International Racing: Kranji – Sunday 10th November 2019

It’s the Gr 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup day, this Sunday 10th November 2019 and 10 races are carded, with the Gr 1 Gold Cup headlining the event. 

The Gr 3 SAAS FEE Stakes is the supporting feature and INFERNO could be tough to beat there. With that said, SIAM ROYAL ORCHID appears to be the best bet on the card and he should get the job done early on in the day for punters, in race 3. Between the two features, HELIOSPHERE returns from a 4-month absence and drops in class. If ready, he should have the class to prevail and although not a massive price, he should be value.

Best Bet: SIAM ROYAL ORCHID (Race 3)
Value Bet: HELIOSPHERE (Race 8)

Race 1 – 07:10
Selections: 2 – 9 – 8 – 11 – 5
JIUYI has featured prominently in all three starts so far. He steps back onto the Turf course this time, where he has given the best account of himself so far. That was over the 1200m and he should relish this step up to the 1400m here. Apprentice See retains the ride and from another good draw, he looks hard to oppose. SATURDAY has been thereabouts in both of his starts so far. He lines up with a very useful galloping weight this time, but he does have the widest draw to overcome. With that said, he too should enjoy the step-up in trip and with Beuzelin up, he looks the biggest danger to the top selection. SABAH STAR finished just over 3.5 lengths off the winner in his recent debut, when overcoming gate 9. He has plenty of scope for improvement and from a much-improved draw, he should be able to find a handy position with relative ease. Azzopardi retains and he should be worth including for minor money. TOP OF THE LINE finished just behind the former in his latest effort, when overcoming a wide draw. That was just his second career outing and he lines up from a much-improved draw this time. That was an improved effort on the Turf and he has plenty of scope for more. JP van der Merwe takes the mount this time and he must be included.

Race 2 – 07:40
Selections: 1 – 10 – 2 – 9 – 6 
QIJI DIAMOND has done little wrong in his last three starts, having placed in all three and he should be crying out for the extra furlong now. Duric has ridden him in his last two outings and he sticks with the ride here, despite having a wider draw to overcome. It is hard to knock him on current form and he should be the right one here. MIGHTY VAIN finished just behind the top selection last time out, in just his second start here. That was when finding a much-improved draw and he lands another good one this time, with Woodworth retaining the ride. He meets the former on similar weight terms and with plenty of scope for improvement, he should be involved in the finish. WATER ROCKET has done everything but win in his five starts so far. He finds another wide draw to overcome, but the top class – Barend Vorster marks his return on the son of Orpen, in the famous Fred Crabbia colours. He overcame a similar draw last time out, to run a place and if repeating that effort over the extra furlong this time, he should be right there. KRUGER was a little disappointing last time out, after a solid third on debut. From another useful draw, he should have scope to improve and deserves another chance.

Race 3 – 08:10
Selections: 3 – 4 – 6 – 7 – 2 
It is hard to look past SIAM ROYAL ORCHID, as he is a confident best bet on the card and his expected short price in the betting may well just offer little value for punters. With that said, he will still be required to get the job done and with this being his peak run after two good starts, Beuzelin rides and he should win. OCEAN CROSSING has a good record to his name and he has been ultra-competitive since rising to handicap conditions. He lands a tough draw this time, but with 2 wins and 2 seconds from 8 attempts, he certainly has enough ability. Vlad Duric takes the mount and he should be finishing just behind the top selection. SUN FORMATION has been in good form since returning from a short rest. He lands another plum draw this time and with plenty of scope for improvement, he looks a major threat here. Azzopardi will be looking for the winners’ box and he must be included. SPIRIT OF BIG BANG makes his handicap debut after a smart win last time out. Drawn wide this time he gets the services of Moore in the irons and despite the draw, he has plenty of scope to improve over the extra. With a bit of luck in running he should be right there at the finish.

Race 4 – 08:40
Selections: 7 – 3 – 2 – 6 – 9
EXCELLING has enjoyed the recent switch the Turf course in his last two starts, with both runs coming over today’s 1200m trip. He finished just behind a talented sort in his penultimate start, who since came out and won again on Friday. Having followed that up with an even better effort last time out, Duric retains the ride and he lands a plum draw for this outing. He should be the right on to follow here. DINGHU MOUNTAIN was finishing fast in his latest effort, just one week ago. His apprentice received a three-day suspension for that ride, so she will be looking to make amends here. He drops into Class 3 company and from a similar draw, he should be fighting this one out. SIR ISAAC finished in front of the second selection in his latest effort, when having his peak run after a rest. He finds another tricky draw here, but with the more experienced Moloney in the irons he’ll be looking to make a big impression once again. If overcoming the draw, he’ll be boxing on in the closing stages and deserves respect. STREET CRY SUCCESS stems from the same Fame Star form line as the top selection, having finished just over a length behind the former on that occasion. He showed further improvement in his second start, when stepping onto the Poly. From gate two, he reverts back to the same course and distance he attempted on his debut and he will be cherry ripe for this outing. With scope for more, he must be included.

Race 5 – 09:10
Selections: 1 – 5 – 2 – 6 – 11
DICTION has been lightly raced of late, but he has shown good consistent form when he does turn up. He put in a solid effort in Gr3 company in his penultimate start, when having a tough draw to overcome. That was over this course and distance and he followed that up with another good performance over the 1800m last time. Drawn wide again, Rodd retains the ride and on his latest effort he has a few held here. WIND TRAIL is a three-time winner from 9 starts here, with his latest coming over this course and distance last time out. That was in Class 4 company and despite the rise in class, he lands a plum draw and with Lerner retaining he has solid place prospects. YULONG EDITION finished just behind the top selection last time out, after notching up his third career win in Class 2 company over the mile, in his penultimate start. Draw well, apprentice Nizar takes the 4kg’s off his back and he looks a serious contender over the extra. IRVING LIPSCHITZ finished right behind the top selection in his latest effort, when stepping into Class 2 company. That was after a solid performance over this course and distance in his penultimate start. He lands a very tough draw here and with a number of runners having a preference to go handy. He’ll have little option but to drop out to the rear of the field. If finding some luck in running, he has the form to challenge strongly.

Race 6 – 09:45
Selections: 2 – 3 – 7 – 9 – 5 
BUSHIDO is a two-time winner from just the eight starts and he certainly enjoyed the step up to this trip last time out. That was after a respectable effort in his penultimate run, when overcoming a very tough draw. From pole position today, he will be very tough to beat if producing his best effort. SIAM MP finished right behind the top selection in that latest effort, when stepping up to this course and distance. Contrary to the top selection, he had a tricky draw to negate on that occasion and his chances will certainly be boosted from gate 4 this time. Beuzelin jumps aboard this time and he is an obvious inclusion. HIGHGATE was an impressive winner in weaker company last time, when overcoming a wide draw. That was on his handicap debut, when having his first run back after a 3-month absence. From an improved draw, Moor retains the ride and if taking the step up to the mile he should be fighting this out with the top two. BLITZ POWER is certainly at home in this company and she has found some useful recent form, despite landing tough draws in her last two outings. She lands another one here and that makes things tough. With that said, she has a very useful finish and if finding a smooth path at the business end, she will be making up plenty of ground. She will relish the step up to this trip and must go in.

Race 7 – 10:15
Selections: 1 – 2 – 5 – 7 – 4
INFERNO appears to be a star of the future. He is unbeaten in three starts so far, including an impressive Group 2 victory in his penultimate start over this course and distance. Drawn wide in every run, he seems to overcome adversity and get the job done impressively. From a slightly improved draw this time, he has his second run back this term and should be tough to beat. FIELD MARSHALL is also unbeaten in his three starts, although this is his first effort at Group level. The son of Sweet Orange is clearly loaded with ability and should be capable of stepping up to this class to feature prominently. He must be included. BIG HEARTED finished just behind the top selection in his penultimate start and lines up 1.5kg better off with the latter. He lands a plum draw this time and Duric jumps back aboard the son of Hallowed Crown, for his 5th career start. He too has his second run back and with the expected improvement, he must be a big contender for the minor places. ROCKET STAR finished second to the top selection in his penultimate start, when overcoming a tough draw. He jumps from gate 2 this time and the son of Star Witness should be a major contender at the business end, with Barend Vorster up.

Race 8 – 10:50
Selections: 1 – 6 – 9 – 5 – 7 
HELIOSPHERE has featured well in much stronger company in his last three starts. He returns from a spell away from racing and drops to the 1200m for his first run back. With that said, he has gone close over this course and distance in recent times and with a relatively useful draw, he should have the class to find the winners box. CHARGER has been ultra-consistent over this trip and in this class in recent times. He gave a solid account of himself last time out, when overcoming a tricky draw and from barrier 5 this time, he should be right there at the business end. FEDERATION has shown plenty of promise since stepping up to Class 3 company, in his last two starts. Both efforts have come over this course at the end of his latest campaign and if racing fresh, he has found a very useful draw to make a successful return to racing. Woodworth takes the ride and he is worth including. BEAU GESTE has just had the 6 starts so far and he still has plenty of scope to shape at this level. He hasn’t disgraced himself in both of his efforts in Group company and with this being his peak run back, he looks a competitive proposition. He does have a wide draw to overcome, but the blinkers go on as does the 3kg claiming Eaton and he should be involved at a decent price.

Race 9 – 11:25 – Dester Singapore Gold Cup Gr1 – 2000m
Selections: 5 – 7 – 4 – 1 – 3 
KING LOUIS has been knocking on the door for some time now and he went close to notching up a Group 1 win last time out, when flashing home late over the 1800m. He lands himself a very handy galloping weight for this slight step up in trip and from another plum draw, he rates the one to beat. SUN MARSHALL is tasked with overcoming another wide berth, but that shouldn’t dent his chances completely. Two of his last three starts have been in Group 1 company and he has overcome very tough draws to go close on both occasions. He will be settled off the pace once again and with just the 53.5kg on his back, he will be right on top of them at the finish. I’M INCREDIBLE lived up to his namesake last time out, with a very bold showing at Gr1 level. He overcame a wide barrier and showed plenty of guts to stay on strongly in the closing stages. Duric retains the ride from another wide draw and he will be chased up to a handy position once again. On his prior outing, over this course and distance, he went start to finish and he is certainly capable of repeating that effort with just the 54.5kg to shoulder. The top-weighted COUNTOFMONTECRISTO ran on strongly for a respectable 4th last time out and on that run, he should enjoy the step up to the 2000m this time around. He is more than capable on his day and Moore knows him well, having ridden him in his third last start. If bringing his best form, he will be right there at the business end.

Race 10 – 12:00
Selections: 3 – 9 – 1 – 2 – 5 
LIM’S PASSION enjoyed stepping back up to this trip last time out, when making steady headway over the final 2-furlongs to steal the race on the line. That was after two solid sprints, when adopting similar tactics. Drawn wide, Woodworth retains the ride and he will be looking to settle towards the rear of the field in the early stages. With another fast finish expected, he’ll be very tough to beat. LEATHEREAD finds an improved draw after two useful performances at this level, when overcoming draws 10 and 11 respectively. He boxed on well for just over a 3-length beating on both occasion and his chances will be boosted from gate 6 this time. With plenty of scope to improve, Thompson retains the ride and he should go very close to winning. MADE IN RUSSIA steps up to the 1400m after a fair effort over 6-furlongs last time out, when rallying home well in the concluding stages. That was when dropping into this class and he has landed on what appears to be a very competitive rating. Duric takes the mount and if overcoming gate 10, he looks a threat and must be included. HARDCORE is picked on his effort he showed three runs back, when flashing home late over the mile. That was when overcoming a wide draw, proving his ability to turn on his fast finish when required. He jumps from another tricky draw this time, but Rodd retains the ride after that winning effort last time out. With this being his first run back after a 5-month absence, he may just need the run but should be worth including for minor money.