 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 Kranji Mile Day (S1) (Larry Foley)
S1-1 Class 4 Handicap
No depth to this Class 4 Handicap over 1,200m and as such a horse that improves on what was a solid Singapore debut in DIAMOND BEAUTY can win.
The 3YO Australian-bred filly arrived with two wins to her name and had some good support on her Singapore debut and with Michael Rodd staying on you would expect improvement with blinkers added also a factor.
The others with winning chances can all disappoint but MR HOOPER always looks a chance on best form in races like this and gets his chance from barrier 4 with a 7lbs claimer in apprentice Abdul Syahir onboard, while HYDE PARK - who also gets a 7lbs claim - did it tough enough last start to forgive his poor run and he must be considered on form prior from barrier 1 today.
Of the rest, LIM'S MIGHTY is coming off a shocker and is back in trip but has been freshened with a nice trial so can improve, while JUST LANDED and MASCOT can be included in exotics in what is a weak field.
SELECTIONS: 2. DIAMOND BEAUTY, 1. MR HOOPER , 4. HYDE PARK, 3. LIM'S MIGHTY & 9. JUST LANDED
S1-2 Class 4 Handicap
A solid without being spectacular field will head to the start for this Class 4 Handicap and while we have to respect the likes of MURRAYFIELD down in grade, it may be a last start maiden winner in LIM'S PASSION who is hardest to beat.
The 3YO wouldn't have looked out of place in the SIN G1 Singapore Guineas given he has run VITTORIA PERFETTA to the wire over 1,400m and has also placed over the mile but it did take him five starts to break his maiden status. However, that win was convincing which suggests the penny has dropped and he can go on with the job in Class 4 Handicap with Abdul Syahir and his 7lbs claim a factor.
As mentioned, MURRAYFIELD might look out of form on paper but will find this much easier than recent outings and if the 7lbs claimer Rosman Iskandar can make use of barrier 2, he could be hard to hold out.
Another that will appreciate both the company and the mile is AUSPICIOUS DAY who only battled when resuming over 1,200m but will improve for the run with blinkers added for good measure.
Plenty of others that win without surprising including the in-form DON DE LA VEGA who had excuses last start not to be in the winning mix, SPUR ME ON who showed enough last start to think he goes close in this company, while CENTURION and SUN PITTSBURGH are too honest not to be involved somewhere.
SELECTIONS: 6. LIM'S PASSION, 3. DON DE LA VEGA, 1. MURRAYFIELD, 2. AUSPICIOUS DAY & 12. SPUR ME ON
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-2:
Banker – 6. LIM'S PASSION
Selections – 3. DON DE LA VEGA, 1. MURRAYFIELD, 2. AUSPICIOUS DAY & 12. SPUR ME ON
S1-3:
Banker – 1. BIRAZ
Selections – 8. SUPER POWER, 2. PAPARAZZI, 6. HELIOSPHERE & 10. STAR EMPEROR
S1-3 Class 3 Handicap
A very competitive Class 3 Handicap of turf sprint and you can make a serious winning case for at least half the field.
That should mean value for punters and some juicy exotics dividends but as it stands the in-form BIRAZ looks a very good option. The 6YO has made good use of some inside barriers at his last two starts and after drawing perfectly in barrier 3, Abu Bakar Riduan and his 9lbs claim will go forward and look the winner at some stage in the straight.
Top Hong Kong jockey, Karis Teetan, gets his first look at today's Kranji track in this race and his mount, SUPER POWER, looks a wining show. The 4YO is resuming after a very good run of form and given he has won first up previously in this company and is trialing well, Teetan could knock in an early winner on what could be a Group winning day.
Others that are due and must be considered are PAPARAZZI who is back in the Shane Baertschiger stable with Vlad Duric on-board, the smart HELIOSPHERE first up, while BAFFERT and FLAK JACKET are in the mix.
One to keep safe is the STAR EMPEROR who will appreciate an expected good early clip and he will be motoring late at hopefully each-way odds.
SELECTIONS: 1. BIRAZ, 8. SUPER POWER, 2. PAPARAZZI, 6. HELIOSPHERE & 10. STAR EMPEROR
S1-4 Class 4 Handicap
Some very progressive types head to the start in this Class 4 Handicap including EASY DOES IT who did everything but his name suggested when running into trouble first up after a long spell. That run was his first up after showing plenty of promise back in 2017 and the 4YO may have been a good thing beaten after copping a bad check in the straight when making what looked a winning run and can make quick amends.
There are two 3YO's in the race - MY BIG BOSS and SUPER RAY - and while the pair both come off poor runs, they both look promising types who can be followed.
Like EASY DOES IT, MY BIG BOSS was on the wrong end of some interference at his last start so he can be forgiven and can win on form prior, while SUPER RAY may not have appreciated blinkers last start and can revert to good form prior sans headgear.
The race has depth and LIM'S KNIGHT is overdue and gets Vlad Duric so gets his chance, while LOVING YOU and YULONG FAST STEED are in the winning mix.
There is one interesting newcomer in the race - BEAU GESTE - and while his form in good company had started to taper in Australia, his local trial was good enough to have a say here in Class 4 with a 9lbs claimer.
SELECTIONS: 5. EASY DOES IT, 1. BEAU GESTE, 6. LIM'S KNIGHT, 7. MY BIG BOSS & 9. SUPER RAY
S1-5 Lion City Cup
The first of three SIN G1's for the day and while a handful of horses will keep it interesting on best form, LIM'S CRUISER looks extremely hard to beat with Hong Kong champion hoop, Zac Purton, picking up the plumb ride. Yes, he was beaten by the exciting 3YO BOLD THRUSTER when first-up in the SIN G3 Rocket Man Sprint, but given that race was at handicap conditions and the margin was minimal, the 12lbs swing in his favour at the Weight-For-Age conditions suggests we look no further for the winner. And if he is victorious, the 6YO will have secured three straight Lion City Cups - just one behind the greatest modern day Singapore sprinter of them all, ROCKET MAN - which is no mean feat given LIM'S CRUISER also gave the Derby a decent shake in 2017.
As mentioned, BOLD THRUSTER looks the sprinting heir apparent and some punters will be thinking the SIN G3 Singapore Three Year Old Sprint winner is progressive enough to test LIM'S CRUISER at the conditions and the speedster will no doubt look the winner at stages in the straight.
MISTER YEOH - who found this race too tough an ask as a 3YO in 2018 – was in the mix with both LIM'S CRUISER and BOLD THRUSTER first-up in the SIN G3 Rocket Man Sprint but again, he has an extra 14lbs to carry which makes wining a tough ask win.
Of the rest, ZAC KASA has shown he is up to weight-for-age Group Company and has to be respected while CLARTON SUPER and ARAMCO have ratings that suggest they play a part if having a good day.
For exotics it may pay to include NIMBLE who with Karis Teetan onboard and GINGERELLA, while both tested at this level, are in very good form in Singapore and may be odds.
SELECTIONS: 1. LIM'S CRUISER, 9. BOLD THRUSTER, 5. MISTER YEOH, 6. ZAC KASA & 3. CLARTON SUPER
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-5:
Banker – 1. LIM'S CRUISER
Selections – 9. BOLD THRUSTER, 5. MISTER YEOH, 6. ZAC KASA & 3. CLARTON SUPER
S1-6:
Banker – 2. TOP KNIGHT
Selections – 5. ELITE INCREDIBLE, 4. SIAM BLUE VANDA, 8. GOLD STAR & 13. HARDCORE
S1-6 Singapore Guineas
On a day that boasts more SIN G1 races than any other on the domestic calendar and two of those over the mile, you could be forgiven to think the Singapore Guineas will play second fiddle to the Kranji Mile.
But don’t tell that to the elite 3YO’s and their connections, as the Guineas has become one of the ‘must win’ races for local owners given it’s prestige and the fact it’s a launch pad to what should be a serious Group career going forward.
After winning the SIN G2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic, TOP KNIGHT already has a SIN G2 win to his name and given the Australian-bred gelding has two wins over this trip under his belt, the Guineas looks his for the taking with best work expected late.
Of the others that came through the Classic that will keep things interesting, the former Argentinean, ELITE INCREDIBLE, backed up a very good Singapore debut with a big run in the second leg of the series when just missing in a busy go, while SIAM BLUE VANDA is a dead-set swooper who comes off two eye-catching runs and will storming late.
MAKKEM LAD may be tested at the mile but made the running when just being beaten in the Classic and GOLD STAR and NO FUN NO GAIN got bad checks in the same race and should be the improvers with more luck at odds.
A few to watch that come into this race through handicap events include HARDCORE and VITTORIA PERFETTA who both have no issues over the mile, while STREET PARTY is the only horse dropping back in trip, which suggests he could play a part in what should be a very keenly run affair.
SELECTIONS: 2. TOP KNIGHT, 5. ELITE INCREDIBLE, 4. SIAM BLUE VANDA, 8. GOLD STAR & 13. HARDCORE
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 2. TOP KNIGHT, 5. ELITE INCREDIBLE & 4. SIAM BLUE VANDA
S1-7: Multiple – 1. SOUTHERN LEGEND, 4. SINGAPORE SLING & 5. COUNTOFMONTECRISTO
S1-8: Multiple – 5. ELITE POWER, 1. NOVA STRIKE & 6. LIM'S MAGIC
S1-7 Kranji Mile
With so much success over the years in Singapore International races, it is again the two Hong Kong raiders that will attract all the attention both on the track and on the tote. True, both SOUTHERN LEGEND and SINGAPORE SLING are yet to win in 2019, but given the pair were up against the likes of ALMOND EYE and BEAUTY GENERATION at their respective last starts, one of them should get back into the winners circle on Saturday.
Which one is the even-money question? SOUTHERN LEGEND won this race last year - his last victory - and while his preparation in 2019 has included an unplaced crack at the G1 Dubai Turf over 1,800m in March, his run prior when finishing runner up over 2,000m in the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup was excellent. Obviously the red-hot Zac Purton is a bonus given he was on the 6YO when winning this race in 2018 and trainer Caspar Fownes just wins too many times in Singapore not to think he is a factor.
SINGAPORE SLING also ran in the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup where he was luckless when finishing ninth, but stormed into contention for this race when he was runner-up to arguably the world's best miler in BEAUTY GENERATION in the G1 Champions Mile in late April. That form-line being fresh in punters minds suggests he should start favourite in the Kranji Mile but not much separates the pair and it may be who gets the favours in running, wins.
The locals will struggle to have a say at the business end against the Hong Kong pair but two horses that will keep them honest are DEBT COLLECTOR and COUNTOFMONTECRISTO.
DEBT COLLECTOR - a winner at his last four starts - will be the crowd favourite given his barnstorming racing style and, if the race is run to suit back-markers and if Michael Rodd can have him within striking range of the Hong Kong pair at the 300m, he could indeed cause an upset on his home track.
COUNTOFMONTECRISTO just missed behind DEBT COLLECTOR over the mile at their most recent outing and given he had excuses not to be racing handier on that occasion and usually gives a sight, he may try to take it up to the visitors early and he could prove more than a nuisance.
Of the rest, PREDITOR and the ex-Hong Kong Group winner, BLIZZARD, finished just behind DEBT COLLECTOR and COUNTOFMONTECRISTO in the SIN G2 Chairman's Trophy and have to be respected, while the others may struggle at this level.
SELECTIONS: 1. SOUTHERN LEGEND, 4. SINGAPORE SLING, 5. COUNTOFMONTECRISTO, 2. DEBT COLLECTOR & 6. BLIZZARD
S1-8 Class 2 Handicap
A fascinating race to finish what should have been a cracking days racing with most of the chances having question marks on recent form and the two last winners in the race – RICHEBOURG and CHOCOLATS - both stepping up from Class 4.
So the in-form and honest ELITE POWER gets his chance to knock in what would be his first win on the turf in Singapore. The 5YO more than handles the surface - he won in the Great Britain on the grass and has placed at his two turf starts in Singapore - and Glen Boss from barrier 5 in this field suggests he gets every chance.
NOVA STRIKE is an interesting runner given he hasn’t been a mile away in Group Company of late and he may grow the proverbial leg in Class 2 over a suitable trip from barrier 1 with a handy 7lbs claim.
Another interesting runner in LIM'S MAGIC who has been competitive at weight-for-age Group level but the fact he has yet to win beyond Class 4 Company is obviously a concern.
The chances don’t stop there with DINGHU MOUNTAIN who suited in this type race and are due, while CURVATURE returned a roarer last start but wins if right.
Of the two last start Class 4 winners, RICHEBOURG is a dead-set swooper who could have a say if the race is run to suit and will be value.
SELECTIONS: 5. ELITE POWER, 1. NOVA STRIKE, 6. LIM'S MAGIC, 4. DINGHU MOUNTAIN & 10. RICHEBOURG
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