 Expert - Larry Foley |
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| 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 Singapore Gold Cup Day (S2) (Larry Foley)
S2-1 Class 3 Handicap
Plenty of winning hopes in what looks a Class 3 turf sprint with depth and it may pay to keep an eye on some value on the day.
CHOCANTE had support last start in a similar affair to this and had enough excuses in running to think he may have gone very close to winning with more luck in running. Matthew Poon from Hong Kong goes on and from the good alley the 4YO should get every chance to knock in his third career win.
LIM'S KNIGHT also had excuses at his last start and his effort to run on strongly late through traffic when placing behind the smart LIM'S LIGHTNING suggests he has more to offer at an each-way price.
One that may not be value but may be hard to beat is MADE IN RUSSIA who won well at his Singapore debut and no reason to think he doesn't give this a shake on a repeat of that effort with Craig Grylls to ride from barrier 7.
UNCONQUERED is another to watch on the back of good recent form and while not often seen on the turf, he handles the surface and gets the services of the in-form Hong Kong based hoop, Karis Teetan.
Of the others that can win, COUNTRY BOSS had excuses last start (bad jump) and he has to be respected on winning form prior, SAFEER was in the mix with some smart types last start and can figure while SACRED MAGIC is up in class but is bang-in-form.
SELECTIONS: 10. CHOCANTE, 12. LIM'S KNIGHT, 1. MADE IN RUSSIA, 5. UNCONQUERED & 6. COUNTRY BOSS
S2-2 Kranji Stakes C
Not quite the SGD $1.35 million SIN G1 Singapore Gold Cup but an SGD $80,000 consolation prize for those stayers who almost made the cut but not quite.
LIONROCKSPIRIT is one that may have made the Cup given another run or two in Singapore as the Irish-bred gelding had won over 2,000m and beyond three times in the UK before being transferred to Hong Kong where he showed nothing at two starts. A sighter with best work late over 1,400m at his Singapore debut suggested he had more to offer before leading and winning well at start two over 1,800m. His rating of 74 didn't get him a start in the Cup but a bold run in this company over 2,000m is expected.
But this race has plenty of depth and some very tough stayers including DICTON at the head of the ratings suggest this is a tougher assignment. Michael Rodd jumps on - his most recent winning jockey - and given his run in the SIN G3 El Dorado Classic two runs back you would think DICTON is right in the mix late.
EXCELLENCY also comes through the SIN G3 El Dorado Classic and given his form is better than it reads, he looks a good value option while MOLINEUX broke his maiden status in fine style in Class 4 last start and is worth another looking up in class.
Another up in class is LIM'S RIPPLE who won very well in Class 4 last start over this trip and that effort suggests he is more than up to winning a race like this.
SOLO SUN and MATSURIBAYASHI just two more that are in the winning mix in what should be a wide-open affair.
SELECTIONS: 1. DICTON, 8. LIM'S RIPPLE, 3. LIONROCKSPIRIT, 9. MOLINEUX & 2. EXCELLENCY
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-2:
Banker – 1. DICTON
Selections – 8. LIM'S RIPPLE, 3. LIONROCKSPIRIT, 9. MOLINEUX & 2. EXCELLENCY
S2-3:
Banker – 4. MIGHTY KENNY
Selections – 11. WHAT'S NEW, 6. HERMANO MENOR, 3. MAKANANI & 10. MURRAYFIELD
S2-3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy
An interesting race for form lines given the four emergencies from the SIN G1 Singapore Gold Cup all switched their focus to this Kranji Stakes B over the mile.
Obviously those prepared for the Cup - MIGHTY KENNY, MAKANANI, SONG TO THE MOON and CHAIRMAN - should have plenty in hand at the finish with perhaps MIGHTY KENNY and MAKANANI better suited dropping back in trip.
In fact the two dead-heated over 1,800m just over 13 months back suggesting literally 'nothing separates the pair' and both have been in very honest form since with MIGHTY KENNY well and truly due on the back of some close finishes in good company of late.
The danger to this pair may be the lowest rated horse in the race, WHAT'S NEW. The 4YO had a crack at the SIN G1 Singapore Guineas as a 3YO and given he won well in Class 3 over the mile at his most recent start, he could be hard to hold out late and looks a horse to follow.
HERMANO MENOR also looks one of the leading hopes on the back of some very consistent form and while drawn awkwardly in barrier 10, he gets William Pike and can go forward and give a sight.
Of the rest, MURRAYFIELD won at long odds last start but won well enough to keep safe in this field go and go as wide as the budget permits in exotics as the field has depth.
SELECTIONS: 4. MIGHTY KENNY, 11. WHAT'S NEW, 6. HERMANO MENOR, 3. MAKANANI & 10. MURRAYFIELD
S2-4 Class 4 Handicap
Another wide open affair and you could make a winning case for at least ten of the 14 starters suggesting there will be value on offer.
Five of those with winning hopes come into this on the back of last start wins - three breaking their respective maiden status - with perhaps BEBOP the one to follow from that group given he won well in this company and can go on with the job.
NEW SENSATION didn't go close to winning last start but while disappointing the support, the 5YO did have excuses (respiratory) and happy to give another chance with Matthew Poon to ride as this race does looks ideal.
VERIZON has yet to win at seven starts in Singapore but has been unlucky on occasions and is certainly due so gets his chance in this wide-open field.
ALAMAK also had excuses last start (slow to begin) and his effort late suggests he has more to offer from barrier 5 with Ryan Curatolo up.
Of the rest, SUN PITTSBURGH drops back in trip but his most recent win was over the mile, MILLENNIUM'S RULE is always an each-way show, while CRACKING TOTTIE over-raced last start and is worth another chance if he is more tractable in running. LIM'S PRIDE, KATE'S KEEPER, EVIL SPEEDO and SHAHBAA the other last start winners to keep safe.
SELECTIONS: 1. NEW SENSATION, 4. VERIZON, 6. ALAMAK, 2. SUN PITTSBURGH & 8. BEBOP
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S2-4:
Banker – 1. NEW SENSATION
Selections – 4. VERIZON, 6. ALAMAK, 2. SUN PITTSBURGH & 8. BEBOP
S2-5:
Banker – 12. KING LOUIS
Selections – 10. CLAUDIA'S BEAUTY, 15. LIM'S MAGIC, 13. SKY ROCKET & 11. MR CLINT
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S2-4: Multiple – 1. NEW SENSATION, 4. VERIZON & 6. ALAMAK
S2-5: Multiple – 12. KING LOUIS, 10. CLAUDIA'S BEAUTY & 15. LIM'S MAGIC
S2-6: Multiple – 9. CALCULATION, 4. SIAM BLUE VANDA & 3. CAPTAIN JAMIE
S2-5 Singapore Gold Cup
The SIN G1 Singapore Gold Cup is the most iconic race on the Singapore racing calendar and just like the G1 Melbourne Cup run in the same week, a handicap where everyone seems to have a chance.
A quick glance at the history books tells us the horses weighted closer to 110lbs win this race more often than not although that trend was bucked last year when GILT COMPLEX won with 125lbs.
And the race distance has since been reduced from 2,200m to 2,000m which may favour a horse like CIRCUIT LAND who is in honest form and may have found the extra 200m an impossible task with the top weight.
But as it stands a horse bang in form and weighted to win in KING LOUIS is the one to beat. The 4YO won the SIN G3 El Dorado Classic to book his ticket to the Gold Cup and topped of his near perfect preparation with a terrific win over 1,800m in Class 2 company.
SKY ROCKET followed him home on that occasion and while the 5YO has yet to win beyond the mile, that run looked good enough for this with just 110lbs. SKY ROCKET is just one of four Stephen Gray runners and while he goes close on what he showed last start, LIM'S MAGIC may be the pick of his yard after having excuses in the SIN G1 Raffles Cup with Karis Teetan to ride sans blinkers.
Of the rest that can win at the weights, CLAUDIA'S BEAUTY ran a cracking race at weight-for-age level over 1,800m in the SIN G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and given she drops 12lbs at the handicap conditions, she goes close while MR CLINT also comes through the same race and he will very much appreciate a 14lbs weight relief from that race.
SELECTIONS:12. KING LOUIS, 10. CLAUDIA'S BEAUTY, 15. LIM'S MAGIC, 13. SKY ROCKET & 11. MR CLINT
S2-6 Class 3 Handicap
The action continues to the very last race on Singapore Gold Cup Day with two unbeaten 3YO's in SIAM BLUE VANDA and CALCULATION going head-to-head. Both look like going through the grades quickly and punters will find too hard to separate the pair on the day, which should make for some furious betting.
CALCULATION was sent of as the $1.20 favourite at his second start and while this is a step up in class, he won comfortably enough to think he is up to the task with Craig Williams getting the plumb ride.
Glen Boss stays on SIAM BLUE VANDA and the three-time winning G1 Melbourne Cup jockey would be confident the New Zealand-bred gelding can make it four straight given his effort from the rear to win last start in this company.
It's by no means a two-horse race with CAPTAIN JAMIE a big show on best form. The 4YO was disappointing last start over mile on polytrack, however, blinkers go on and his recent trial with head-gear was impressive enough to think he keeps the two 3YO's on their toes.
The chances don't stop there with two honest types in ELITE POWER and COUSTEAU - coincidentally both having their first starts on the turf in Singapore - in the mix at value while LIM'S DASHING ran on well to win in easier company last start and will be more than competitive.
SELECTIONS: 9. CALCULATION, 4. SIAM BLUE VANDA, 3. CAPTAIN JAMIE, 1. ELITE POWER & 12. COUSTEAU
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