 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 Kranji Mile Day (S1) (Larry Foley)
S1-1 Class 4 Handicap
With five Class 4 races (three over 1,200m) on the 14-race card from Singapore today, the races lack depth and hopefully we can narrow down the winning hopes to three or four here.
WATER ROCKET only found one better when resuming on the polytrack and looks the one to run down after drawing barrier 1. The 4YO Argentinean also has a turf win to his name and rarely runs a poor race and does look better than Class 4.
GENTLEMAN AGREEMENT is also honest and while all his career wins have been over 1,400m, he is trialling well and 1,200m looks ideal first up with barrier 3 a bonus.
These two look the obvious picks but QUANTUM could easily surprise. The NZ-bred 6YO can be his own worse enemy when finding trouble in races but his work late last start suggests he has more to offer and may be value.
The swooper ROYAL PAVILION has not been seen on the turf of late but has won on the surface and will be working home strongly if the race is run to suit.
Of the rest, CAVALLA COURT and FLYING TOURBILLON could figure first up on the back of some good trials.
SELECTIONS: 2. WATER ROCKET, 8. QUANTUM, 4. GENTLEMEN AGREEMENT, 7. ROYAL PAVILION & 9. CAVALLA COURT
S1-2 Class 4 Handicap
An interesting Class 4 where a couple of handy horses are up in grade after finding winning form and it may be the last start maiden winner in KHARISMA who is the one to follow. The 4YO showed plenty at his first preparation when placing at all three runs and his maiden win when blinkers were added first up was easily good enough to suggest he is more than up to Class 4 and will be hard to run down.
DIAMOND MINE broke his maiden three starts back and knocked in his second career win last start in Class 5. This is obviously harder but the 4YO has found form and should figure in this finish with best work expected late.
A horse with the runs on the board in this company is GOLD CITY and given he has first up form in similar races to this, he must be respected, while AFALONHRO can also have a big say in what is a suitable race with blinkers added after an eye-catching first up run on the polytrack.
Keep QIJI DIAMOND safe with Louis-Philippe Beuzelin up, while GOLDEN THUNDER and BORN TO WIN are both good value options on eye-catching last start runs.
SELECTIONS: 7. KHARISMA, 4. AFALONHRO, 2. GOLD CITY, 10. DIAMOND MINE & 8. QIJI DIAMOND
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-2: Banker – 7. KHARISMA
Selections – 4. AFALONHRO, 2. GOLD CITY, 10. DIAMOND MINE & 8. QIJI DIAMOND
S1-3: Banker – 1. UNCONQUERED
Selections – 7. AMORE AMORE, 4. ATLAS, 2. HEADHUNTER & 8. ADMIRAL WINSTON
S1-3 Class 4 Handicap
A tough race to line up form-wise with a couple of promising types coming off poor runs up against a Class dropper who looks horribly out of form but can win in Class 4. The Class dropper is UNCONQUERED who is having his first run for the Leslie Khoo stable after having excuses not to finish closer when resuming in Class 3. The 8YO has trialled very well since and hopefully provides some value for the punters who thinks he improves back in suitable company.
AMORE AMORE and ATLAS are also in the mix after showing ability at three and four career starts respectively.
AMORE AMORE did it tough last start and from barrier 3 you would imagine he gets the favours and can win on the back of a good trial.
Likewise, ATLAS had excuses last start not to be in the finish and barrier 2 certainly helps his cause with Ruan Maia up.
The other horses that wins without surprising are the ex-Godolphin 4YO, HEADHUNTER, who placed at his Singapore debut and will appreciate 1,200m on the turf, while ADMIRAL WINSTON is yet to place on the turf but his last start win good enough to follow here.
SELECTIONS: 1. UNCONQUERED, 7. AMORE AMORE, 4. ATLAS, 2. HEADHUNTER & 8. ADMIRAL WINSTON
S1-4 Class 2 Handicap
A terrific Class 2 mile with a horse or two progressive enough to think they could have a say in Group races sooner than later.
PAX ANIMI is one of them and the 5YO has impressed since arriving from Australia winning three from five with excuses at his only poor run, which was in Group company. This is a step up from his last start Class 3 win but with no weight, he must be a winning hope.
Likewise, MINISTER is up in Class after winning at his last start but given his only poor run was at his Singapore debut in Group company, he is one to follow.
But at the top of the weights and ratings is MAKANANI, who should really be running in the SIN G1 Kranji Mile. True, he was only fair when resuming over 1,400m in Class 1 company, but he won the SIN G1 Raffles Cup over a mile only four starts back suggesting he wins this if anywhere near his best.
The race has depth though and some value may be found in the likes of SACRED CROIX and PER INPOWER who will be running on strongly. Betting Strategy - MAKANANI win.
SELECTIONS: 1. MAKANANI, 6. PAX ANIMI, 4. SACRED CROIX, 8. PER INPOWER & 3. MINISTER
S1-5 Class 4 Handicap
A tricky race for punters with another seemingly out-of-form Class dropper some hope at the top of the weights and the two emergencies both winning chances if they get a start.
But starting at the top, CENTENARY DIAMOND will find Class 4 to his liking after some good form in better company last preparation. The 5YO also had excuses last start and gets blinkers added after some good trials so can win with a handy 7lbs claim a bonus.
On recent Class 4 form, MIG PIERRO probably starts favourite as he had excuses last start (returned a roarer) and should more than handle the turf and 1,400m with Marc Lerner to ride.
LIM'S SPIN won his maiden last start in fine fashion and while this is obviously tougher, he is trialling well and Benny Woodworth should give him every chance.
It's hard to leave MR ALEJANDRO out of winning calculations given he just missed when resuming in a similar affair to this and, of the rest, CIRCUIT STAR may improve at odds off the back of a good trial with barrier 2 a bonus.
As mentioned, the two emergencies in ELITE REMARKABLE and BASILISK both go very close if they get a start.
SELECTIONS: 1. CENTENARY DIAMOND, 2. MIG PIERRO, 6 LIM'S SPIN, 3. MR ALEJANDRO & 9. CIRCUIT STAR
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-5: Banker – 1. CENTENARY DIAMOND
Selections – 2. MIG PIERRO, 6 LIM'S SPIN, 3. MR ALEJANDRO & 9. CIRCUIT STAR
S1-6: Banker – 11. KNIGHT LOVE
Selections – 3. FIRST CHIEF, 2. BAFFERT, 1. EXDREAM & 8. MY BOSS
S1-6 Class 4 Handicap
This is easily the best of the Class 4 Handicaps today and while we are happy to have a long look at the likes of FIRST CHIEF, EXDREAM and BAFFERT, the exciting KNIGHT LOVE is the one to be on.
The US-bred 3YO was impressive when winning easily at his race debut on the turf and would have lost few friends with a fighting second placing on the polytrack at the second start. You could also argue he was on the worst part of the track on that occasion and although he meets some handy types here, he looks better than Class 4 and will be hard to hold out.
Of the others mentioned earlier, EXDREAM battled on well at his Singapore debut to just miss a place and doesn't need to improve much to play a part in this finish, while BAFFERT looks a touch out form but has found a suitable race on the back of a good trial and should be value.
Given it's Kranji Mile Day, a Hong Kong horse usually wins at least one race and FIRST CHIEF could fly the flag. The 6YO only managed one placing from nine starts in Hong Kong when racing under the name CAO CAO, but has shown more than enough at two Singapore starts to think he can win a race sooner than later at Kranji and why not today?
For exotics, you can consider HYDE PARK, MY BOSS and SUPERLATIVE but they all should be chasing down KNIGHT LOVE.
SELECTIONS: 11. KNIGHT LOVE, 3. FIRST CHIEF, 2. BAFFERT, 1. EXDREAM & 8. MY BOSS
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 11. KNIGHT LOVE, 3. FIRST CHIEF & 2. BAFFERT
S1-7: Multiple – 1. COUNTOFMONTECRISTO, 10. TOP KNIGHT & 7. SUN MARSHAL
S1-8: Multiple – 4. CHURCHILL, 1. LOYALTY MAN & 2. DESTROYER ECLIPSE
S1-7 Kranji Mile
In troubled times, it's a testament to the Singapore Turf Club to get this million dollar race off the ground - albeit without the international raiders from Hong Kong.
SOUTHERN LEGEND has won both Kranji Miles since the race was opened to internationals in 2018 and with the Hong Kong champ grounded due to the Covid restrictions, the prizemoney will stay in Singapore.
And most likely in the Michael Clements stable pockets given he trains the top-rated horse in the race - COUNTOFMONTECRISTO - and two others with serious winning hopes in TOP KNIGHT and SIAM BLUE VANDA.
But at the Weight-For-Age conditions and given his winning form, COUNTOFMONTECRISTO looks extremely hard to beat. The 7YO has been ultra consistent at the top level and while he probably doesn't win at Group level as often as he should, the planets have aligned for this race and it may be a case of whoever beats him wins.
TOP KNIGHT may be the heir apparent at the stable and given the now 5YO had excuses when resuming over 1,400m, he can show his best here and keep COUNTOFMONTECRISTO honest late.
SIAM BLUE VANDA beat TOP KNIGHT in the SIN G2 Stewards' Cup and while not at his best when resuming, he plays a part late if on his game.
Trainer Lee Freedman has to be respected in any feature races and the Hall-of-Famer has two chances with SUN MARSHAL likely to run a big race first up after a spell and MR CLINT always a chance on his SIN G1 Singapore Gold Cup winning form.
Down in the ratings, ARAMAAYO could run a cheeky race with blinkers added and KING LOUIS is always some hope on honest form.
SELECTIONS: 1. COUNTOFMONTECRISTO, 10. TOP KNIGHT, 7. SUN MARSHAL, 2. MR CLINT & 13. ARAMAAYO
S1-8 Class 3 Handicap
Another cracking race over 1,600m on what is a big day for the milers and it may be CHURCHILL who will 'never surrender' in what could be a very busy finish. The former Australian has won two from four since arriving and his first up win over 1,200m on the polytrack was good and he looks hard to beat again with barrier 3 over 1,600m a bonus.
But he will need to improve as LOYALTY MAN was in the winning mix last start over 1,400m and he will be strong to the wire with the downgrade to winkers, while DESTROYER ECLIPSE probably leads from barrier 2 and he will be hard to pass with a handy claim.
The winning hopes don't stop there with LUCK OF MASTER looking like he had plenty more to offer with his strong work late last start, while SO HI CLASS has shown more than enough since relocating from Malaysia and he may be value.
Keep the first emergency - BUDDY BUDDY - safe, as he will be suited over the mile.
SELECTIONS: 4. CHURCHILL, 1. LOYALTY MAN, 2. DESTROYER ECLIPSE, 12. LUCK OF MASTER & 13. SO HI CLASS
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