Friday Singapore Race Previews - November 10
  Story By Mike Lee     

Friday, 10 November 2017: Singapore racing best bets, race by race analysis looking at the full Singapore card on Friday November 10 with selections and information on the main contenders.

Poseidon
Poseidon


RACE 1
In this Class 5 race it looks as if the form runners worth following are at the top of the race card. ACROSS THE SEA (1) for trainer Hideyuki Takaoka has been running solid enough races in Class 4 and Kranji D which suggests he is surely to be a player in this race. The last time he was presented to win was in this grade five starts back, over this distance carrying 58kg and he was up on the pace throughout but has landed gate 12 which is not ideal. JACKS SECRET (5) from the Mark Walker stable has been given the bridesmaid tag after three consecutive second placings when backed at the $17-$28 range. He had a wide gate last start of 10 which would have not aided his chances and he was also sporting the blinker-pacifiers for the first time. He must go close. LIM’S SIGNATURE (6), another of Mark Walker’s charges in the contest, has been placed 4th in his past two efforts and one of them was in the same races as stable mate Jacks Secret. In the most recent run he was seen finishing off very well from near last in the field and was home in 23.94, which was only second to the winner of that race – quartet must with Glen Boss up. One to watch out for in this race might just be SUN SEEKER (9) trained by Desmond Koh who arrives into Class 5 for the very first time but is another in this drawn wide. He has been able to place third twice in the handful of runs he has had over 1200m. Through past formlines in Class 4 he has names like Lim’s Samurai, Could Be Pearls, Eclipse Splash and Julius Caesar – so if he was on his A game for this he would be a definite chance.

RACE 2
On paper this looks to be a pretty even Class 4 1100m race on the Polytrack. SUPERSONICSURPRISE (2) has drawn gate 10 from the Theo Kieser stable, has won and run second in has past two performances and now finds himself back up in the ratings and the weights. He has been able to win off this mark and at the grade/distance back at the beginning of the year. That would still see him being competitive in this line-up. BOARD WALK’s (3) form has just dropped away over the last couple of runs but he could be a quartet chance of this mark. However, he may find 1100m a tad short, a distance that he hasn’t raced over since January. BIGDINERO (4) in his last two races over 1000m and 1100m has been seen to be running on well at the end of his races for 4th placings. They were off the back of a win at the trials. He looks like he is still on the up for trainer John O’Hara. It has been a long time since he has crossed the judge’s line first (February 2014) but maybe a win is not far away with 54.5kgs. Of the rest LITTLE BIG MAN (6) might be good enough to run into the quartet. He is a little hit and miss but looked ok at the trials recently behind Don De Le Vega who has been able to come out and win recently. The Lee Freedman-trained gelding was a last-start third back in August over 1400m, so he has been freshened for this assignment.

RACE 3
Not the strongest Restricted Maiden we have ever seen but still, someone has to win the thick end of the $75,000 prize. SATTAR (1) looks to be the leading player for Ricardo Le Grange and owner Mansoor Gandhi. In all four of his runs he has been beaten by some real talented types (Yabadabadoo, Augustano, Dutrow and Filibuster). He has been given time to get over his last run and has trailed behind his stable mate Ateej. Punters will be keen to get some cash back as he has gone around at either $7 or $9. ARC TRIUMPH (3), from the stable of James Peters, showed promise on debut when running 4th behind a promising up-and-comer Now You See in a Restricted Maiden. He was rather difficult to settle early and mid-race on debut but he has been back to the trials since then. So one would expect there to be natural improvement. SORBETA (6) from Cliff Brown’s yard has had two runs to date and has finished 6th in both of them, one of them behind Sattar. The 3YO has been back to the trials and has run a couple of nice placings. So he should be another one that can improve and be in the finish of this race. Of the newcomers at the bottom with the light weights, WOODEN HEART (10) for Michael Clements is only a 2YO (US-bred by The Factor from Elusive Allie) but won a trial first up by 4L in 61.45 and has subsequently been back to the trials once more for a 4th behind Grand Choice. It is never easy taking on the older horses that have raceday experience but it is not a strong line-up. Manoel Nunes rides with the 53.5kgs.

RACE 4
An interesting Initiation with many of the lightweight hopes shaping as major players. What makes this a little tougher is the lack of exposed form at 1600m. The progressive PARADOR (7) battled strongly behind a handy type last time. He is by Poet’s Voice who was a terrific miler, out of a mare who won over 2100m so all indications are the mile will be perfect. Unfortunately he has drawn poorly so Manoel Nunes will need to be at his best. IFFRAGAL (13) is a quality juvenile who will benefit from the booking for Nooresh Juglall and is perfectly drawn to run a big race. The Leslie Khoo-trained AUSPICIOUS DAY (8) has drawn perfectly and may look to race a little closer than he has in recent times. Only a lightly-framed horse who two starts ago missed the start and worked home well for an apprentice rider. Last start he battled on gamely in a leader-dominated race over the 1600m. He has since gone back to the trials and performed reasonably to prepare him for this race. He looks perfectly-placed at the weights but the biggest bonus is the addition of the senior jockey, Derreck David. TESSORO PRIVADO (6) seemed to have his chance last time after securing the run behind the leader. He is having his first try at the mile here and rates a strong contender.

RACE 5
This race is a second division of Class 5 to be run over 1200m and it’s not easy to try and assess with a rating spread of 22-42, so let’s just stick to the facts. TASSAJARA (4) for trainer James Peters has got in and out form at best and is a 22 start maiden in Singapore which doesn’t exactly ooze confidence. But these are the facts; of his eight 1200m races this year (mainly in Class 5, one in Kranji D and two in Class 4) he has two second placings, one third placing and he is on his lowest ever mark now of 39. GOLDEN MILE (5) has the services of Michael Rodd and was not liked at all last start with the quote of $120. Michael Rodd was on board two and three starts back and was supported so keep an eye on the market in respect to the Tan Kah Soon-trained galloper who has the blinkers back on and the tongue tied for the first time, which wasn't the case last time. GOLDEN COIN (7) for David Hill has only had 8 runs and has youth on his side compared to a few of his race rivals. He has been tried at varying distances from 1000m all the way up to 1700m but has not been seen at the 1200 since his debut run back in September 2016. Of the rest maybe CASSIS OOLONG (11) is worth a look off 24 rating points after the last start second placing. He was only beaten half a length with Alan Munro on board and he’s back to do the job again.

RACE 6
A handy field to line up for the two-turn Polytrack contest. CAPTAIN JAMIE (1) was far from outstanding last start and there was no tangible excuse for his poor performance last start when he went out at $14. Whatever his issues were he seems to be over them after a massive trial win last Thursday by 8.8L in 60.91. He steps up to the 1700m for the first time but on that effort he looks raring to go, the only negative would be the weight of 58.5kgs. SHOWAR (2) has really showed what he is capable with his last two runs for third and fourth placings which have been his best runs since arriving in Singapore from New Zealand. Both of those have been over 1700m on the Polytrack which seems to be suiting him and he will give you a good run for your money up on the pace. BILLY BRITAIN (3) drops a kilo from his last assignment where he was beaten into 5th placing over the 1800m which was run in track record time and he is slowing dropping points and is just about back down at a winnable mark for him at this point in his career. Of the rest KHUDAWAND (5) from the Michael Clements stable with Glen Boss riding has been running well in recent times including winning two starts back. He was only beaten half a length into 5th in a race where there was a real blanket finish, he’s drawn a handy gate.

RACE 7
A wonderful line-up to face the starter in the Group 2 $350,000 feature on Friday night, the EW Barker Trophy. POSEIDON (1) from the Cliff Brown stable was a last-start winner of the Racing Guide Classic over 1400m and is now on a career high rating of 100 points. He certainly put himself into the race and was able to score well; Brown has been back to the trials with him and he looked to close off nicely, cops an extra kilo but must be respected. TWICKENHAM (3) was a last-start Group 3 Committee’s Prize winner from the Stephen Gray stable aided by a nice ride from CC Wong. He has had a quiet spin around at the trials back at the end of October to prepare him for this race. However, he won’t find it easier with the extra weight, but still looks to be a quartet player. ARAMCO (7) is a quality sprinter from the Shane Baertschiger stable and has no doubt been targeting this race as his grand final for the year. He is another of these that come through the Racing Guide Classic where he may have just been a tad plain in the straight. Trialled nicely behind his stablemate Faaltless last week which should have trimmed him up and the fact that he drops to 53kgs means he is going to be dangerous. AFFLECK (8) was seen working exceptionally well on Tuesday morning from the Lee Freedman stable and his last run hinted that he might be returning to his previous wonderful form. He had been working very well prior to that 4th placing last start in the Racing Guide Classic and also was a trial winner recentl. So one would think if he has trained on he could also be a player with the 52.5kgs.

RACE 8
A superb supporting race to the EW Barker Trophy! And they are more than likely not going to hang around here over the 1100m with plenty of really talented speedsters in the mix. The selection in this ultra-competitive heat will be GOLDEN TOMAHAWK (12). This likeable 6yo now drops nicely in weight for a 1.3L defeat last start and has not finished outside of the top four in twelve runs since December 4th of last year and his run last time out when flashing home from the back of the field to gain 3rd behind Elite Star and Kratos in a closing sectional of 22.97 was a very good effort indeed. He will, however, need plenty to go his way in this and will plenty of confirmed early pace in the race, he might just get what he desires and given that piece of form from July when third in a slightly better race with some good types behind him, he is chosen to go a couple of places better in this. GRAND CROSS (3) has hardly been seen this year and is also rarely seen in action on the Polytrack but one thing is assured is that he is in great form with a recent trial success in the manner of the very talented horse he is. He won his trial in very good style without his usual blinkers on and looked ready to run a big race on the back of that and his past record shows that he will strip fitter for his first-up run. He can certainly make his presence felt with some Polytrack form earlier on in his career. KRATOS (13) was narrowly denied last time behind Elite Star but lost nothing in defeat for the Cliff Brown team. All three wins have come over 1000m and he is a horse with bags of early speed. He is still lightly enough raced and the form of his runs three and two starts back has worked out very well. He should be right there in the thick of things if able to secure a run. LIM’S SHOT (11) is back on his more preferred surface here and this on-pace runner has been running well and can once again fill the frame.

RACE 9
Handy line-up to partake in the lucky last first division of Class 4 1100m contest. SILKINO (2) has been in great from out of the stable of David Hill, winning two of his last three runs and he ran second in the other. He is looking for the three-peat which is never easy to do in Singapore. He is still in Class 4 but rises to 58kgs from his last start weight of 53.3kgs where he prevailed over Dutrow. He won’t get any favours from barrier 10. This will be his toughest task to date! MOKASTAR (6) comes out of running third in a Novice race which was back at the beginning of October behind Yabadabadoo. He has been given plenty of time to get over that race and carried 3kgs more than that effort but should be more than competitive in Class 4 for the first time. DECRETO (9) ran home alright last start for Mark Walker but can be a bit hit and miss from time to time but chased home Filibuster in the second quickest sectional of 22.76, keep an eye on for him at the end of the race. SILK ROUTE (11) went round at a big price in a Kranji D last start when he was 4th and steps into the Class 4 race for trainer James Peters. He has only had a handful of runs in the grade with his best placing being 5th. 51.5kgs is a positive so he could be a player for the back end of the quartet.