 Singapore Expert - Larry Foley |
|
|---|---|
| Larry Foley has been involved in the Singapore racing industry for 16 years as both as a racing administrator and award winning journalist. Larry is also a regular member of the Singapore Turf Club’s Broadcasting team and has also featured on Tellytrack in South Africa. His form comments on Singapore racing can be found in many countries and in The New Paper, Singapore’s premier racing newspaper. | |
Expert Column for EW Barker Trophy Day (S1) (Larry Foley)
S1-1 Restricted Maiden
Plenty of solid raced form in this Restricted Maiden, which should give punters a good guide in finding the winner.
SIR ISSAC has done little wrong at his four career starts and while he still has a bit to learn about this racing caper, he doesn’t have to improve much to win this with Michael Rodd to jump from gate 5.
Likewise, ONE KINABALU has good race form to his name including placing third at his most recent outing and he too looks a horse that will benefit from race experience and will win sooner than later.
DAYFLIRT took some good trial form into his race debut on 4th November and showed more than enough with support on that occasion to win this while SUPER GENIUS also made a good enough debut back in October to follow.
Of the debutantes, ACE KING has look more than useful at his official trials and should play a big part in this race with support likely, while SIAM GEMSTONE and TANNHAUSER both have won trials and should debut well with the market a terrific guide.
Joao Moreira jumps on PERFECT COMMANDO who had support and excuses on debut, so improvement is likely.
SELECTIONS: 1. SIR ISSAC, 2. ONE KINABALU, 3. ACE KING, 4. DAYFLIRT & 13. SUPER GENIUS
S1-2 Class 4 Handicap
It’s fair to say that a two-time winner from New Zealand-imported LOUEY VELOCE has been very disappointing not to have won in Singapore from 15 starts but gets his chance in this Class 4 field. The six-year-old certainly tries his hardest and his three runs this campaign have been good enough to think he can win with Joao Moreira likely to have him on the pace throughout from gate 2.
But he will have to be at his best to beat LIM’S SINCERE who is a track and distance specialist. The SNIPPETSON-sired gelding usually picks up a decent cheque over 1,000m and his three career wins have all been over this trip and track. He also gets a handy 6lbs claim, which could count for plenty at the business end.
A newcomer from Australia-imported PHIDIAS is also certainly worth some thought on the back of a solid local trial and a market watch is in order for the one-time winner from down-under.
The maiden, PRECHAGORDA, will win a race sooner than later but obviously her lack of winning form is a concern although she does get the services of Karis Teetan.
There are question marks over most others in the race with BLUE DIAMOND a very unreliable conveyance who could show up on best form while LUCKY GIANT has a poor polytrack record so has to be taken on trust.
SELECTIONS: 9. LOUEY VELOCE, 1. LIM’S SINCERE, 5. PHIDIAS, 8. PRECHAGORDA & 3. BLUE DIAMOND
S1-3 Novice
At the Novice race conditions, it always pays to have a look for any promising youngsters who get an excellent pull in the weights.
And given the top-rated horse in this race, SKYWALK, gets just 117lbs as a three-year-old, he is the obvious pick. His form as a two-year-old was excellent - he placed second in the SG3 Juvenile Championship - but more importantly his latest run in Graduation company was very good when just missing behind the smart QUEEN ROULETTE. He will race handy for Corey Brown from gate 7 and looks one of the better bets on Friday’s card.
As is often the case in Novice events, there is plenty of recent winning form to go on with OCEAN DE LAGO, REDMAYNE and SMART MASTER, all victorious at their respective last starts.
Of that trio, the Laurie Laxon-trained REDMAYNE looks the most progressive but, as a four-year-old will have to give SKYWALK some 11lbs at the weight ratio, which makes his job tough.
However, Laxon also has a three-year-old in the race in DICAPRIO and it may pay to put a line through his last start when he returned not striding. His form prior would have him having a big say in this with 117lbs from gate 1 as a bonus.
A market watch is in order for the two ex-Australian horses making their Singapore debuts in ARR FLAIR and NOVA MISSILE (both have trialled well locally), while KNIGHT CHEN BAY and WAR CITI are honest enough to include in exotics.
SELECTIONS: 10. SKYWALK, 12. DICAPRIO, 3. REDMAYNE, 5. KNIGHT CHEN BAY & 8. WAR CITI
DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-3: Banker – 10. SKYWALK
Selections – 12. DICAPRIO, 3. REDMAYNE, 5. KNIGHT CHEN BAY & 8. WAR CITI
S1-4: Banker – 3. KIRKS RYKER
Selections – 12. MURRAYFIELD, 1. INFANTRY, 2. HERMANO MENOR & 9. CASING ROYAL
S1-4 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy
Most of this field would not look out of place in the EW Barker Trophy and we can expect a very busy finish and a competitive betting affair.
KIRKS RYKER has drawn wide but will find this a lot easier than some of the races he has been competing in of late and given he had excuses before running on well in the SG3 Saas Fee Stakes, he can win this.
MURRAYFIELD is a very progressive four-year-old who will very much appreciate a lightweight. The PINS-sired gelding has won three races from 11 career starts – two over 1,400m – and gets the services of Karis Teetan who should get the favours from gate 7.
INFANTRY is an interesting runner and may be value. The TAVISTOCK-sired four-year-old last raced in Korea where he was distanced on the soft sand and putting a line through that run, his recent trials have been good enough to think he can bounce back in a race and track that suits.
HERMANO MENOR broke a long drought by winning last start but will have admirers of making it back-to-back wins with Joao Moreira replacing an apprentice hoop.
CASING ROYAL is another progressive four-year-old who won over the mile on the polytrack in this company at his last start and given he is probably better suited over this trip on the turf, he wins without surprising.
You can make a case for most others with special mention to ODE TO JOY, SHANGHAI BUND, BIG BROTHER and SUPERNOVA, who are all a must for any exotic players.
SELECTIONS: 3. KIRKS RYKER, 12. MURRAYFIELD, 1. INFANTRY, 2. HERMANO MENOR & 9. CASING ROYAL
S1-5 Class 4 Handicap
An extremely tough race for punters with many winning hopes and the winner may be the one who gets a few favours in running.
MURDOCH certainly deserves some luck after being held up last start in a very similar affair to this. The four-year-old had been in solid form before stepping up to the 1,800m for the first time and may have been a good thing beaten at nice odds given he found traffic on more than one occasion in the straight.
REDDOT RISING was also very unlucky not to win last start and connections thought the interference he received from the winner at the 250m mark was enough to lodge a protest. While unsuccessful in the stewards room, the run was good enough to win this race with Joao Moreira onboard and the step up to 1,800m looking a good move.
You can make a good winning case for most others in this field but PRECIOUS GEM and HIGHER SOUL are both in form and suited this class and distance and the pair will figure at the business end.
Likewise, LIM’S ELUSIVE is in very good form and should find the step up to 1,800m to his liking while MARTIN – who incidentally raced in the SG1 Singapore Gold Cup this time last year – should win one soon in this company with gate 1 and Manoel Nunes a good combination.
Value seekers may want to keep HUMDINGER safe, as he will be running on at long odds late.
SELECTIONS: 2. REDDOT RISING, 3. MURDOCH, 14. HUMDINGER, 4. LIM’S ELUSIVE & 6. PRECIOUS GEM
The SG2 EW Barker Trophy is always a great race and at the handicap conditions, compliments Sunday’s Singapore Gold Cup perfectly.
Five last start winners suggest there are plenty of bang-in-form horses in the field with SPANISH BAY the best of those after a well-deserved win in the SG3 Saas Fee Stakes, also over 1,400m. That form will hold up in this race and given he meets the likes of ALIBI, NOVA STRIKE and MAGNUM no worse off at the weights, he gets his chance for another Group win.
In saying that, he just held off ALIBI both on the track and in the stewards room in the SG3 Saas Fee Stakes and the progressive four-year-old gets Joao Moreira, which could be enough to make up for that slender loss.
MAGNUM finished fourth in the SG3 Saas Fee Stakes and like ALIBI, is a very progressive four-year-old who is more than up to winning in an open Group company and rates a very good lightweight hope in this.
NOVA STRIKE won in slightly easier company last start after placing third in the SG3 Saas Fee Stakes but is definitely in the mix while STORM TROOPS, LIM’S CRUISER, RAISE NO DOUBT and JAY EFF EXPRESS will play a part in exotic combinations.
SELECTIONS: 12. ALIBI, 4. SPANISH BAY, 3. NOVA STRIKE, 13. MAGNUM & 16. LIM’S CRUISER
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 12. ALIBI, 4. SPANISH BAY & 3. NOVA STRIKE
S1-7: Multiple – 5. SHADOW OF WAR, 6. DREAM COMES TRUE & 9. HIKO YUNIKON
S1-8: Multiple – 5. MYSTIC MASTER, 4. LIGHTNING FAST & 3. ELITE STAR
S1-7 Class 4 Handicap
This doesn’t look a particularly strong Class 4 field and as such a three-year-old SHADOW OF WAR gets a chance to make it two wins from two career starts. Although drawn wide for this, the SEBRING-sired gelding was heavily supported on the back of some very nice trials at his race debut and while he looked to have to work hard throughout, his win good enough to think he improves for the run and this race does look his for the taking.
Obviously he faces some handy Class 4 polytrack sprinters but none jump off the page to beat him although HIKO YUNIKON just missed in a similar affair last start and is always a solid each-way betting option in races like this.
RED DAWN is also in good form and had support last start over this trip and track when finishing fourth, but the five-year-old is yet to win on the polytrack which suggests he may be a better option elsewhere.
Of the rest, DREAM COMES TRUE is another three-year-old who looks to have ability but the New Zealand-bred gelding may need a tad further to show his best while STOCK BROKER is always competitive and will come under notice with Joao Moreira to ride on a lightweight.
Value seekers may want to include HAPPY HAPPY who resumes after spells in what should be a suitable race.
SELECTIONS: 5. SHADOW OF WAR, 6. DREAM COMES TRUE, 9. HIKO YUNIKON, 1. RED DAWN & 11. STOCK BROKER
S1-8 Benchmark 67
MYSTIC MASTER didn’t need the “Joao factor” to be the horse punters would like to be on in this polytrack sprint as the three-year-old colt is a horse to follow through the grades. Obviously breaking his maiden status at Group level – albeit in two-year-old company – had him earmarked as a better than average juvenile and he duly saluted at his first start as a three-year-old in Class 4. That was on the polytrack and while being a tad disappointing with heavy support in Graduation company on the turf at his last start, he did do it tough and his effort to place good enough to win this.
Like most races on the Singapore Gold Cup weekend, this field has depth and LIGHTNING FAST also looks well placed to continue his run of good form. The lightly raced four-year-old has won two of his last three starts and his most recent win as even money favourite suggests the step up to this company is not an issue and he looks the danger.
Three other last start winners in ELITE STAR, RAINBOW ROYAL and FINE CHOICE all come under serious consideration while HIMALAYA DRAGON and POWER LIN will both find this company to their liking.
SELECTIONS: 5. MYSTIC MASTER, 4. LIGHTNING FAST, 3. ELITE STAR, 2. POWER LIN & 8. FINE CHOICE
Disclaimer:
The above content and information are the personal views and/or opinions of each individual writer and do not represent the views of The Hong Kong Jockey Club and/or its subsidiaries (together, the "HKJC"). The content and information are provided by the writers solely for entertainment purpose only, and should not be construed as a suggestion for anyone to place any bet nor should they be taken and/or relied upon as advice of any kind. The above content and information have not been verified, confirmed and/or endorsed by HKJC and HKJC shall not be liable to any person for any loss or damage suffered by such person as a result of any use or reliance of the above content or information.
HKJC shall not be required to give and does not give any warranty, whether express or implied, arising out of or in connection with the content or information. The Club disclaims any responsibility and accepts no liability (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for any direct or indirect loss of damage arising from any inaccuracies, omission or typographical errors that may be contained therein. The Club also does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or fitness for purpose of any such information.
