Sunday Singapore Race Previews - November 12
  Story By Mike Lee     

Friday, 10 November 2017: Singapore racing best bets, race by race analysis looking at the full Singapore card on Sunday November 12 with selections and information on the main contenders.

Infantry
Infantry



RACE 1

A tricky little race to open the card here, with the nod going the way of the lightly-raced REFRESH (5) for David Kok and now partnered by leading jockey Vlad Duric. A nice winner on debut over the useful-looking Boy Wonder next time out, he was short of room at a vital stage of the race and never really recovered to finish 7th to Super Ball beaten just over 4L. He has since trialled and ran 3rd to subsequent winner Don De La Vega and now looks to find another winnable race here. NORTHERN SUN (1) ran out a good winner at $13 on his latest start over 1200m when making all, the rise in distance could be a slight concern as the couple of times he has run at the trip he has underperformed but if he sees it out here he should be very competitive in this company. THE WIND (7) was disappointing recently when a very well-backed $13 chance behind Heracles. He will need to bounce back from that effort but has been dropped a couple of points, and now back into a Kranji D, he can improve upon that poor run last time. SHE’S THE ONE (14) finally won at the 14th time of asking last start in a Class 5 race and on the back of that confidence-boosting performance, she should be able to make an impact in this slightly stronger contest from gate 1.

RACE 2

The stallion Darci Brahma should have a big say in the result of this Class 4 as he is the sire of numerous leading fancies including SKY ROCKET (7) who will wear the colours of 2007 Singapore Gold Cup winner Recast. So it would be appropriate if he could win on Singapore’s biggest day. He was a late developer and was destined for Hong Kong before failing a vet check. He now races in Singapore and he backed up his terrific trial form in New Zealand and Singapore to post a gutsy debut victory. On that occasion he worked hard, clocking 23.98 for his first 400m sectional. Highly regarded by trainer Stephen Gray, further improvement can be expected and he is the likely favourite. Also by Darci Brahma is KINGSMAN (2) who is an interesting runner from New Zealand and boasts a seventh in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas as well as a Group 3 placing over 1200m. He has had two trials including a resounding 2.5L win in slow time when wearing blinker-pacifiers. DREAMWEAVER (1) had a nice run in transit before being blown away in track record time on the Polytrack by the smart Filibuster. He loves to lead, he loves the turf and has a great record at Class 4 level. He might take some catching if he finds the lead. METALLOCENE (9) is still learning and found the tempo too hot last time when a battling third. Would need to improve a little as he has never gone quicker than 1:11.12 over 1200 which probably wouldn’t be good enough to win here.

RACE 3

This looks a reasonable Restricted Maiden with a few of the contenders easy to ignore. MAGIC WAND (8) is the pick of the newcomers from the trials with two excellent victories. An $85,000 purchase, Magic Wand is a chestnut who moves impressively and with a positive booking of Manoel Nunes, the son of Star Witness looks like one of the likely favourites here. EASTIGER (1) raced a little too keenly with the blinkers at his last start when a creditable third. If Michael Rodd can get him to settle he rates a strong chance. The son of Magic Albert shapes as a promising type who is still learning but has found a winnable sort of race here. LONHRO GOLD (7) was given a galloping lesson by a smart type last time but should find it easier here. He had trialled nicely enough prior and is open to natural improvement at just his second run. LIM’S SENSATION (6) was purchased for $34,000 in 2016 from the Magic Millions 2yo Sales on the Gold Coast. The dam was only moderate in ability with a 1000m victory in weak company. Lim’s Sensation’s only trial was sound and the market activity will give the biggest clues to the gelding’s chances.

RACE 4

The fourth is a Kranji Stakes D with LIM’S PERSHING (2) looking one of the better hopes. He was home for all money last time before having to share the prize in a dead heat result. Importantly, he was able to sit much closer to the speed and if he can race handy here he will be hard to catch again. Trained by Steven Burridge he has the winkers off and blinkers going on. He cruised around in a recent trial wearing blinkers finishing last but he still looked good and looks a progressive type. MR MOSA (5) has the significant addition of blinkers. He has been in the top three on six occasions with blinkers and with a positive jockey booking of Karis Teetan to ride from an excellent barrier, sharp improvement is expected. SILENT ARROW (13) has talent and now gets into his perfect race, boasting a good record over course and distance. He has done much of his recent racing over shorter trips and showed he was building to victory with an excellent second in a Class 4. Vlad Duric secures the ride and expect him to be well supported. GALILEO’S APPROACH (1) was a beaten horse at the 400m when stepping up to Class 4 last start. He ran his first 400m in 24.29 which was too slick and he wilted on the firm surface over 1600m. He drops back in trip and back in grade here which are positives, and on previous form would be hard to beat.

RACE 5

An interesting little line-up for this one with a few nice, unexposed types in the field. The nod will go to FIRST LIGHT (9) for the Mark Walker team. He has only had three starts to date and is showing improved form in all three resulting in a nice success last time out when defeating New Sensation. Always handy throughout, First Light demonstrated a likeable attitude to win the race over slightly further than Sunday’s trip, the drop back in distance shouldn’t inconvenience him. He has had a nice easy trial since then and most definitely looks a horse to keep on the right side of. WONDERFUL KNIGHT (2) will have to work from an outside gate and likes to lead but isn’t guaranteed to get his own way in front here. He only found one too good last time in the form of Lim’s Royal when bidding to make all under Benny Woodworth. He is holding good form at present and off a mark of 61 would still be feasibly handicapped on his best form. One of the more intriguing runners in the race is the ex-Mick Price-trained galloper BAFFERT (5), now with Cliff Brown and will be the mount of Karis Teetan. This son of Exceed And Excel has won once from eight starts with the win coming on the synthetics at Geelong back in August 2016 and was placed on his most recent runs in a couple of starts at Moonee Valley back in February. He has won his only trial in 60.60, finishing off nicely to score and looks capable of a decent showing here on his local debut for an in-form stable. LIM’S BLAST (7) will complete the quartet in this on the back of a nice staying performance behind Queen Roulette recently. He got a long way back and did prove slightly difficult to settle but once levelled off, he ran home in 22.51 and a repeat of that should see him at least gain a top-four finish.

RACE 6

Only a smallish field but a quality one assembled for the chief supporting race to the day’s feature Singapore Gold Cup here over 1200m. The on-top pick here has to be the fast-improving SUPER FORTUNE (9) who so far in Singapore has gone from strength to strength for Alwin Tan. The form of his most recent success is proving to be very strong with the 5th on that day being Skywalk who has since gone on to win a good Class 3 in a blistering 57.92! He has since run third in a trial and in that trial was given a nice little hit-out through the line by Olivier Placais and trackwork reports have also been glowing about this promising galloper. This is a tougher ask for Super Fortune in this grade but he is certainly worth taking a chance with here given the way his form is working out. FAALTLESS (1) sets the standard here with a mark of 103 and that in no small way courtesy to his brilliant all-the-way win in the Group 3 Garden City Trophy back in August (beating a good field) and since then showed he was no back number when scoring off a 10-point higher mark in a similar race under Vlad Duric. Shane Baertschiger’s charge is now racing off a career-high mark but looked good in his latest trial when winning in 59.92 and looks set fair to run another excellent race given the vein of form he is in. WIMBLEDON (2) clearly hated the racing surface in South Korea when competing at their international meeting in September. Prior to that run this China Horse Club-owned galloper was showing very good form in some top quality sprints most notably his third-placed effort in the Merlion Trophy behind subsequent Singapore Derby winner Infantry. James Peters has trialled this attractive entire since his Korean escapade and he looked good in that. So there’s a big hope he can return to something like his best form. DISTINCTIVE DARCI (4) isn’t as well suited to racing on turf as he is on Polytrack but he is in good form of late and has run okay in the past on the grass and has a nice racing weight of 53.5kgs for this.

RACE 7

This Novice race could well prove to be very informative for future form reference with some really nice types in the field and many of them look to have very bright futures ahead of them. The pick on top will be EASY DOES IT (9), trained by Stephen Gray, this Super Easy 3yo created a good impression on debut to win over some nice types at $21, always handy throughout under Alan Munro to score comfortably over Ateej and Zac Kasa (trial winner since). He looks a very progressive horse and with no weight scale in this race, he looks nicely in against the 4yo’s. GOLD CITY (4) was impressive on her debut winning going away in 22.01 for Michael Rodd last month and the form of that race has since taken a nice boost since the third-placed One Kinabalu winning next time out, she has to give 3.5kgs to the selection but it would be no great surprise to see her put it up to Easy Does It and make him work for the victory here. Another 4yo in the line-up that certainly looks useful is BOY WONDER (5) now with Lee Freedman. Steadily improving with every start, he looked good in a recent trial when 2nd to Gold Cup contender Jupiter Gold (62.13) and the form of his latest run when 2nd has worked out well with three winners since from down the field, he can continue to progress and run a nice race in this. Making up the top four can be FEROCIOUS (11), 3rd in the Group 3 1400m Juvenile Championships behind Mr Hanks and Iffragal (has disappointed since) he was clear of the 4th on that occasion. He has had an easy trial leading up to this and is back in trip which will suit him.

RACE 8

MAGIC CITY (3) is a promising horse for the future and who has been spelled after a terrific preparation for Laurie Laxon. He is now trained by Lee Freedman and trialled without blinkers recently but will wear the headgear in this race. He has built a reputation as a hard horse to get past as he is tenacious in a close finish. DRACO (7) is a high quality 4yo who will enjoy the shift back to the turf, a surface he has won all of his three victories on. He was gallant in defeat last time on the Polytrack flying home to be narrowly denied, indicating that Class 3 holds no fears for this son of Falkirk. He has an extremely strong finishing burst, so he will be hard to hold off if the pace is on. WEBSTER (9) disappointed slightly when a beaten favourite last time but his form prior cannot be questioned. He climbed up to Open Benchmark 67 very quickly and should appreciate the break he has had. He trialled recently and raced handy in the trial and looked strong finishing 4th. He should run a terrific race here. BRAHMA CIRCUS (5) has been racing pretty well and looms as a healthy quartet option. He will enjoy getting back to 1200m here after a fair run over 1400m last start. His runs prior had been very good. He has trialled nicely and will appreciate the 2kg apprentice claim.

RACE 9

The 2017 Dester Singapore Gold Cup shapes as a terrific renewal with an exceptionally open race. The handicap conditions have favoured the lighter-weighted horses in recent years. INFANTRY (1) is the best horse in Singapore currently but circumstances have gone against him. The Derby winner is coming off a stirring victory in the Kranji Mile where he sustained a severe gash to the fetlock which saw him miss the Raffles Cup. Infantry has already won four features this year ranging from 1200m to 2000m but many doubters think the injury setback will be too much for him. This is just his second run since the Derby in July and it will take a monumental effort from horse and trainer to carry the top weight to victory. SECRET WIN (16) forced his way into the Gold Cup courtesy of his El Dorado Classic (G3) success closing off with a brilliant turn of foot to score. He has all the right ingredients to win a Gold Cup. He has the lightweight, he stays the distance and he is coming through the traditional lead-up race, much like Quechua and Bahana have done in recent years. Must rate a huge chance here for Dan Meagher who is chasing his biggest ever success as a trainer. GILT COMPLEX (2) pays the penalty for his Raffles Cup win and it will be an amazing performance to win the final two legs of the Triple Crown. But he is in form, he is versatile and he runs the distance strongly. ELITE EXCALIBUR (3) ran home strongly in the Raffles Cup, he ran fifth in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas in Australia as a 3yo over 2000m and hit the line strongly over the same trip in the Derby in July. He failed to handle the wet track in the Kranji Mile but showed his class on a firm surface in the Raffles Cup. Has now finished as a runner-up at Group 1 level twice in Singapore and deserves a big win. The Cliff Brown-trained gelding needs the rain to stay away. If 2nd Emergency Chairman gets a run he will be one of the leading hopes and it will be a great shame if he doesn't get a spot in the field as he is in form, runs the distance strongly and has a light weight.

RACE 10

This Class 4 mile event looks an ideal opportunity for THE ODDS (12) to go back-to-back for James Peters. Able to score last time after some less than troublefree runs prior, the Casino Prince 4yo was not stopping at the end of the 1400m in a concluding sectional of 23.12 and on that evidence looks as if this trip will be right up his street. He is going the right way and can take this contest with Alan Munro taking over in the saddle. MR EXCHEQUER (4) has always been rather well thought of by Shane Baertschiger and last start showed a bit like his better form when 3rd to the highly exciting Lim’s Magic last month. 2nd on that occasion was Humdinger who was just over a length ahead and at the revised weights he can turn that form around with Bruce Marsh’s charge, he can be expected to come on nicely for his latest effort. One horse to catch the eye of many last time out would have been STORM TROOPER (3) for Mark Walker and partnered by the inexperienced apprentice Hanafi Noorman. After a slow beginning, Storm Trooper was detached a long way off the main body of the field only to rocket home in 23.31 making up tons of late ground, he has registered four of his five wins for senior jockeys and with stronger handling here, he can make an impact with champion-elect Vlad Duric taking over. HUMDINGER (2) has been in great form of late and last time out chased home a very smart type in the shape of Lim’s Magic and on the back of that form he can run another honest race in this.

RACE 11

CHOCOLATS (5) will most likely benefit from his first-up run in Singapore where he was a heavily-backed beaten favourite. He may have just found the 1400m a touch too far for his first-up run and punters can expect an improved performance. He has since gone back to the trials and looked impressive when quietly closing in at the business end. He has some impressive Australian form to his name including a 5.5L win at Newcastle. Chocolats has drawn a beautiful barrier and trainer Shane Baertschiger has opted to take the blinkers off giving him every chance of settling and running the 1400m strongly. LIM'S ROYAL (1) is a very promising type who was suited by the fast tempo set by the runner-up last start. He has terrific turn of foot and should absolutely love the extra furlong trip over the 1400m here in this. He went back and had a quiet trial with Pacifiers recently but will not wear the pacifiers in this race. From the barrier he might get a fair way back but he will hit the line very hard. MADE IN CHINA (10) is coming through the same race as Chocolats. On that occasion, he ran well for Frenchman Olivier Placais. He has drawn perfectly and can certainly win. WHOSE ELSE'S (3) is limited with talent but he is very honest and should be included in exotic bets as he is well suited at Class 4 over 1400m. Probably needs everything to go his way to win but rarely runs a bad race.