Expert - Luke Middlebrook

Luke has been a devout follower and form student of horse racing in Hong Kong and Singapore for over 10 years, during which time he became renowned as a leading analyst for Asian racing through various social media channels. In June 2016, Luke moved to Singapore to join the iRace Media as Chief Editor for the English edition, where he oversees all form-related and editorial content for horse racing in Hong Kong and Singapore.

 

Expert Column for Kranji Mile Day (S1) (Luke Middlebrook)

 

S1-1    Class 4 Handicap

 

BLAZING KID looks the one they all have to beat here. The progressive 4YO, who was an impressive last start winner, now boasts a solid record of two wins and two second placings from his five career starts and trainer Jason Ong is relishing a fine 2022, sitting comfortably in third place on the championship ladder. From barrier 3, BLAZING KID looks to get one of the runs of the race to suit his on-pace profile.

Next-best appears to be trainer Ricardo Le Grange’s talented 4YO EVEREST. The US-bred horse is first-up off over 7 months and won a recent trial in good enough fashion for leading jockey Manoel Nunes. It’s hard to know exactly how fit he is, but he has trialled on three occasions since April ahead of his return, and on exposed form, he’s right in this.

Trainer Shane Baertschiger’s 4YO BE YOU looks a solid good chance based on his last-start second place – despite the saddle slipping on that occasion – and he is always thereabouts, but he has not won for 14 months now so you’d be wary of taking him at a short quote. However, his dividend should be at a more attractive each-way quote this week, which would be enticing.

STENMARK, an erratic but talented enough 4YO, enters this race off the back of two performances in which he failed to finish: two starts ago, he refused to jump, while last time, he dumped the jockey not long after the gates crashed back. He has drawn well in barrier 4, but it is anyone’s guess which STENMARK can show his best on race day.

Trainer Michael Clements’ consistent 5YO KASSAB brings a lot of interest to the race after winning effortlessly by 2.8 lengths at his first-up run on 17th April, bringing his record of two wins and three placings from five Singapore starts after arriving just a one-time place getter from four starts in the UK. However, the gelding has so-far shown his best form on the polytrack, and possesses just one third placing from four tries on turf.

 

SELECTIONS: 7. BLAZING KID, 2. EVEREST, 4. BE YOU, 3. STENMARK & 1. KASSAB

 

S1-2    Class 3 Handicap

 

TANGIBLE gets the nod of approval here as he will step away from a good low draw with leading jockey Manoel Nunes remaining in the saddle after partnering the in-form 7YO in his last three starts. The former Hong Kong-based galloper, when known by the name COT CAMPBELL and trained by A T Millard, has done well since transferring to Singapore, with two wins and seven placings from 13 outings. The Clements-trained gelding should relish the switch back to turf, where he won impressively by one-length over 2,000m two starts ago, after nice closing effort into third on the polytrack at his most recent outing.

Trainer Jason Ong’s well-performed 6YO SO HI CLASS turned in a good performance last time when storming home for third place over 1,600m. He is ideally placed at Class 3 level and the rise to 1,800m looks positive at this stage of his preparation. Though he hasn’t won in 11 months, he gives the indication that another win seems nearby. .

Four-time winner and six-time place getter from 16, REAL EFECTO had excuses last start (lame off-fore) as the race favourite and should be given another chance to show something third-up. Jockey Daniel Beasley sticks with him, which is a great sign, and the 1,800m is of no concern. An interesting statistic with this galloper is his strong record of three wins and three third placings when sent out as the market elect.

Lastly, LEATHERHEAD can be thrown in the numbers, as the 6YO has simply been in fine form this year, with two wins and a third from five starts. Though the majority of his wins have been on the polytrack, his turf record is not the worst, and his honesty should hold him in good stead this week.

 

SELECTIONS: 7. TANGIBLE, 2. SO HI CLASS, 9. REAL EFECTO & 3. LEATHERHEAD

1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (18 unit bets):
S1-2:     
Banker – 7. TANGIBLE
Selections – 2. SO HI CLASS, 9. REAL EFECTO & 3. LEATHERHEAD
S1-3:     
Banker – 2. ALQANTUR
Selections – 1. ILLUSTRIOUS, 4. SPEEDY MISSILE, 5. WIN WIN & 3. LIM’S CRAFT

 

S1-3    Class 4 Handicap

 

Rising star 3YO ALQANTUR resumes here off since 19th February and aims for a hat-trick of wins to remain unbeaten. Making his race track debut in late January, the Michael Clements-trained youngster blitzed his rivals by 3.3 lengths before proving it no fluke to win smartly again second-up by one length. He has been at the trials twice ahead of his return, looked well in each and partners with leading jockey Manoel Nunes for the first time, while the race itself lacks depth where he is the clear stand out to get the job done.

ILLUSTRIOUS is another talented type resuming from a spell. The Timothy Fitzsimmons-trained 4YO, who has three wins and as many second placings from nine starts, does face his biggest ask as all his winning form has been on the polytrack. However, on class alone, he’s right in this and his early gate speed will carry him a long way. He can test the likely favourite, ALQANTUR.

One who won’t have any problems handling the turf track is SPEEDY MISSILE, trained by Donna Logan. A two-time winner and five-time place-getter at the track and distance, he was last seen charging home late into second place after getting well back in running, beaten a length over the same course and distance as this race. He has to be considered a serious contender here.

Though a win would be somewhat as a surprise, WIN WIN might be able to sneak in for a place. The 5YO returned with a bang two starts ago after a gelding operation, drawing away by a massive 5.8 lengths. He wasn’t able to reproduce such an effort second-up, fading late into eight as the even money favourite.

Steven Burridge-trained LIM’S CRAFT ran a slashing race over an unsuitable 1,000m the last time he was seen. He resumes off an okay trial and is well-rated these days to bounce back anytime in Class 4, though his last win was late December in 2020.

 

SELECTIONS: 2. ALQANTUR, 1. ILLUSTRIOUS, 4. SPEEDY MISSILE, 5. WIN WIN & 3. LIM’S CRAFT

 

S1-4    Kranji Stakes A

 

Top-class sprinter KHARISMA has a great record in this class and must be respected dropping back to his pet distance of 1,200m, where he boasts a formidable record of 10 wins. He stands out as the one they have to beat. His last win some three starts ago was in this grade and up against similar opposition, while he was unsuited in a fast run 1,400m Class 1 the last time he was seen, fading late into ninth place.

GRAND KOONTA from the James Peters yard is another fantastic sprinter on his day. He goes well first-up from a break, with a handy record of four wins and five placings when produced fresh, and should be respected from his low draw and with leading jockey Manoel Nunes in the saddle. He is yet to win for over a year, but he’s getting close and he should be given a serious chance.

One who can always surprise if the race is run to suit, is trainer Michael Clements’ talented 4YO STARLIGHT. He is another who is first-up here and he looked good when not tested in a recent trial. Only lightly-raced with 11 starts, he has amassed four wins and as many second placings during that time. He generally gets back in running, but if the pace is on, his sharp turn-of-foot brings him into play.

Yet another who steps out first-up in this race is trainer Donna Logan’s honest 6YO MAKKEM LAD. With four wins and three second placings from 10 first-up assignments, he looks primed to run a bold race. His greatest asset being his early gate speed, and he looks the clear leader here and will be giving a sight stepping away from barrier 9 under the 7lbs claim.

SACRED GIFT has been racing well after a stable change, winning two from four this year, but he is better performed on the polytrack. However, he is one to consider at odds for exotic bets.

 

SELECTIONS: 1. KHARISMA, 2. GRAND KOONTA, 5. STARLIGHT, 3. MAKKEM LAD & 4. SACRED GIFT

 

S1-5    Class 4 Handicap

 

6YO ON LINE, for the Michael Clements yard, looked unlucky when being held up at a crucial stage of the race last start, unable to find a clear passage from the 250m until passing the 150m, which was his first run back into Class 4 where he boasts a strong record of two wins and a second placing from four attempts. He has been afforded a nice low draw this week and can improve on that luckless last-start seventh placing.

From the Timothy Fitzsimmons yard, 4YO BOOMBA is another who had no luck last start when caught wide but still ran well into fourth place. He enters this race fourth-up this week and comes into barrier 1 where he should be granted a much better run in transit than last time. Anytime Fitzsimmons calls upon leading jockey Manoel Nunes, they have to be treated a serious winning chance, and BOOMBA should be there fighting out the finish this week.

Elsewhere, SHANG CHI from the Shane Baertschiger yard has shown loads of promise in three local starts, scoring one and placing third on two occasions. The 4YO raced seven times prior in New Zealand, where he was unable to breakthrough for a win, but has relished the move north. His last-start third place to talented galloper NO MORE DELAY is strong enough form for a race like this but the rise to 1,400m is the query.

The 1,400m won’t be a query for consistent 6YO SACRED JUDGEMENT, who has two wins and four second placings at the track and distance. Since dropping back into Class 4 three starts ago, he has yet to finish out of the money, and a fifth career win seems nearby. He can jump and run from his low draw under the 7lbs claim and give a sight.  

Lightly-raced in Singapore, 4YO VGOR looked good in a recent barrier trial. He won well two starts ago in a 1,200m polytrack race and was only fair next time out when 1.9 lengths into fifth. Rarely far away in a finish, he may be able to sneak in for a place.

 

SELECTIONS: 2. ON LINE, 6. BOOMBA, 8. SHANG CHI, 1. SACRED JUDGEMENT & 4. VGOR

2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-5:     
Banker – 2. ON LINE
Selections – 6. BOOMBA, 8. SHANG CHI, 1. SACRED JUDGEMENT & 4. VGOR
S1-6:     
Banker – 6. SURREY HILLS
Selections – 9. ISTATABA, 3. GOLDEN MONKEY, 2. WAR COMMANDER & 4. SILENT IS GOLD

 

S1-6    Novice

 

SURREY HILLS turned in a great debut run, when winning ultra-impressively over 1,100m on the polytrack, landing a decent plunge. Since then, he has trialled nicely to suggest he’s come through his first-up assignment in fine fettle. The query for him this week is the rise to 1,200m on turf, but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t handle both and trainer Jason Ong appears to have a smart on his hands. From barrier 8, he should be going straight to the front and taking luck out of the equation.

ISTATABA probably won’t be so handy to the pace, as last time she settled close to the speed in a 1,400m race and found nothing in the straight. In her defense, she had genuine excuses (dry coated) and the tempo of the race suited those further back. Prior, she was a smart winner over 1,200m and gave every indication she can win many times. Leading rider Manoel Nunes takes over from Jake Bayliss, which can been seen as a positive, and from barrier 2 she appears to get one of the runs of the race.

From a wide barrier, GOLDEN MONKEY will have to be decisive from the get-go to find a conducive position in running. Last time, he made all in running from barrier 9, but it was a much weaker race where nothing took him on early and he was able to dictate the race on his own terms. This week’s race appears to be a different ball game.

3YO WAR COMMANDER will garner interest as he was only narrowly beaten by a good one last start over 1,200m on the polytrack. The switch back to turf poses no problems and he is another who has early speed and put himself into the race.

One of the more interesting runners, SILENT IS GOLD showed big improvement last start, winning well in a Class 4 Handicap which many in this field can’t attest to. On paper, this should be a weaker race, so again he will be competitive.

 

SELECTIONS: 6. SURREY HILLS, 9. ISTATABA, 3. GOLDEN MONKEY, 2. WAR COMMANDER & 4. SILENT IS GOLD

TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 6. SURREY HILLS, 9. ISTATABA & 3. GOLDEN MONKEY
S1-7: Multiple – 3. LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO, 1. LIM’S LIGHTNING & 9. MINISTER
S1-8: Multiple – 2. SAVVY COMMAND, 1. RED OCEAN & 7. IRONCHAMP

 

S1-7    Kranji Mile

 

The feature race of the day and it is hard to go past top-class 4YO LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO. The rising star only tasted defeat for the first time in his nine-start career last time, which was basically the lead up race for the G3 Kranji Mile. Mixing distances from 1,200m up to this week’s trip of 1,600m, he has shown an abundance of ability under all sorts of racing conditions. Despite his winning streak coming to an end last start, he lost no admirers checking home second place, as he sat on speed in a very fast run race which suited those off the pace.

LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO only went down by 0.75 lengths for a huge effort. Perhaps what comes as the biggest surprise was seeing jockey Daniel Beasley’s name next to LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO when declarations were announced on Wednesday. It had been reported that Beasley would stick with stablemate LIM’S LIGHTNING for the Kranji Mile, but no.  

LIM’S LIGHTNING couldn’t have done more last season, with the Kranji Mile being the only big-race that escaped him after he won everything else he contested on the big stage. So, questions do remain how well he has come back after a career-best last year, and with Beasley jumping ship, that could be a huge clue for punters trying to read between the lines. He was only fair first-up last time, but that was to be expected given he had been away from racing for over five months after his win in the local G1 Singapore Gold Cup in November last year. All subjective opinions aside, as the highest-rated galloper at set weights this week, he deserves a lot of respect.

Winner of this race last year, MINISTER looks to be regaining form at the perfect time after a slashing run into fourth place in the lead up race last start. Perhaps flattered by the fast early speed, he will get all favours to be a winning chance in the big one on Saturday, given he has drawn perfectly low to get a soft run in transit.

One who hasn’t been treated kindly by the barrier gods is trainer Ricardo Le Grange’s star South Africa import KATAK. Unbeaten in five starts abroad, he took some time to come to hand locally, but has been awesome this year after winning two of his three starts. He finished last in the lead up race, but he raced wide and pulled up with lacerated legs post-race. He has since trialled very well and with a bit of luck from his gate, he’s a serious contender.

Last year’s Singapore Derby winner HARD TOO THINK will be thereabouts in the finish after his likeable first-up effort after second in last year’s Singapore Gold Cup. He will rely on some pace, but should be getting that here.

 

SELECTIONS: 3. LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO, 1. LIM’S LIGHTNING, 9. MINISTER, 2. KATAK & 4. HARD TOO THINK

 

S1-8    Class 3 Handicap

 

SAVVY COMMAND has to be rated as the one to beat in this race. He comes into barrier 1 from barrier 11 after a big run into second place in a harder race than this last start and gets the services of leading jockey Manoel Nunes. Though he hasn’t won since July 2021, all the stars seem to align for him and he looks to take a power of beating.

One of the pace influencers is RED OCEAN from the Shane Baertschiger stables. He is a four-time winner from 10 starts so far and relishes the 1,400m, with three wins from five at the track and distance. He has trialled in good order ahead of his first-up run, his first start since January, and will be in the leading division not long after they leave the stalls.

IRONCHAMP is another of the fast beginners. The three-time winner and two-time place-getter from 10 at the track and distance was unsuited over 1,000m last time, but was only beaten 2.2 lengths. With a few to press forward here, it is hard seeing him getting the race run to suit, but his stamina will ensure he’s there for a long while.

One who possesses tactical versatility is THE AUGUST for trainer Jerome Tan. He generally performs best in Class 4 these days but backed up a win in the grade two starts ago with a solid second place to SABAH STAR over 1,200m in Class 3 last start. The biggest query for him is his 1,400m record of 10 starts for one second place, but if they ride him quieter, he should be making a strong late bid.

 

SELECTIONS: 2. SAVVY COMMAND, 1. RED OCEAN, 7. IRONCHAMP & 6. THE AUGUST

 

 

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