Friday, 29 September 2017: Singapore racing best bets, race by race analysis looking at the full Singapore card on Sunday October 1, with selections and information on the main contenders.

Countofmontecristo

RACE 1

TARGET (3) has been knocking on the door recently and he has so much in his favour with the move from Class 4 down to Kranji D. Dropping back to the 1400m looks significant too as does the addition of a tongue tie. Furthermore he is well drawn this time after contending with some poor barriers. The last time he ran over 1400m was back in July and he sat wide producing a courageous performance to finish fourth. SUN EMPIRE (11) will look to lead the field here. His record over 1400m on the turf is superb and importantly, he gets first use of the track which won’t hurt his chances. At his best he can be hard to catch but he must lead to have any chance. ASTROJET (1) is second-up from a short break and produced a solid closing third over 1200m on the Polytrack. The only negative is he is rising in weight but there are plenty of positives including the change of distance and the drop in class. TALES OF SUMMER (6) has been racing over varying distances but from a good barrier and Michael Rodd to do the steering the 6yo rates a chance to finally win a race in Singapore.

RACE 2

An interesting contest over the 1400m with some very promising types in the line-up and quite a few having run much improved races on their latest starts. IFFRAGAL (14) was very much a disappointment last time out when a beaten $8 favourite behind First Light under young Krisna Thangamani, not looking the easiest of rides for an apprentice and swinging wide on the home turn, the Iffraaj 3yo was beaten 3l behind what the history books will prove to be two nice horses in the shape of First Light and New Sensation, with some very good form prior to that defeat (2nd G3 Juvenile Championships) and the assistance of senior jockey Nooresh Juglall and the feather weight of 50kgs, she is given another chance here. LIM’S MAGIC (9) created a nice impression on his first start when starting a well-backed $18 favourite in the race won by Nimitz. Slightly green throughout the race, he stayed on very nicely once the penny dropped in a closing sectional of 22.89 and is now up in trip, he should go very close. AROUND THE WORLD (7) for trainer David Hill confirmed earlier trial form by running a very creditable 3rd on his debut start. Having looked a little short of speed in the early stages, the son of Per Incanto closed off very strongly in 24.43 and now, is up in distance and was seen to work well in the week, he should be right there at the business end of the race. The quartet is completed by the improving JADE DRAGON (4) who has shown a good deal more on his two most recent outings and now wears first time blinkers having been short of racing room at the 200m marker last time out.

RACE 3

A tricky Class 4 with a predicted battle for the lead which may prove significant. LIM'S RIPPLE (11) has more talent than he has shown and didn't get a lot of room in the straight in a Kranji D contest last time. He has since gone back to the trials and looked very good albeit under restraint in a recent trial with the blinkers on. With this significant gear change and Daniel Moor at the helm he may race in a more forward role. Watch the betting closely on this Steve Burridge-trained 4yo gelding. SHOW FAR SHOW GOOD (1) likes to lead in his races but worked way too hard last start when sitting deep throughout. From Gate 1 he will try and take control of the race from the front. He'll be getting tired at the end of the mile but the short course will aid him if he gets a soft lead. STORM TROOPER (2) flashed home last time, indicating a win might be just around the corner. Very positive booking with Shafiq Rizuan reunited with the son of Tavistock and he might just have a slight class edge on a few of these. OLIVER (8) will benefit from the addition of jockey Olivier Placais who will take the mount. He is another who likes to race handy although not the most straightforward of horses. He is taken on trust in this open contest.

RACE 4

Race 4 on the card is a Kranji Stakes D that can go the way of one of three mares in the race with the vote going the way of JUSTICE LASS (5) for Michael Clements and Manoel Nunes. She ran a really good race in defeat last time out to Hee’s A Maverick. After breaking nicely, the daughter of Canford Cliffs raced a little keenly for the champion jockey. Has yet to score in eight runs here, she now sports a special bit for the first time which should help her settle and the drop back in distance can also be seen as a positive. She can take all the beating in this. GALILEO’S APPROACH (1) has been holding good form of late and is proven under these conditions having bolted up two runs back. He does, however, have to overcome the wide gate and will want to lead but if able to do so, he can run another solid race. ROAN RANGER (7) so far this year is ‘the gift that keeps on giving’. He has seen his rating rise from 26 to 49 (a career high) but he is in good form and handles turf well. SHOQEET (2) was very underwhelming last start when trailing in 10th behind Justice First. The pacifiers are now off and he is down to Kranji D for the first time, he can make the placings on his form from two runs back.

RACE 5

The promising 3yo AUGUSTANO (1), has quickly reached the top of Class 4. Whilst this might be a little tougher with plenty against him including a heavy weight and wide stall he might just have the class to overcome the obstacles. The opposition will do all they can to expose his vulnerability from a tough gate early and he'll need an ounce of luck in the initial stages to ensure he doesn't sit three wide. If he secures a good run he'll be very hard to beat. BUENOS AIRES (4) is a two-time winner from Australia with both of those victories coming over 1200m. His first run in Singapore was eye-catching and if he doesn't get too far back he might be a solid each-way option. The talented HADES (3) was ridden more patiently last time and he flashed home for fourth. Jockey Troy See picks up the mount which looks an interesting engagement by trainer CT Kuah. ELISE (13) wilted last time when the pace was on early and his run is best ignored. At his best he is a definite chance at Class 4 level. He will enjoy the excellent barrier and the shift back to the short course could also prove a bonus.

RACE 6

MR CLINT (1) has a perfect record having won his only race start gifting Lee Freedman his first Singapore victory. It is probably too early to have a strong opinion on his level of talent but he made an excellent debut over 1200m. If he is above average he should be able to overcome the extra weight as this is not the strongest of fields and he looks a good chance of remaining undefeated. SACRED SURFER (2) has now had three runs in Singapore and has shown some promise. Last start he raced up on the pace before fading to run a decent fourth. This will be a little easier than his recent assignments and from a handy barrier position he should race in a forward position. WARPATH (6) is a likely improver as he gets conditions to suit here. He loves the Turf and the shift back in grade is significant. On the downside he can pull very hard so he’ll appreciate a genuine tempo to allow him to settle. His record in Kranji D is three runs for one win and two placings and they all came at 1400m which suggests he is a must for exotics. SUPER BALL (5) was way off the track last start so the effort is best ignored. His previous victory over 1200m in fast time was a strong indication of what he can at his best. If he could wrestle the lead early he’d be a strong quartet contender although this is his first try at 1400m so there is certainly a query on his middle-distance credentials.

RACE 7

A fantastic little novice event as a prelude to the Panasonic Kranji Mile, with no less than four debut last-start winners in the race where it should certainly pay to focus on the lightly-weighted runners here. There are five horses in this with 52.5kgs with the selection being the most experienced of them, MOKASTAR (11). Ricardo Le Grange has a strong team of youngsters in his stable and this 3yo would rank somewhere near the top of that bunch having won very well two runs back and last time bumped into Super Ball who had shown he can run 'time', a recent trial success and the change of head gear from winkers to blinkers can help this son of Poet’s Voice claim this prize over some nice youngsters. EBRAZ (8) showed a likeable attitude when scoring on his debut over this trip on Sep 17th. He defeated Ateej who was well backed and races in the same interests and is a horse with plenty of upside going forward towards the end of the year, and he can run another very good race here. Joe Giovanni is having a wonderful time with his horses this year and his YABADABADOO (12) did not let the side down on debut, he had to battle for the win over Sattar in decent time and many would have been taken by his resolution that day. Second in a trial since, he is a very talented horse who should make his presence felt here. MASTER OF MALIBU (9) who also won on his debut will have to prove he is better than the bare form would suggest, but he has done nothing wrong on the Polytrack last time and now steps out on turf and goes up in trip which shouldn't inconvenience him but he does have a poor barrier to overcome.

RACE 8

The 2017 edition of the Panasonic Kranji Mile could be the race of the season with local hero and defending champion Debt Collector taking on a new crop of emerging stars in Singapore. COUNTOFMONTECHRISTO (15) may be the next big thing in the Lion City. He has won 7 from 8 starts and is coming off his Jumbo Jet Trophy victory. His only defeat was in the Singapore Guineas over 1600m beaten by bold frontrunner Forever Young but he clearly wasn't at his best on that occasion. This is his biggest test, but he'll race handy and may well be the punters’ elect as he chases his first Group 1 success under the guidance of big-race rider Glen Boss. The 2016 Singapore Horse Of The Year, DEBT COLLECTOR (2) will need to be at his spine-tingling best to win here. After aborting his Derby campaign he has been saved for this very race. His recent effort in the Jumbo Jet Trophy was superb, narrowly missing out in a brilliant return to the race track. Drawn an inside alley, he will most likely drift back through the field with jockey Michael Rodd hoping for a solid tempo. If the speed is not on, his task will be that much harder from back in the field. Emirates Singapore Derby winner INFANTRY (3), has won three feature races this year ranging from 1200m on the Polytrack to 2200m on the Turf. He is Singapore racing's most versatile horse and he also goes well fresh. He was given a searching recent trial pleasing Manoel Nunes with his 59:58 trial victory. Now rated one of the best in Singapore he will be hard to beat again. LIM'S CRUISER (4) was brilliant in defeat in the Jumbo Jet but has drawn a poor gate again. Trainer Stephen Gray has opted to stick with the blinkers and he is simply too good to ignore.

RACE 9

This Class 4 affair has a very competitive look to it with a number of in-form horses lining up and it may well pay to focus on those towards the top end of the weights. NOBLE LIAISON (2) for James Peters has not been seen since March when he ran a close second to Splice over 1400m. He has a very progressive profile and with plenty of scope for further improvement and with two trials under his belt (finished off well in latest), he looks like a horse who will prove better than Class 4 in due course. Having caught the eye last time out, WONDERFUL KNIGHT (3) shaped as if a win was very near having raced keenly in the early stages and ending up boxing on nicely to claim fourth behind Ivanhoe (23.57), a former Class 3 winner a few years ago. The Daniel Meagher-trained gelding must be taken very seriously. It is not always easy to go from open maiden company to Class 4; NIMITZ (7), however, was impressive on his debut at the beginning of September when making all to win under Vlad Duric and does look to be a horse with a future, who can take the next step forward. Possibly the most interesting runner in the race is PAPARAZZI (11) who is a full brother to the Group 1 winner Sizzling who won the 2012 TJ Smith stakes and three Group 3 races to boot. He has trialled nicely enough and has been placed twice in Australia from only two race starts. He should be up to running a nice race in this on debut.

RACE 10

The chief supporting race on the card to the day’s feature, the Panasonic Kranji Mile, and it contains some useful types indeed. The mare SAIMESE CAT (6) is most certainly not an easy horse to train given her issues with bleeding, but is a very capable one at the same time. Ricardo Le Grange’s charge is not seen on track all that often but when she was last at the races, she beat a handy bunch of Class 4 horses in good style in a race for which the form is working out nicely (6th Humdinger has won since). She recently won a trial in 59.91 and on the back of that race victory and trial success she is taken to continue on an upward curve now 7 points higher. This trip of 1400m will definitely bring out the best in CHALAZA (3). The Steven Burridge-trained runner only found the talented Bao Shan Magic too good last time out in a race in which he flew home in 22.59 for his closing sectional (Life Is Gamble 5th, Mr Crowe 7th), he is still open to plenty of improvement and can give the selection most to think about in this. BATTLE OF TROY (5) is having his 11th run of the year and last time out was far from disgraced in a better race behind Aramco, he has his right conditions here and on the back of some solid efforts in blinkers of late, he is certainly good enough to make the frame if he can overcome his wide gate. TURQUOISE KING (4) was found to not be striding out freely last time he ran in June when 5th to Arhat, he has had a freshen-up but does have to defy a handicap mark he has found to be a little tough in the past, he did, however, win over 1400m three runs back and that run would make him a place chance here with a handy couple of kilos off his back.