRAL WINSTON may have just needed his last start over this course and distance when returning from a 3,5-month absence. Woodworth retains the ride from another good draw and he looks tough to oppose. GRAND CHOICE was an impressive winner last time when reverting to the Poly. He has had a promising start in Singapore, with that being his 2nd win from 9 starts and he has five places to add to that record. He finds a tough draw here and Woodworth has opted to retain the ride on the top selection, which could be an indicator of preference. EFFORTLESS finished 3,50-lengths behind the top selection last time and he now lines up 3,50kg’s better off at the weights. He finds an improved draw and he looks competitive off his current mark of 62. Powell takes the ride and he must be included. BRIGHT ALMIGHTY has finished just off them in his two starts in Singapore, with both of those being on the Turf. He finds a useful draw for his first run on the Poly and he’ll be expected to show big improvement now. He appeared to have needed both of those runs and he’ll relish this shorter trip. Zaki takes the ride and he must be included.
