Friday, 6 October 2017: Singapore racing best bets, race by race analysis looking at the full Singapore card on Friday the 6th of October, with selections and information on the main contenders.

Mr Scorsese

RACE 1
This is the first of two Class 5 1200m contests on the Polytrack. AURORA AUSTRALIS (3) was having his first start on the Poly surface last time in this grade at this distance and ran a solid third placing. He has come up with the 56.5kgs once again and provided he can run on just like he did last start he should be in the finish at the business end. FLYING SHADOW (4) ended up getting quite a way back on the fence last start and rallied for second placing over 1000m, the extra distance should suit him should he run on at the end of the race. GOLDEN MILE (5) has done the majority of his racing over 1200m, which includes his only two victories. He was penalised for racing well a few starts ago and was put up into Class 4 but now back in his right grade he deserves a winning turn. He is now in the stable of Tan Kah Soon with Michael Rodd on board. TRIGGER MAN (6) was back in amongst the Class 5 gallopers last start when heavily backed to win at $11, however he was rather lacklustre in the straight and didn’t make up much ground in the hands of Vlad Duric over 1000m. He looks far better suited to 1200m Class 5 racing, his record 3:1-1-1. Manoel Nunes jumps on; do watch the market as that should prove to be a good guide on his chances.
RACE 2
An interesting race with plenty of newcomers in this Restricted Maiden. SATTAR (1) sat wide last start but produced a very respectable performance closing off to finish second behind the improving Dutrow. On that occasion barrier 11 proved to be his undoing but he still fought strongly. The son of Star Witness has now been beaten three times as favourite at $9, $7 and $9 so it will be interesting to see if punters go in hard again. This is the first time he has been asked to carry a significant weight but he has done everything right so far except win. His form around Augustano, Yabadabadoo and Dutrow looks fantastic and he shouldn’t be a maiden too much longer. FILIBUSTER (9) went back to the trials for further education after being scratched at the gates at its intended debut. On that occasion it was found to be lame but fortunate to escape serious injury after becoming cast in the stalls. The subsequent trial was good and she shapes as a serious threat if she handles the occasion. LIM’S RHYTHM (7) is having his first start after two handy trials. In both trials he has overraced which is a concern but it has also worked home well. The dam, Paixanito was a one-time winner in New Zealand and probably best to watch the market for any hints of interest with this newcomer. Debutant HARVEYWALLBANGER (6) is still learning but making positive strides at the trials and the booking of Michael Rodd on this gelding instead of stablemate Filibuster is eye-catching. The dam Radio Song was a speedy type who won five races in NSW including two at Canterbury and one at Rosehill.
RACE 3
This is a tricky little contest with a couple of last-start Class 5 winners and a few others that are somewhat out of sorts. NOVA WARRIOR (1) is a seven-race winner who has raced at a career-high rating of 89 but finds himself off 61 and in Class 4. He hasn’t been tried over 1100m since October last year but he has a handy record over the journey, 6 starts for 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third, 1 fourth as well as an unplaced effort in Kranji A. Should be respected in this line-up. SPECIAL KING (3) from the Group 1 stable of Alwin Tan is only lightly-tried and gets back to a distance that he was able to win over earlier in the year. He has run a couple of handy races recently over 1000m and 1200m behind some nice types. So he needs to be considered at this distance in a weak line up, Nunes to ride. Maybe have a look at BIGDINERO (4). Yes he has been woefully out of form but won a trial last week in 60.69 for trainer John O’Hara. He has performed in Class 3 for a victory over the 1100m journey and his best run this year was for a second placing in the grade/distance back at the end of April, just hard to catch! MY HORSE (6) probably had every chance last start and meets a similar field to last start with the addition of the crossover nose-band for the first time.
RACE 4
There are a few types in this towards the top of the card that are the ones punters will be concentrating on. ATHENA (1) is one of those who is well overdue a win. She ran home nicely last start behind the brave Lord Of Cloud to be beaten 1.2L. Before the 2kg claim the 59kgs was a negative but trainer Cliff Brown uses the services of apprentice Amirul Ismadi. NEW SENSATION (2) from the very much in from Shane Baertschiger yard, who has also engaged 3kg claimer Syafiq Hazman. Well backed in pretty much all of his raceday appearances and has either finished second or third in his last four runs and also came through the same race as race rival Athena. SAHABA (3) has appeared three times at the races for three placings and is not without a chance in this line-up. Ran into the smart Captain Jamie last time out who broke their hearts, but he was the best of the rest. The 2kg claim of comeback apprentice jockey Noh Senari could prove vital at the business end. Now there were probably two or three others that could be touched on but narrowing it down to DISCRETELY RED (7) from the Mark Walker stable who produced a good performance at the trials last week with the addition of blinker-pacifiers and a crossover noseband to run home nicely for second place. He has been backed and beaten before but he will be one to watch with those gear changes.
RACE 5
22-35 rated race which looks to be a bit of a minefield. FAST JET (1) doesn’t help his winning chances at all by being so far back all of the time then arriving when the party is all but over at the end. He hasn’t gone around at anything bigger than $36 in his past four assignments and on paper 57.0kgs seems to be a barrier but they have claimed 1kg with Erasmus Aslam. KASHAN (5) has run a couple of useful races for placings recently but over 1600 and 1700m. He has been versatile enough to perform at this distance without winning and from the in-form stable of Mark Walker must be accredited some sort of chance. MILLION ROUND (6) showed what he is more than capable of last time out when arriving on the scene for second placing. He ended up being caught wide in the run and that placing marginally improved Saifudin Ismail’s record onboard the horse to 26:0-2-1. PERFECT CHALLENGER (7) has been supported in his last two outings but to no avail. This five-time winner from 67 starts was only just beaten two back and followed that up with a moderate performance last time. He is hard to catch at best.
RACE 6
A really nice Kranji Stakes C over the 1600m in prospect with several in-form horses coming into the race. The selection will be MR SCORESE (1) for Lee Freedman, seen to very good effect last time out when staying on nicely over 1400m in a closing sectional of 22.98 behind the very useful Eclipse Splash, since then the race has taken two notable boasts with both Chopin’s Fantaisie (2nd) and Show Far Show Good (5th) winning since. Outclassed in the Singapore Derby on his penultimate start, the 5yo grey has had two trials leading up to this (both run in under 60 seconds) and stepping back up to the mile can see him go very close here. David Hill will be hopeful of another good run from his own in-form grey GOLD FAITH (5), the winner of his last two races. This likeable type has excelled since dropping to Kranji Stakes D two runs back and was able to back that up with an equally as impressive success last time out when sporting a crossover noseband. Both of those wins were on the Polytrack, however, and he would need to prove his effectiveness on the turf track (has won on turf in the UK) now. Two-from-two under Vlad Duric, this bang in-form galloper can once again run very well up in grade. IRON MAN (2) is a horse with decent form in the grade and last time out when fourth to the classy Chopin’s Fantaisie, the trip is ideal and the stable of Ricardo Le Grange are in very good form, he is a must for the quartet. BANDIDO (3) chased well last time when second to Supernova at big odds and can once again run into the money here for John O’Hara and Nooresh Juglall.
RACE 7
A number of the contenders in this race are holding good form at the present time, one of those is CONSTANT JUSTICE (3). The Mohd Yusof- trained five-year-old went very close in a Benchmark 97 1100m race behind a couple of very useful types last time out at only his second run over 1100m. He looks to be one of the major players in this line-up. GRAND CROSS (4) for James Peters has had time away from the races; his last start was back in March when he was gunned down in the straight by G1 performer Alibi. He has had a couple of quiet trials for fifth placing throughout August and September and has performed in all four runs over this trip. MIGHTY CONQUEROR (6) for the leading trainer Mark Walker, who was in hot form last Sunday, must be respected with what he had produced over the last three months. He produced a magnificent time over 1000m in Class 3 company two starts ago and last start wasn’t disgraced when he ran into the talented Sir Isaac. AL GREEN (8) steps into Kranji C for the first time and needs to be given serious consideration with 50kgs on his back. He was to powerful and put them away stylishly when presented first-up and he has been given plenty of time to get over his last-start effort. This looks to be a suitable race for him with Wong Chin Chuen’s 1kg claim.
RACE 8
There are a few in-form runners in the grade that are certainly worth following in the get-out stakes. BROTHER WIND (1) was a Class 4 1400m winner two starts ago and backed that up with a good performance last start for second placing. He came from a similar position in the run just like he did when he won but wasn’t able to quite peg back the winner who he lines up against again. That being HUMDINGER (2) from the stable of Bruce Marsh. He continued to run home nicely throughout his last four or five starts without sticking his hoof on the till. However he was able to do that last start and is always a horse that seems to produce his absolute best in the last 150m. An extra 3kgs definitely won’t make it easy for him. GOLD CROWN (4) has been knocking on the judge’s door in his recent starts for trainer Cliff Brown. He is a horse that always puts himself into the race and gives you a good run for your money but just hasn’t quite been able to strike. He has won over 1400m back at the beginning of 2016 but not in the grade. LORD OF CLOUD (5) produced the goods on debut for Leticia Dragon. He had no favours at all in the run when he was caught wide throughout but had the stamina and will to stay on at the finish and fight, it was a terrific run. Stepping up from an Open Maiden race into a Class 4 contest is never easy and if he has come through that hard-fought win, he is worth looking at.