Friday, 15 September 2017: Singapore racing best bets, race by race analysis looking at the full Singapore card on Friday the 15th of September, with selections and information on the main contenders.

ELISE

RACE 1
At his most recent effort, BELLUS WONDER (1) laid off the track on the final bend when having his first run in Class 5. On that occasion he had 59kgs and looks better weighted here with 57.5kg. As a result of that performance he was required to go back to the trials which he has done on two occasions since including an all the way trial win in 62.33. Noted frontrunner BARNBURGH LAD (4) drops to 55.5kgs which was his winning weight when he last won at Class 5 level. He was easy in the market and found the 1200m too far last start. Back to the 1100m will suit and he rates a strong chance if he begins quickly. TASSAJARA (3) raced below his best last time on the turf back in May. Watch the market on him as he resumes and has had a quiet lead-up trial. LEADERSHIP (2) has a terrific record in Class 5 with 3 wins and 3 2nds from 9 starts in this grade. He was well beaten in harder company last time. This is just his second run for the new trainer KY Young who is still chasing his first win as a mentor. If the new trainer can get him firing he rates a strong chance.

RACE 2
The second on the card is an Open Maiden over the 1400m and it could well prove beneficial to go the way of the lightly-raced runners here who look open to more improvement in a race that would seemingly house quite a bit of dead wood. The selection will be SAHABA (3), who last time out was racing with blinkers on first time and ran home well in 23.32 behind the smart Captain Jamie, beaten 5l, the winner was far superior on that occasion and he is taken to go one better here. One of the more interesting horses in the line-up is SABIK (4) who is stepping up in distance on Friday night to 1400m for the first time here in Singapore, quite a big horse, the Cliff Brown-trained galloper was held in fourth behind some rather nice newcomers and the extra trip and turf this time around could well bring about some improvement. The consistent MAJALAH (5) is expected to ensure the pace here along with SIX EMPIRE (10), and both horses having placed on their latest starts (3rd & 4th behind The Golden Goat), suggesting that they once again can fill the frame.

RACE 3
A tricky Class 4 where the market will perhaps be the best guide. QUEEN ROULETTE (2) has an excellent record over 1200m on the Turf and will appreciate getting back to the grass after two recent runs on the Polytrack. The mare was beaten in fast time last start over 1000m but ran on nicely at the end. She has never won with more than 55.5kgs so the 1 kg claim for Troy See is handy. The Leslie Khoo-trained mare will appreciate the drop in class. WONDERFUL KNIGHT (5) has the talent to win if things go right in the run. He has won as high as Class 3 in Singapore and last start he was well supported on the Polytrack before fading late. He loves 1200m on the Turf and well worth keeping a close eye on the market with him. SIGLAP BIRD (3) has trialled once in Singapore. It was slowly away but was never really asked to do much. The 4yo brings solid form from Japan, including some handy performances over 1200m at Fukashima. PAPERBACK TROOPER (10) has won fresh before when he was sensationally backed on debut. He has had some time off and returns off the back of a quiet trial. Big market watch on him.

RACE 4
SATTAR (12) should run favourite here with some excellent recent form. He has been very unlucky to bump into some very smart horses at his only two runs. He has drawn poorly and punters have already seen him go down at $9 and $7 so he has been costly for some. The shift back to 1100m looks a good move by Ricardo Le Grange and with the lightweight he should prove hard to beat. The former Kiwi DUTROW (1) looked the winner at his first Singapore run before being gunned down. He clearly enjoyed the Polytrack and his fitness may have beaten him as he just got tired late in the race. BLACK QUAIL (4) looked impressive when winning his only trial in Singapore. The son of Coats Choice placed four times in New Zealand trials prior to his arrival in the Lion City so he has plenty of experience. BELT AND ROAD (2) trialled in terrible conditions but seemed to handle himself well, sitting handy and running second. He has raced in Australia prior to coming to Singapore including a placing at Yarra Glen. His mother Raja Lane was a handy race mare and he is worth considering if there is any market support.

RACE 5
All eyes here will be on the once-raced OLYMPIAN EAGER (1) and it should prove impossible to miss him, as he weighed in when last seen at the races at 626kg and now makes his eagerly-awaited return to action. Last seen in action back on November 27th 2016 winning what has now proven to be a very good form race with four individual winners coming out of the race with a total of eight wins between them, notably the runner-up being the very progressive Kratos. This massive son of I Am Invincible has won a trial nicely on September 5th (61.01) and looks as if he can continue in winning form with the addition of a tongue tie for his return, before potentially going on to bigger and better things for David Kok and the Tivic Stable. CRAZY DREAMS (3) showed his class last time in no uncertain terms by winning as he liked by 4l (23.17), having run some very good races in defeat behind some useful types prior to breaking the maiden tag, stepping up into class company is never an easy thing to do for most horses. But this nice 4yo should be able to take it in his stride on only start number five of his career so far for HK Tan. James Peters fields a brace of horses here with the nod for third place going the way of the thrice raced LIM’S BLAST (7), this Bel Esprit Gelding showed a good deal more on his latest start and since then has won a trial sporting the hood in 60.55, never racing at bigger than $24 he is most definitely one to keep a market watch on here. HERO CHAMPION (4) went extremely close recently at a big price in a weaker race than this, but does look to be racing on a very workable mark and can grab some place money here.

RACE 6
AUSPICIOUS DAY (10) has the luxury of the light weight and gets a golden opportunity to post a deserved maiden win. Young apprentice jockey Zulkifli Zuriman has had only two wins this year but he rode this 3yo very well when it finished in third recently. The runner-up Captain Jamie won his next start so the form looks good. The son of Showcasing looks one of the stronger hopes with the light weight. NEW SENSATION (2) raced forward when running third behind the promising First Light, and in doing so beat the smart Iffragal into third. Should race handy again and this looks a weaker race. ATHENA (7) was a handy juvenile a couple of seasons ago, but remains a maiden. Last time was given windburn by the eventual winner after racing outside the leader. Best suited in a race like this so must be respected. SUPER ACE (3) ran way below his best last start and is proving a little tricky to follow. He was heavily supported recently and proved rather underwhelming. The Bruce Marsh-trained gelding will benefit from a nice claim for Zyrul Nor Azman.

RACE 7
A handy line-up to face the starter in this contest on the Polytrack with a few in-form runners. FIRST PRECINCT (1) gets back into the grade after a last start failure in a very strong Class 3 race. Interesting to note he is having his first run on the surface and this distance but he has form in the grade carrying 58.0kgs for his only victory. HIDDEN PROMISE (2) was a last-start winner in Kranji D and who is racing exceptionally well at the moment. That win was on this surface and over this distance of 1600m and looks to be a progressive type, from his 11 starts he has only been unplaced out of the top 4 on 5 occasions. LUCKY JUSTICE (4) is a last-start winner with exactly the same race conditions however carries 1.5kg more than last start but did it well enough to suggest the extra weight shouldn’t be a barrier. NORTHERN KNIGHT (5) put in a top run last start from a long way back in the race with a closing sectional of 24.26 to only go down a short margin, a similar effort if there’s genuine tempo should see him go close.

RACE 8
An intriguing little Class 4 contest over 1200m with quite a few winning hopes in this and trainer Steven Burridge holding a strong hand with three runners in the race. The Dan Meagher-trained ELISE (13) got within a hair’s breadth of landing a few nice bets last time, only to be denied in a photo by Lucky Six on his debut for the stable, recently this 5yo gelding has been well supported and went off as short as $14 two runs back when with Leslie Khoo, he can, as he proved last start be very competitive off his current mark and with only 51.5kgs he should lead them up here and he can atone for that defeat last time out in this. The top weight in the race is the in-form MORITZ ECLPISE (1), who has done little wrong in his last three outings probably bumped into a well-handicapped type last time out in the shape of Justice Light. He is versatile in his style of racing and was seen to great effect late last time, closing off in 23.00, giving 6kgs to the selection won’t be easy, but he can however give him most to think about with the blinkers reapplied. The still rather lightly-raced DRACO (3) was disappointing at his most recent start when only able to finish 6th in a similar race (Vet checked clear), with some good form to his name and a very respectable 5th in the Group 3 3yo sprint behind Countofmontecristo, he can bounce back in this and make the frame. The quartet is made up by the BUENOS AIRES (4) for James Peters, having won two races in Australia for Peter & Paul Snowden, since arriving in Singapore he has trialled ok and is a half-brother to the South African Group 2 winner Mella Maria. He is a very interesting newcomer.