International Racing: Kranji Polytrack – 1 January 2020

There are 11 races carded for a New Year’s Day meeting at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore. Reigning jockey championship winner Vlad Duric looks to hold all the plum rides this afternoon with South African JP van der Merwe having a few valuable bets.

The best bet on the card looks to be YULONG HOLY FLYING for Vlad Duric in race 4 while the value bet looks to come in the first for JP van der Merwe on JK FORMIDABLE.

Best Bet – YULONG HOLY FLYING Race 4
Value bet- JK FORMIDABLE Race 1.

RACE 1 (06:30) WELCOME 2020 STAKES CLASS 5 (1)
Selections- 3-6-7-9-5
JK FORMIDABLE is the selection in the first race of the New Year at Kranji. South African JP van der Merwe takes the ride and if he manages to repeat the horses last run when ridden by Noh Senari he should get the better of this field today. ASIA SPIRIT has speed out the gates and usually is right up there in the firing line until the latter stages where he fades. However top jockey Marc Lerner takes the ride today and should be able to keep him going into the last furlong. KA OLINA has been consistent in his last few runs when finishing in the places. If he repeats his current form he should be staying on into the money again today. PAPERBACK TROOPER improved in his last run and if he continues his recent improvement he should be closing off the quartets again today.

RACE 2 (07:00) PROSPERITY 2020 STAKES RESTRICTED MAIDEN (2 AND 3 YEAR OLD) 
Selections -9-1-2-5-8
THE BROTHERHOOD was very impressive in his two runs thus far over this course when finishing second on both occasions. He steps up to the six furlongs today and that should help him get out of the maidens with Marc Lerner aboard for the Donna Logan stable. EUNOS AVE THREE has been impressive in his last two starts finishing in the money on both occasions. A repeat of any of his last two runs should make him quite competitive in this line-up. MISTER DYNAMO didn’t enjoy the seven furlongs last time out and the drop back to the six furlongs should see him competitive again this afternoon. KINGS LANDING was slow into stride in his last run but still managed to finish in a creditable fifth, if he improves his start, he should be able to feature in the money.

RACE 3 (07:30) MARK WALKER STAKES CLASS 4 (2)
Selections -1-5-7-9-4
CHALAZA is the ride of current championship-leading jockey Vlad Duric and if continuing his recent improvement, he should be able to finish in front of the rest this afternoon. SIMBA has been consistent in both his runs so far and should be giving the top selection something to think about in the run down to the line. FLAUNT has impressive form to his name and is always in with a shout, Daniel Moor rides him and he should be able to get him into the money again this afternoon. HOT SHOTS SLAM was impressive when improving to in his last start, he was hampered on jumping that day and if jumping on terms he should be in the places.

RACE 4 (08:00) GOOD HEALTH 2020 STAKES CLASS 5 (2)
Selections- 6-10-2-1-5
YULONG HOLY FLYING made up a lot of ground in the final two furlongs to finish just over a length behind the winner. Today top jockey Vlad Duric rides and with his current form he should be able to get the better of this field this afternoon. SCOOTER has done well in his last two starts as he ran on well to finish in third. His last run was even more impressive as he was drawn wide and managed to run on into the money today, he jumps from a mid-field draw and that should make him the main challenger to the top selection. JK FLASH should enjoy the drop back to the mile today and should be able to place.  GIANT KILLING gets the same apprentice who last placed on him aboard today, he also steps back onto the poly which should see him in the money.

RACE 5 (08:35) HAPPINESS 2020 STAKES MAIDEN
Selections – 4-11-1-7-3
NOVA FACTOR brings good form into the race, he stayed on in his last start to finish in fifth. He’s penultimate run was ultra-impressive when leading the whole way to just lose by a short-head. A repeat of that run today should see him finally break the maiden. JP van der Merwe rides and if he manages to go the front, he will be hard to peg back. MY MONEY improved nicely in his last start when improving to run third. If confirming that recent improvement today he should be able to challenge the top selection in the run down to the line. ALFARONHRO made up a lot of ground in the last two furlongs of his last start to only lose by half a length. If repeating that run it will be no surprise to see him come out on top this afternoon. GLENAFTON improved when stepping down in trip last time, a repeat of that run should see him in the money again today.

RACE 6 (09:05) PEACE & JOY 2020 STAKES CLASS 5 (2)
Selections- 7-2-9-4-6
ALARANCH comes into this race with fantastic form and looks the one to beat, and with Vlad Duric aboard it should make the task at hand a lot easier. He has won four times with his latest win coming over this course and distance with Duric aboard. MAKE U FAMOUS is a speedy sort and loves to go start to finish in races. He should be the one setting the fractions in this contest and should be hard to peg back. INVINCIBLE MAN has consistent form and always runs a big race. He should be in the money again this afternoon. TRY MAK MAK ran an impressive penultimate and a repeat of that run should make him very competitive today.

RACE 7 (15:35) VLADIMIR DURIC STAKES CLASS 5 (1)
Selections – 1-5-6-7-3
CHAMPAGNE FINALE was impressive when trying the mile trip last time when staying on into fourth. He had problems at the start that day which makes that run even more impressive. Today he goes over the same trip and gets an apprentice on board and he should be right there when they reach the line. HUNTSMAN was impressive in his last start when running second. A repeat of that run should make him competitive again this afternoon. FLYING YELLOW was bumped twice at crucial stages in his last start and did well to finish where he did. If he has no interferences today he should be in the money. GOLD KINGDOM won a good race last time coming from of them. He steps up in class today but should still be in the places.

RACE 8 (10:05) FALCON RACING STABLE STAKES CLASS 3
Selections – 5-6-13-2-4
UNCONQUERED was ultra-impressive in his last start when going from pillar to post to win going away. John Powell retains the ride and a repeat of that run over the same course and distance should see him in the winner’s enclosure. AL GREEN brings consistent form into this race and gets the services of top jockey Michael Rodd. He should be the nearest challenger to the top selection. BEAU GESTE did well when trying this course and distance last time as he came from the clouds to finish in fourth, a repeat of that last run today should see him in the money. FILIBUSTER won when last trying the course and distance and should be competitive again this afternoon.

RACE 9 (10:40) NEW YEAR CUP GROUP 3 (RIDER ALLOWANCES NOT PERMITTED)
Selections- 9-2-5-8-7
The New Year Cup group 3 sees an undefeated horse line-up for this contest in the form of SURPASS NATURAL. JP van der Merwe rides today and by the way he has won his races he looks quite hard to oppose. SKYWALK raced well against group one company last time and should be able to finish close up to the top selection. SACRED REBEL raced wide in his last start and did well to finish where he did, a repeat of that run should see him in the places this afternoon. WEBSTER brings consistent form into the race and should be able to finish in the money again here today.


RACE 10 (11:15) RONALD WOODWORTH STAKES CLASS 4 (1)
Selections- 6-1-3-9-4
I AM BEAUTIFUL was one-paced in the straight last time and did well to finish in the places. A repeat of her penultimate when winning will make her hard to beat. COUNTRY BOSS was impressive over the course and distance in his last run when winning. If he repeats that run today he should give the top selection something to think about. EFFORTLESS improved nicely in her last two starts when finishing not too far behind the winner.  John Powell retains the ride today and he should be able to get this one into the places. CALIFORNIA has been consistent in his last three runs over this course and distance and a repeat of that will see him in the money again this afternoon.

RACE 11 (17:45) SIMON KOK WEI HOONG STAKES CLASS 4
Selections – 2-8-10-12-9
SUPER POSH is the selection to end the days racing, he is the ride of Apprentice Kok and based on his last run when racing wide, he should just about get the job done this afternoon. WELL DESERVED won well in his last outing and it would be no surprise to see him win again. FLIGHT TO VICTORY steps down in trip and that should suit him as he likes to race handy, he’s back on the poly and the draw should suit him. LITTLE MASTER won impressively in his last start when racing wide. If he repeats that run even though this is over a much shorter distance he should be right there.