 Expert - Sherie Legrix |
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| As the first lady apprentice since professional racing, Sherie partnered with NIAGARA FALLS to her first career victory on The Ladies’ Purse Day on 14 October 1995, providing one of the memorable moments on the Hong Kong turf. She also scored a double on 23 February 1997. She had been a part of the live commentary cast and guest MC for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, including the 2000 Hong Kong International Races, and has married French riding sensation Eric Legrix, also a familiar face to the local race fans, who switches his tack perennially amongst France, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong. Accompanying her family, Sherie has spent her time in these locales, and is a remarkable turf expert for respective locales. | |
Expert Column for Singapore Airlines International Cup Day (S1) (Sherie Legrix)
S1-1 Novice
In this 1200-metre sprint contested over the Long Course, luck of the barrier draw will indeed be literally a tie-breaker to the winning chance of any starter.
Lightly raced with only a pair of starts this campaign, DIVIDED HOUSE, a troubled winner that overcame interference twice to score last time out, has the services of Joao Moreira while sticking to his winning trip this Sunday, and is looking good to win back-to-back.
With a win and two seconds through five starts at Kranji, GREAT SUN has established his penchant for this precise 1200-metre trip by landing previously a second-place effort. With his tongue tied to keep his focus on his game this time out, his only pre-race minus will be a rather outside post position.
Never acting like a factor while debuting for 1400 metres last time out, LIZAZ is after all more legitimately a 1200-metre prospect that he did scored on previously. Cutting back to his ace trip this time, he has a strong contending chance by breaking from the rail post.
Coming from off the pace to deliver an impressive victory last time out, PO’DE OURO has been rolling on strongly, and still figures plenty of action on the tote-board.
SELECTIONS: 11. DIVIDED HOUSE, 6. GREAT SUN, 8. LIZAZ & 10. PO'DE OURO
S1-2 Kranji Stakes C (1400M)
The game, consistent FRAAJILISTIC is definitely thriving through each and every start. Cutting back to his winning trip of 1400 metres, he will be one of the key contenders here.
Meanwhile, TWICKENHAM has well-proven versatility to adopt any kind of fractions and launch his bid from either up front or off the speed. Should he maintain on his conditions, this individual should not be neglected.
REACH FOR THE SUN, another game individual, has performed well over varying distances, and keeps on improving. While having scored at this trip by leading every step of the way, he was equally impressive last time out as a deep closer from off the pace.
On the other hand, scoring back-to-back through his last two starts at 1200 and 1400 metres, PINT SIZED PRINCE, now at the top of his game, completes my selection.
SELECTIONS: 2. FRAAJILISTIC, 3. TWICKENHAM, 5. REACH FOR THE SUN & 12. PINT SIZED PRINCE
S1-3 Kranji Stakes C (1800M)
Campaigning exclusively at 1400 metres this season, KATE'S KEEPER is clearly improving by each and every race. This specialist has indeed debuted successfully at 1800 metres, and drawn beautifully this Sunday, he has a prohibitive chance to get the job done.
With three wins and a second through four career starts, MIGHTY WARRIOR simply annihilated the field at wraps last time out. Though stretching out to 1800 metres for the first time, he is still mightily moving forward, and is a notable contender.
Fading badly in the final 200 metres to finish a disappointing sixth last out in the 2000-metre Queen Elizabeth II Cup (SIN-G2) at the same venue, such 2000-metre trip might just be too much of an asking on DANGER ZONE. Should he keep his conditioning, a cut-back to 1800 metres will definitely be a plus for him to deliver.
Meanwhile, at tip-top shape, IDEAL GUIDE, a tough customer contender that scored a just-in-time victory despite interference last time out, should also get in the mix.
SELECTIONS: 6. KATE'S KEEPER, 11. MIGHTY WARRIOR, 10. DANGER ZONE & 1. IDEAL GUIDE
S1-4 Open Stakes
Though penalized with the 126-lb high-weight this Sunday, BORN TO FLY precisely carried the same impost to score easily last time out, and still deserves major attention.
Finishing a respectable second against G3 opposition while newly debuting for trainer Bruce Marsh’s yard last time out, BOURBON GOLDMAN will lay it down for an all-out battle this Sunday night.
Meanwhile, IN FACT, a consistent individual that rarely finish up the track, should also get a piece of the placings.
On the other hand, though 1600 metres is never an ideal trip for EL MILAGRO, he has nevertheless favourable ratings and recent form to bank on, and should complete the bottom part of my selections.
SELECTIONS: 1. BORN TO FLY, 9. BOURBON GOLDMAN, 7. IN FACT & 3. EL MILAGRO
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (16 unit bets):
S1-4: Multiple – 1. BORN TO FLY, 9. BOURBON GOLDMAN, 7. IN FACT & 3. EL MILAGRO
S1-5: Multiple – 3. FAALTLESS, 8. HYPERNOVA, 5. GOLDEN SAND STEED & 9. FLAK JACKET
S1-5 Kranji Stakes A
Coming off an open-class victory at 1200 metres two starts back, FAALTLESS, though regressed with a sixth-place blunder last time out in the Lion City Cup (SIN-G1), is still in top form. Other than an outside post position, he is still one of the major contenders.
With yet another fourth-place effort at 1200 metres last time out, HYPERNOVA, catapulting from the initial rating of 50 to now 87, and somewhat out-conditioned so to speak, has still every fighting chance against this group.
Checking home third-best in the Kranji Sprint (SIN-G3) two starts back, GOLDEN SAND STEED, a horse for this course that loves the 1200-metre trip, should neither be overlooked.
Meanwhile, FLAK JACKET, a compact speedball with nevertheless a lively turn of foot, is another one that simply flies at 1200 metres, with already two wins and a second over the same distance, and should also be in the mix.
SELECTIONS: 3. FAALTLESS, 8. HYPERNOVA, 5. GOLDEN SAND STEED & 9. FLAK JACKET
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-5: Multiple – 3. FAALTLESS, 8. HYPERNOVA & 5. GOLDEN SAND STEED
S1-6: Multiple – 2. AEROVELOCITY, 3. RICH TAPESTRY & 5. ZAC SPIRIT
S1-7: Multiple – 1. MILITARY ATTACK, 2. DAN EXCEL & 7. STEPITUP
S1-6 KrisFlyer International Sprint
With a 9-2-1 record through twelve attempts at 1200 metres, Hong Kong top gun AEROVELOCITY, a game, consistent dual G1 hero of the Hong Kong Sprint and the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, gets usual pilot Zac Purton aboard to call the shots, and will break beautifully from an inside post position. He is invariably my top choice.
Meanwhile, after a disappointing episode in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, the G1 Santa Anita Sprint hero RICH TAPESTRY promptly regained his good old form in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, and will be the biggest threat.
For the home side, main hope ZAC SPIRIT has a 6-2-4 record from twelve starts at the same distance. Clearly a 1200-metre specialist that gains on home track advantage, he will not simply lay a red carpet out there for the Hong Kong invaders.
On the other hand, EMPEROR MAX, as consistent if not more at 1200 metres on turf, who has yet to miss the board with a 3-5-1 record through nine attempts, should also be firing fast for Singapore.
SELECTIONS: 2. AEROVELOCITY, 3. RICH TAPESTRY, 5. ZAC SPIRIT & 6. EMPEROR MAX
S1-7 Singapore Airlines International Cup
MILITARY ATTACK, the 2013 champion who also finished third last year for Hong Kong, definitely loves Kranji. Regaining weight since settling in, according to reports, he has also been an inviting sight in the mornings, and is clearly looking forward to triumph again.
DAN EXCEL, the defending champion stepping up from his second-place effort in 2013, has yet to reach the winner’s circle again since his victory last year at this same venue. Nevertheless, closing fast to finish third – just one and a half length behind the gargantuan ABLE FRIEND - last time out in the G1 Champions Mile, he is creeping up in form, and has every chance to defend his title.
Meanwhile, local hopeful STEPITUP, coming off big-time with a score in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (SIN-G2) over the same distance at Kranji, is riding on his top form with a light three-week rest, and will give the dynamic duo from Hong Kong a race to the finish.
On the other hand, French representative FREE PORT LUX, a genuine deep router that has a win and two seconds from six starts at 2000 metres, is definitely sitting on a big G1 performance.
SELECTIONS: 1. MILITARY ATTACK, 2. DAN EXCEL, 7. STEPITUP & 9. FREE PORT LUX
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