Friday, 27 October 2017: Friday Singapore Previews for Friday October 27 at Kranji.

Filibuster

RACE 1
A real mixture of horses in this line-up with some close to winning form and others that have been battling. HOT GOLD (2) for trainer Tan Kah Soon was a fraction disappointing last start at $37, and you can put that down to having respiratory distress, therefore meaning he had to go back to the trials. He trialled back on October 12 and was a nice enough fourth behind Eastiger. He had again ended up with 56.5kgs but will claim 1kg with CC Wong and is worth a look again. OCEAN MASTER (3) out of the Leticia Dragon stable boxed on okay last start in a maiden race carrying 53.5kgs. Into a Class 5 race which should suit but carries 2kg extra taking into account Troy See’s claim, which might be the concern. Still good enough to be a quartet player. FLYING SHADOW (4) is a fairly hard horse to follow but he is definitely up to winning this if he is at his very best. The Alwin Tan-trained galloper was unlucky last start after not being able to secure a run in the straight when required. He’s a horse than can finish quite quickly and showed that two back. COOL CAT (9), the oldest horse still currently racing in Singapore (but he doesn’t know it) continues to race well and at this stage of his career looks to be better suited over 1100m which is what he gets in this race. You can only admire this horse’s zest for racing and you can count on him being in there at the business end of the race.

RACE 2
The second race will see the debut runs of five newcomers to Singapore in a Restricted Maiden. There have been glimpses of talent on the trial track but not much has been revealed, so the market may prove to be the best guide. Of the raced horses DESTROYER ECLIPSE (5) is bred to get over further being by Alamosa out of a Zabeel mare but still ran well first-up when beaten in good time behind Filibuster. He didn’t have the speed to match the winner but he stuck on gamely and he certainly will strip fitter and appreciate the extra distance. FUSION POWER (7) has the pace and from a good barrier draw he should just about lead this field. After bringing some good trial form from New Zealand, his first Singapore run was excellent and he ran the 1200m strongly. He has since gone to the trials where he did a Test Trial in blinker-pacifiers, leading the field before easing down late. He will wear the pacifiers here and will benefit from the race outing over some more inexperienced rivals. MASTER MINER (10) has had three trials, and he might just be the pick of the first starters. His most recent trial was good, closing in on the fence in respectable time. LIM’S RHYTHM (9) missed the start last time and had to play catch-up from there. Despite the fact it never looked like winning it ran on pretty well at the end. The dam is by Zabeel and he is shaping as a gelding who will benefit from extra ground.

RACE 3
ON ELECTRIC AVENUE (2) has been a consistent horse of late and with a staying on third last time, he is selected to score here. Racing from a wide gate last time out, John Powell was slightly forced to go back and ride him for a bit of luck and once finding racing room the 5yo finished off very nicely in 22.37 behind a couple of handy types without his usual blinkers on. That was his first go at 1400m and on the back of that effort, he is worth another go at the trip and can get his head in front once again here. The horse that will give On Electric Avenue most trouble is SILENT BOSS (3) who won well when up in trip last time out for John O'Hara and Nooresh Juglall at $16 when beating a nice progressive horse in the shape of Don De La Vega (trial winner since) and with him still being a colt, there is surely still more improvement to come from this horse who finds a nice little race for his first start in this grade. COUNTRY QUACK (4) has been in the market on his last few starts in pacifiers but has been a touch disappointing, with the head gear removed and stepping back up in trip as well the return to turf, he is one to keep an eye on in this and any market support could be very suggestive indeed. Completing the quartet is PENTAGON (1). The trip and surface suit this ex-David Hill-trained galloper and he is returning to action on the back of two trials and the 1kg claim of Singapore's leading apprentice is no bad thing either.

RACE 4
An intriguing Maiden race on the Polytrack over 1600m. Long-standing maiden AMIABILITY (1) is now with trainer Kuah Cheng Tee’s stable and has threatened on many occasions now and really needs to front up. $37, $30, $20 & $25 have been his recent prices with his biggest losing margin in his last four runs being 4.5L. He is no superstar but he must go close again, and maybe win this time. DISCRETELY RED (2) caught the eye last start in a Maiden race behind Athena. The Mark Walker-trained gelding had the blinker-pacifiers on for the first time in his previous run and got himself into an awkward spot near the 700m but hit the line nicely and the step-up to the mile looks ideal with Vlad Duric on. CASEY (3) was all right at his last-start effort in an Open Maiden race behind Cai Poh Wang. He was able to hold his position throughout the run and was only beaten 3.3L. He looks to be an improver from the Lee Freedman stable. YU LONG EMPEROR (7) looked to have no chance at all last start coming towards the home turn for Benny Woodworth when he was back on the fence and about 6/7L off the pace. He picked up the bit and flew home and was only one stride away from winning. Desmond Koh has sent him back to the trials and he was well beaten in what looked to be just a maintenance run. Watch out for him to steam home at the end.

RACE 5
There is plenty of depth to this Class 4 second division race with a few nice types lining up. BIRAZ (1) has been placed in two of his three starts in Singapore. He was good enough to win two races in New Zealand from six attempts including a narrow victory carrying 59kgs on a feature raceday. He is now right at the top end of Class 4 and produced an eye-catching run last start behind Silkino. DUSSERDOLF (2) is a newcomer to the stable of Shane Baertschiger (formerly with Lee and Anthony Freedman in Victoria) and arrived here with a record of 10 starts, 2 wins (1400/1600m) and three placings. He has had two trials since arriving and hasn’t been far away in either of them. He is worth noting for this race, however, he will be a bit better over further. LIM’S REGARD (3) is looking for the three-peat from the stable of Mark Walker. He hasn’t won by much at his last two victories, but it looked like last start he had a bit more to pull out if need be. That was back at the end of July so he has been freshened and has subsequently had a quiet trial in preparation for this run. Of the rest, maybe have a look at MIKCAIPHO (8) who hasn’t been far away in recent efforts and continues to be supported in the market. Daniel Meagher has given him plenty of time to get over his last run as he is a horse that suffers from heat stress, and last start Stewards noted it to be severe. Maybe he can produce his best in the marginally cooler evening in Singapore.

RACE 6
This Class 4 1700m contest is not the strongest line-up ever but there’s still a winner to be found. SHOWAR (1) put in an improved performance last start to nearly lead all of the way and claim victory. The James Peters-trained gelding went around at a big price ($298) and was beaten by 0.3L. He was wearing visors which looked to make a difference and he should not be discounted in this field. GOLD REWARD (3) broke his maiden status two runs back, only just, but ran into a stronger field last start which saw him well beat. He never really got warm at all and that may have been partly due to drawing in the extreme outside gate. Expect him to bounce back to some of his consistent prior form. ARR FLAIR (4) from the stable of Steven Burridge, which is flying at the present time, has gone close in his last four runs since winning in Class 5 over 1200m back in August. He is a versatile type in terms of distance and he looked very good flashing home from near last to figure in a blanket finish. Last start the gate probably dictated where he had to sit in the running which was maybe a little further back than connections would have liked. JUSTICE LASS (7) has had plenty of supporters in her last few runs and was backed into $19 last time out in Kranji D company. Little bit of a step-up into Class 4 but receives 4kg less in weight which looks to be of benefit.

RACE 7
No less than four last-start winners in this line-up including the very smart debut performance from FILIBUSTER (4). The Cliff Brown-trained filly put her barrier antics behind her and completely demoralised her race rivals by 3.5L. It was an impressive win because Manoel Nunes had to stoke her up and charge forward from her wide barrier draw to get the front and once she did she stayed there. She should improve and go on with it one would think with the 55.5kgs again. SHAQRAA (6) was a last-start winner with the senior Oscar Chavez replacing an apprentice who had been riding the horse and was able to get him home for the Chavez loyal connections as he had been a little bit costly for backers in starts prior. His only two wins have come with light weights so the extra points have bumped him up to 55.0kg, which seemingly he has struggled with and anything beyond that. ELITE WARRIOR (8) from the stable of Saimee Jumaat looks to have been improving with recent runs. That includes a third behind Silkino last time out when he made good ground from well back. Has since been to the trials and was third 3.8L from the winner again with the pacifiers like he had last start. NOVA CLASSIC (14) is probably worth a look in this field for trainer Lee Freedman should he get into the field as second emergency. He is still yet to win in six starts and coming through Maiden and Open Maiden races where he has been fancied and receives a nice light weight from some of the stronger types at the top of the class.

RACE 8
An interesting mix of the new versus the tried and true in this Class 4 1200m race. The new being PAPARAZZI (3) who put them away very stylishly in his first Singapore run for Shane Baertschiger and jockey Glen Boss. Had the perfect weight to win last start but goes up 2.5kgs for this assignment, however the manner in which he won last time should give you no concerns for the line-up he meets here with John Powell on board. Looks a great chance to go back-to-back and one of the better bets of the night. SOUTHERN SPUR (7) is one to watch in this race, especially from the way he recently trialed with the shadow roll and pacifiers on. Still yet to win a race from his five raceday starts, he has gone around supported on a couple of occasions. So in this race he is a market watch for sure with Vlad Duric up. COPACABANA (8) for the Group 1-winning team of A’Isisuhairi Kasim and Cliff Brown is resuming off the back of three runs at the trials including placing second in the most recent of them on 19/10. In all of his runs this year, $27 has been his biggest quote in the market, so it’s probably fair to say he has been a fraction costly for punters. Maybe the freshen-up has been of benefit to him and if it has he would have to be considered for the quartet. LIM’S BLAST (9) was a last-start winner on the Polytrack for James Peters. On that occasion he had a lovely run on the inside and got out at the right time to avoid a tiring runner. He has only been unplaced in two of his five runs and is more than capable of fronting up for a good effort in his Class 4 debut.