 Expert - Larry Foley | |
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| Larry Foley has been involved in the Singapore racing industry for 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 (S1) (Larry Foley)
S1-1 Class 4 Handicap
Some progressive types will head to the start of this Class 4 mile and none more so than SIAM ROYAL ORCHID who looks due to knock in his second career win at his seventh career start. The SHAMUS AWARD 4YO showed enough at his first campaign to have a crack at the SIN G1 Singapore Guineas in May and while outclassed in top 3YO company, his two runs this campaign have been very good and he should be hard to hold out with Louis-Philippe Beuzelin on-board.
OCEAN CROSSING is another progressive 4YO that looks due to win a race like this after having excuses not to finish closer from a wide drawn over the mile last start. The Australian-bred has drawn awkwardly again (barrier 10) but Vlad Duric is in fine form and he will be hard to hold out under hard riding late.
SUN FORMATION - another lightly raced Australian-bred 4YO - is yet to run a bad race at five career starts and given he had traffic excuses at a crucial stage in a similar affair last start, he should play a part with more luck in running from barrier 1.
Of the others that can win without surprising, LIM'S RAY got back from a wide drawn over 1,400m last start and was not fully tested through traffic in the straight, so he has plenty more to offer, while CENTURION also looked to have plenty in hand at his most recent outing and will add value to exotics.
SPIRIT OF BIG BANG is also worth a market watch but this field is much stronger than the weak maiden field he faced last start, SUPER TYCOON and SILENT PRINCE both placed in this company last start and should be competitive, while RUNMINDERBINDERRUN and ARCHIE are not impossible down in the weights.
SELECTIONS: 3. SIAM ROYAL ORCHID, 4. OCEAN CROSSING, 6. SUN FORMATION, 8. LIM'S RAY & 5. CENTURION
S1-2 Class 3 Handicap
A solid without being a spectacular Class 3 field will head to the 1,200m start and the lack of depth should favour EXCELLING, who could very well make every post a winner. The MANHATTAN RAIN 5YO has been very consistent in this company since winning in Class 4 at his Singapore debut back in July this year and only found a good one in LIM’S CRAFT better at his most recent outing this trip and track. From barrier 4 you would imagine the intention from the EXCELLING camp will be to lead or race very much on the pace and Vlad Duric can again show why he is the dominant jockey in Singapore.
As mentioned, nothing jumps off the page to beat him on recent form, however, an important gear change - blinkers added - on WASSERGEIST could see him bring his best to the races. A recent good trial by the FASTNET ROCK 5YO suggests the added head-gear will see improvement on two poor runs since winning three starts back in a similar affair to this, with the market a very good guide on the day.
It will also pay to keep GOLD STAR safe as the 4YO has been running on very well over 1,400m at his last three starts and he could easily finish over the top of them today if the race is run to suit back-markers.
Others to consider in the winning mix include DINGHU MOUNTAIN who had traffic excuses before running on well late last start and gets blinkers added, while STREET CRY SUCCESS has been disappointing at his two starts with good support in Singapore but he will win races like this on his best Australian form.
SELECTIONS: 7. EXCELLING, 4. WASSERGEIST, 12. GOLD STAR, 3. DINGHU MOUNTAIN & 6. STREET CRY SUCCESS
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-2:
Banker – 7. EXCELLING
Selections – 4. WASSERGEIST, 12. GOLD STAR, 3. DINGHU MOUNTAIN & 6. STREET CRY SUCCESS
S1-3:
Banker – 1. DICTON
Selections – 6. IRVING LIPSCHITZ, 10. MR DUJARDIN, 11. LARRY & 2. YULONG EDITION
S1-3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy
A couple of these runners in DICTON and YULONG EDITION are the third and fourth emergencies in the SIN G1 Singapore Gold Cup but all things being equal, they should start in this ‘consolation’ staying affair and both have a big say in the finish.
YULONG EDITION probably leads from barrier 3 and while he battled on late over 1,800m at his last start, he gets a 9lbs claim and his form prior to arrival suggests the trip is no issue.
DICTON is in good enough form to win a race like this but the fact he hasn’t won for over a year is an obvious concern. He does, however, get blinkers added to his gear and may not get a better chance than this company on a big day to get back in the winners circle.
Another horse that is yet to win in 2019 is MR DUJARDIN but like DICTON, he always looks a winning show over this trip and an in-form William Pike may make the difference.
Plenty of others that can win with WIND TRAIL, MIDDLE KINGDOM and LARRY finishing one-two-and-three respectively in Class 4 Handicap over this trip last start (with MR DUJARDIN in fourth) and they should all play a big part in what could be a very busy and entertaining finish.
Include KING'S SPEECH, MAJESTIC EMPRESS and THE NUTTER in exotics and keep BUDDY BUDDY safe, as he could be the big improver at odds over what should be a very suitable trip.
SELECTIONS: 1. DICTON, 6. IRVING LIPSCHITZ, 10. MR DUJARDIN, 11. LARRY & 2. YULONG EDITION
S1-4 Class 4 Handicap
While we can make a case for a few that improve at value and can figure in a race that suits, BUSHIDO and SIAM MP both placed last start in a similar affair to this and look the two to concentrate on. The pair both hail from the Michael Clements yard and while not much separates them on paper, BUSHIDO just missed to ADIPSON last start and with Alysha Collett retaining the ride with blinkers removed, should get the favours from barrier 1 and will be hard to hold out late.
SIAM MP - who looked the winner at stages when finishing on the heels of BUSHIDO last start - is likely to make the running again from barrier 4 with Louis-Philippe Beuzelin to ride and will certainly give the stablemate something to chase down.
There are some value options elsewhere that will keep things very interesting and BLITZ POWER has certainly been doing enough late in recent outings over 1,400m to think the mile suits - as will a senior rider in J P Van Der Merwe - and the 5YO mare may finish over the top with blinkers downgraded to winkers.
BEAR WITNESS - who went forward last start and almost got the chocolates over 1,400m - also looks due with a more quiet ride expected stepping up to the mile, while CHAMPAGNE FINALE had excuses when doing it tough from a wide drawn last start and he will enjoy a fairer alley (barrier 5) with a very forward run expected under Ben Thompson.
Keep the Class dropper in LUCKY LINCOLN safe as he improves back in his recent winning company, while SUN GENERAL will be running on late at value.
SELECTIONS: 2. BUSHIDO, 3. SIAM MP, 9. BLITZ POWER, 11. BEAR WITNESS & 12. CHAMPAGNE FINALE
S1-5 Saas Fee Stakes
The first of the Group races for the current crop of 3YOs and while most look handy types with blue-skies ahead for lucky connections, INFERNO looks a class above and is the horse to beat. An Australian-bred by HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR, INFERNO was a rare Clifford Brown 2YO runner but the trainer showed he can handle the juveniles when the gelding won on debut before adding the SIN G2 Golden Horseshoe to his CV at start two. A short spell obviously did him no harm whatsoever, as his win in Class 4 Handicap was dominant as expected and the Saas Fee Stakes looks his for the taking with only 126lbs at the race conditions.
But it’s never that easy and INFERNO will have to be on his game with two Ricardo Le Grange runners in FIELD MARSHAL and ROCKET STAR both in form and both getting blinkers added for the first time.
The gear change is significant given FIELD MARSHAL has done little wrong winning at his first three starts and ROCKET STAR is yet to run a bad race and more importantly, carries 119lbs on the back of an eye-catching trial.
Others that keep the favourite honest include BIG HEARTED who has been gallant when running on well late behind INFERNO at his last two starts, while BLUESTONE ran into a good one of the polytrack last start but can be considered on his good win in Novice on the turf at his start prior.
SELECTIONS: 1. INFERNO, 7. ROCKET STAR, 5. BIG HEARTED, 4. BLUESTONE & 2. FIELD MARSHAL
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-5:
Banker– 1. INFERNO
Selections – 7. ROCKET STAR, 5. BIG HEARTED, 4. BLUESTONE & 2. FIELD MARSHAL
S1-6:
Banker – 12. SUPER POWER
Selections – 10. UNCONQUERED, 5. BEAU GESTE, 1. HELIOSPHERE & 9. FEDERATION
S1-6 Class 3 Handicap
An extremely open Class 3 turf sprint and with three of the fancies resuming, a tricky one for punters. The three horses that could have a say first-up are HELIOSPHERE, PASSPORT TO ROME and FEDERATION and it will be interesting to see which of the trio comes in for tote support.
HELIOSPHERE has first-up form and should run well after a solid Derby campaign, while PASSPORT TO ROME is always a show in races like this.
The most progressive of the trio resuming is FEDERATION and the now 4YO showed at his two most recent runs that he is more than up to winning in Class 3 Handicap and is a horse to follow.
But the race has depth and the winner may come from down in the weights with SUPER POWER well placed with 117lbs and Barend Vorster to ride. The 5YO has had some horror gates to contend with of late and barrier 8 may be just what he needs to get back into the winners circle with a forward run expected at value.
UNCONQUERED may also run a race at odds with just 120lbs to carry on the back of some solid form and more importantly gets a good gate and blinkers added.
Keep BEAU GESTE - another value option – safe as he also gets blinkers added and looked to have some in hand last start and CHARGER is in very good form and has to be a solid each-way show.
SELECTIONS: 12. SUPER POWER, 10. UNCONQUERED, 5. BEAU GESTE, 1. HELIOSPHERE & 9. FEDERATION
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 12. SUPER POWER, 10. UNCONQUERED & 5. BEAU GESTE
S1-7: Multiple – 8. MR CLINT, 5. KING LOUIS & 4. I'M INCREDIBLE
S1-8: Multiple – 3. LIM'S PASSION, 2. HARDCORE & 1. MADE IN RUSSIA
S1-7 Singapore Gold Cup
The race that stops the republic - the SIN G1 Singapore Gold Cup - is upon us and this more than any other year, there looks a very even spread of weights and many winning chances.
Usually the top-weight is facing an uphill task but COUNTOFMONTECRISTO is the most consistent weight-for-age performer in the field and while he is a query at the trip, his effort in the SIN G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 1,800m was very good given he was the only horse to make up ground in a race that suited the on-pace runners and 126lbs looks a fair weight.
But he was still some two-lengths off the first two over the line in the QEII Cup and I'M INCREDIBLE and KING LOUIS - who carry 120lbs and 119lbs respectively at the handicap conditions - are the two horses that pick themselves on form and it won’t surprise anyone if they fight out this finish as well. Obviously nothing separates the two on recent form, but KING LOUIS gets his chance to knock in a well-deserved win with the 1lb pull in the weights and the step up to 2,000m in his favour.
MR CLINT is the danger. The 5YO New Zealand-bred gelding - who placed in this race last year - pulled up lame when finishing down the track as favourite in the QEII Cup and if you are happy to forgive that run, he will be strong late in this with just 117lbs and recent G1 Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Craig Williams, to ride.
Of the others that could win with any luck in running, MAKANANI won the SIN G1 Raffles Cup two starts back at weight-for-age conditions, wasn’t a mile away in the QEII Cup and is trained by the Gold Cup King in Hideyuki Takaoka, while SUN MARSHAL will go forward and the 2019 Derby winner will see out the trip.
STAR EMPEROR one more to keep safe as he never had a fair crack given the tempo in the QEII Cup and will be running on strongly on best form.
SELECTIONS: 8. MR CLINT, 5. KING LOUIS, 4. I'M INCREDIBLE, 1. COUNTOFMONTECRISTO & 6. MAKANANI
S1-8 Class 4 Handicap
An extremely open race to finish what should have been a terrific days racing and with so many winning hopes, it should be a very busy finish with some value about if we can indeed find the winner. There are four last start winners in the field and while HIGH LIMIT is more suited in Class 5 and DELAWARE is stepping up from Maiden, both LIM'S PASSION and HARDCORE are right in this.
Both horses will get back from their respective wide drawn but given there looks plenty of early pace in the race and the track should suit, they will be storming home late and will figure heavily in the finish.
MADE IN RUSSIA doesn’t have any recent winning form to his name but his work late after excuses when dropping to Class 4 last start suggests he has more to offer and he, too, will be working into winning calculations late under champion jockey, Vlad Duric.
The speed influences will come from the two 3YO’s in DIAMOND RING and DELAWARE from barrier 1 and 2 respectively, while from out wide, GALILEO'S APPROACH, can also go forward and would give a sight on best form.
Don’t forget BARTIMAEUS at each-way odds as he had excuses in running last start, while LEATHERHEAD could show up in exotics at value.
SELECTIONS: 3. LIM'S PASSION, 2. HARDCORE, 1. MADE IN RUSSIA, 6. BARTIMAEUS & 11. DIAMOND RING
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