Friday, 3 November 2017: Singapore form previews for the meeting on Friday November 3 at Kranji.

Supernova

RACE 1
A competitive looking Class 5 on paper with many chances in the field. GET GOING (4) may well have done a bit too much early on in the race last time out when running 3rd on only his second Class 5 run. Always handy, they clocked 24.50 for the opening 400m and with that, he could well have paid the price with his finishing effort. Dropping back to 1200m here could suit him nicely as he travels kindly throughout his races and does find a suitable race to once again enter the winner’s enclosure. MUSCULAR DRAGON (6) was recently given a strong hit-out in a trial (60.41) to finish 3rd behind two Ricardo Le Grange-trained gallopers. Like the top elect, he is little raced in this company and has gone around at short odds in his last two starts. He will stay a bit further if required to do so here and is having his first start for Leticia Dragon who has her horses in pretty good nick at the moment. New trainer Young Keah Yong is yet to saddle a winner but he does, however, run a horse with a definite chance in this by the name of DICAPRIO (2) who faced a tough task on debut for this stable but did run very well on his Class 5 debut two back for the now retired Laurie Laxon. Judged on that piece of form and a return to the turf, he is a horse that can go well here. LEONARDO (5) doesn’t really jump off the page in this but last time out, there were more encouraging signs from this lightly-raced runner having closed off in 22.71 seconds and will be racing over more ground here.

RACE 2
This is perhaps not the strongest Restricted Maiden ever run, but plenty of interest will surround the newcomers in the field. The selection here is the Stephen Gray-trained EDDIE GRAY (2), A $65,000 2yo, he has had two trials in preparation for his debut and is a full brother to both Green Card (x4 wins in HK) and Green Light (x2). Extremely eye-catching in a recent turf gallop, this son of All American looks more than ready to make a winning debut here in the second of the day for his in-form handler. Another trainer doing good things with his youngsters is Cliff Brown and he will field newcomer KRANJI GOLD (5) here to be partnered by Barend Vorster. He has trialled nicely and at $77,500, this Hussonet 3yo has a nice pedigree also with his dam winning three and is a half-sister to Group 1 Adelaide Cup winner Exalted Time. He looks a progressive type judged on his trials and breeding. KING OF HOUSEHOLD (1) was an 85,000 euro 2yo from the Goresbridge sales and to date has trialled on eight occasions, showing form in those trials for Kuah Cheng Tee to suggest he can go well on debut with blinkers first time, but the fact he is a US-bred colt means he will have to shoulder the 57kgs and give upwards of 4kgs away to his rivals. Last of the selections is HARVEYWALLBANGER (3) who was far too green last month behind the useful Filibuster to do himself justice. He will now sport pacifiers and should hopefully have learnt a lot from the experience.

RACE 3
In this Maiden 1200m race it looks as if you can just concentrate on the top half of the field. BELT AND ROAD (1) from the stable of Desmond Koh has run a couple of okay races for 4th and 3rd placings and looks to be still improving. Wong Chin Chuen sticks with the horse but he has to be able to handle an awkward draw of 12 on the short course. He tried to lead last start and was run down in the straight. ONE KINABALU (3) from the very much in-form stable of Shane Baertschiger is trying to lose the maiden tag at his 12th time of asking. He had his first run back from a spell recently and made good ground in the home straight to finish in 22.36 only 2.4L away from the winner. He should have trained on nicely after the first-up pipe-opener and should go close to winning even though he has been shy of the winners stall in the past. KING OF WAR (4) for James Peters, who had two winners last Sunday, is another in this race who has been knocking on the door recently suggesting a win will come at short notice. Stepping up to 1200m from 1100m last start where he was beaten 3.7L into 5th and also dropping a kilo in weight to 55.5kgs with Michael Rodd should suit. LIBECCIO (5) is another long-standing maiden who lines up in this race for Stephen Gray and the in-form apprentice Amirul Ismadi. The big assist here will be the claim of Amirul, so will get down to 53kgs compared to recent runs where he has been lugging 55.5kgs or 57.5kgs and in those runs and always been within 3L of the winner. But be wary, another who has white line fever!

RACE 4
Tricky second Division of a Class 5 1200m with horses rated from 27-36. At the top of the ratings is MAGIC PAINT (1) for Leslie Khoo who has his team tuned up nicely with a handful of winners last weekend. He partners with Glen Boss (combination has also won recently) and this looks to be the ideal race for this horse as he has been well backed in two of his last three assignments ($18/$19). More than capable of winning a race like this and the jockey booking is key. SUPER BIG (4) for Kuah Cheng Tee who has certainly had his share of Class 5 winners this year must be accredited some chance in this race. Has Noh Senari on board providing a 2kg claim. Failed last start at $20 after leading but had been running well prior. Blinker-pacifiers have been applied for the first time. LUCKY BOY (5) also has a key jockey change and that is Vlad Duric riding for Mark Walker. He hasn’t been beaten overly far recently when priced between $19 and $40 and was narrowly beaten when on this rating of 36 (his lowest) four starts ago. Blinkers go back on for Friday night. MILLION ROUND (7) was heavily-backed two starts ago and could only manage second placing for Desmond Koh and Saifudin Ismail. He is only 2 rating points of his lowest ever mark of 31 where he has prevailed in the past and market support close to start time is key to his chances.

RACE 5
The feature race of the night with some old favorites in the line-up and none more so than SUPERNOVA (2) for Bruce Marsh. This 9yo is racing extremely well at the moment and although he had to settle for second last time out to McGregor after an epic battle up the Kranji straight he is better off at the weights with that runner this time around after giving him 4kg and going down by a narrow margin. A return to this trip of 1700m will do him no harm (beat Mighty Emperor over C/D in April). He has now won 10 races, three for Vlad Duric and owes nobody anything but he could well add this Benchmark race to his already impressive CV. Having only raced on the Polytrack just the once, BATTLE OF TROY (3) is a very interesting contender in this line-up. Raced almost exclusively at 1400m he made his local debut on this surface and early this year wasn’t beaten far behind subsequent Raffles Cup winner Gilt Complex and on his most recent run showed plenty of grit to beat the useful mare Siamese Cat. A big run is expected. MCGREGOR (4) was very good last start in defeating the selection in a great finish but he may have to settle for a place this time around at the revised weights. A winner over 1600m, so the trip will hold no fears for this Michael Clements-trained runner who will more than likely race forward as he did last time out. He is in good heart and should go well though a little more is required. MIGHTY EMPEROR (5) has recorded his last two victories over this course and distance and now has Nooresh Juglall in the saddle. He is a horse with tons of Polytrack form and can back up a good run last time with another one here.

RACE 6
There are plenty of well-tried types in this Class 5 1800m contest along with a couple of lightly-tried types. One of those is CASEY (1) for Lee Freedman and rider Craig Grylls. He has only had a handful of races and has improved in each of them and arrives into Class 5 for the first time. In a Maiden 1600m race last Friday, he was in front at one point in the home straight but was run down and it’s interesting that he moves to 1800m for the first time but he just might have a little more upside than some of his rivals. SATELLITE STAR (4) was a winner on the Polytrack over a mile three starts prior and has done his recent racing in Kranji D & Class 4 for Kuah Cheng Tee. Apprentice Noh Senari has been engaged to ride with a 2kg claim which will mean he rides at 57kgs. Was last time out in behind Secret Win who of course went on to win the El Dorado Classic and is now a Singapore Gold Cup contender. DESTINY KNIGHT (5) for Stephen Gray who calls on his apprentice Amirul Ismadi once again must be rated a hope in this race. A winner over this trip on the turf two back and not far from race rival and last-start winner Fortune Spirit at the 1600m. Receives 56.5kgs with the claim which should be ideal. FORTUNE SPIRIT (7) for Leticia Dragon and Olivier Placais steps to the 1800m after his winning performance last start on the turf with a light weight. No apprentice claim this time round but she should still be competitive in a race like this.

RACE 7
This is definitely one of the better races on the Friday night card at Kranji. DREAM COMES TRUE (2) for apprentice Chin Chee Seng ran a huge race last time and was only just downed by Guilty Pleasures. With that effort, this horse has gone up 3 rating points to land the top weight of 59kgs but has the benefit of the apprentice’s 4kg claim. This horse had been in good winning from a few starts ago when going back-to-back in a Kranji Stakes D. Was last start just a flash in the pan, or is he good enough to shape up in this with a bit more weight? SIAM SAPPHIRE (6) has been in great form recently winning two in a row and then running 1L third to Awesome last start over 1200m in Class 3 company. Michael Clements has dropped him back to 1100m and in his three runs at the trip he has never finished worse than fourth placing. Stablemate SUPER LINE (7) also comes though the same race as Dream Comes True which was two starts ago and was seen making strong ground at the end of the race. Most of his recent runs have been in Class 3 and off light weights so this won’t be easy with an extra 6kgs to carry in this line-up., Vlad Duric rides. UNSURPASSED (8) for Mark Walker and jockey Sahfiq Rizuan is another who has been racing extremely well in his past few runs. Carried a feather weight last time with an apprentice on so now has to lug an extra 9kgs which is a fair increase but he is a horse who has been able to carry 57kgs to victory in Class 4 which was four starts ago.

RACE 8
A very tricky puzzle to solve here. WAR STORY (6) showed enough last time out as a beaten favorite to suggest he can take this for Shane Baertschiger. He is only having his 10th start and although he has now had four runs in this grade, he has only been beaten under 3L in all of them, boxing on well last time out when the winner (Kubera’s Chief) had the best run in the race and with conditions to suit he is the tentative selection in this with the blinkers now removed. CERDAN (1) hasn’t looked like a horse to rely on totally having been a beaten favourite at his last three runs and not seen since April when turned over at $11! He is for that reason still yet to win in 17 raceday runs. He has trialled okay leading up to his debut here for Lee Freedman and this is not a strong race and he does have a bit more form than some, which would have to put him under consideration to at least make the frame in this. HEE’S FORTE (3) who will have to bounce back from a poor run last time but unlike a few of his rivals he has won two races since June and PARKER (4) has a decent piece of form in August when second to Unsurpassed which would give him some sort of claims in this also.

RACE 9
A cracking little Class 4 to finish with as always on this Friday night with many chances in the field. The nod will go the way of the Leticia Dragon-trained MELTING POINT (5) who on his first start here in Singapore was seen to great effect at the finish behind the very useful Deimos to close off in 22.90 (second quickest after winner) when 3rd over 1100m.The extra distance will suit this former Western Australian galloper who has wins at Ascot and Bunbury to his name over slightly further. DUTROW (3) has shown very solid form so far here in Singapore for Shane Baertschiger and last time out was beaten by the improving Silkino. He has done nothing wrong to date and over this extra 100m can certainly run another very good race. The downgraded TERMS OF REFERENCE (2) has been working very well and the form of his win over Splinter in June is good enough to give him a big chance in this. He faced a tough ask last time and this is much more his level. The quartet is completed by the sizable BUENOS AIRES (7). The James Peters-trained entire may well have needed a couple of runs to hit top form and will now sport a tongue-tie for the first time which can help him hit the line well here.