After a very short break, racing returns from Singapore on Sunday with six races including the Group 3 New Year Cup over 1900m. 

The Polytrack feature (race 10) looks a beauty with some of Singapore’s best stayers hoping to start the New Year with a bang. 

In particular the South African-bred LIZARRE, who is having his first start since a heart-breaking second in the $1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup. 

The JET MASTER gelding almost capped off what was a perfect first campaign under 2011 Champion Trainer Pat Shaw, and although this race is not in the same echelon as the time-honoured Gold Cup, it would be a nice consolation and a good start to what could be a very big year. 

Earlier in the card, some of Singapore’s most exciting sprinters get their chance for an early win in the new season in race 7. 

GINGERBREAD MAN – who will be looking at races like this to prepare him for a possible Dubai campaign – will be all the rage but won’t get it all his own way giving weight to the likes of EXCAVATOR, MERCHANT and crowd favourite, the rising 11YO, CAPABLANCA. 

It looks a solid mixed surface card to start the season with races 7, 9 and 10 on the Polytrack and races 8, 11 and 12 on the Short Course (A), Turf. 

Best Bets; LIZARRE (race 10, win), EXCAVATOR (race 8, each-way) and TRUDEAU (race 12, each-way).

Bankers for Jackpots: Race 9 (3, 8 and 9), race 10 (1, 2, 3 and 4), race 11 (8 and 9), race 12 (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11).

Race cards and Larry Foley's synopsis follows and for updates on all runners go to www.kranjiracing.com

Please note the odds listed are "reference odds" only.

RACE 7: PEACE & JOY 2012 HANDICAP CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 15:55 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "This race looks super even and most, if not all, have winning hopes. That being the case, we should get value for a few of these and happy to think a horse like CORSAGE gets out to very backable odds given he is coming off a shocker. But the Mark Walker-trained mare had excuses that day (wide gate for one) and given she looked the winner two starts back in a similar affair, can bounce back with winkers removed and better gate factors. Another who did nothing last start after drawing badly was BAY OF ISLAND. Trained by Stephen Gray, the NZ-bred 7YO was heavily supported two starts back in a similar affair and although slightly disappointing that day, will win again in this grade so worth following. The two obvious from what they showed last start are QUINTA DE LAGO and KOBE TOP GUN and no reason they aren't in the mix with the proverbial blanket thrown over the rest of this even field."

RACE 8: JOAO MOREIRA HANDICAP OPEN - 1200M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 16:30 PRIZE MONEY: S$125000

Larry says, "This Open Sprint looks a beauty with the likes of GINGERBREAD MAN asked to carry weight against some handy types that include EXCAVATOR and MERCHANT. GINGERBREAD MAN has 58kg - up some 5.5kg from his last start claimer assisted win - and while his career record on 10 wins from 15 starts speaks for itself, he will have to be at his best at the handicap conditions. In his favour - apart from undoubted ability - is gate one and the experienced Opie Bosson, but the crack NZ hoop will have to earn his keep given he spots the likes of EXCAVATOR 8kg's. The last time this pair meet over 1200m was at set weights in the 3YO sprint where GINGERBREAD MAN narrowly beat EXCAVATOR, so given the weight pull today, a handy gate, and good last start effort, a upset is on the cards. MERCHANT also looks well placed with just 52kg and a win with blinkers on first time (upgrade from winkers) would not surprise given the FUBU 5YO is 'due'. At the weights you also have to seriously consider the old boy, CAPABLANCA. The rising 11YO meets GINGERBREAD MAN 4kg better off for a narrow defeat at their last meeting and when you consider CAPABLANCA could get out to 10-1 or thereabouts, he might be the value pick of the day."

RACE 9: LUCKY 2012 HANDICAP CLASS 5 (2) (CLAIMING RIDERS ONLY) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 17:00 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "Not a lot of depth to this race with RICH BORN, SPECIAL ACCOUNT and MOOVA EIGHT all set to continue their good form. All three have drawn well so no excuses with the trio likely to dominate the betting. RICH BORN in particular looks well placed to break his maiden status. The JOHAR 4YO was struggling to say the least before a recent gear change (blinkers added) has seen him more than competitive and with trainer Leslie Khoo and apprentice M Kaki in fine form, a big show. Obviously last start winner, SPECIAL ACCOUNT, is the benchmark and gets a good chance to knock in win number five after drawing the inside barrier. His form prior to that win was good and up-and-coming apprentice, R Zawari, will be hoping to get his 2012 season off to a good start with what looks a 'bread and butter' ride for master, Brian Dean. MOOVA EIGHT was placed behind SPECIAL ACCOUNT last start - that form obviously holds up - and might be the value of the three top picks. Of the rest it is hard to be confident but I will be keeping an eye on PASHA KHAN first up after a change of stables with blinkers back on."

RACE 10: NEW YEAR CUP GROUP 3 (3+YO) (RIDER ALLOWANCES NOT PERMITTED) - 1900M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 17:30 PRIZE MONEY: S$200000

Larry says, "While there is plenty of good form to go on with some of the light-weight hopes - JOYFUL HEART MAN in particular - the cream at the top of the ratings is where the winner should come from. FLYING FULTON (58kg), FATKID (57), LIZARRE (56.5) and PARFUMIER (56) head the weights and with all horses coming into this with some very handy form, they should figure heavily in this finish. But LIZARRE, who almost won the Group 1 Gold Cup in his first preparation in Singapore, looks the outstanding choice and happy to think he continues both his and his trainer Pat Shaw's great run of form from 2011. Although carrying 6.5kg more than he did in the Gold Cup, the JET MASTER gelding still looks 'under scale' and given he spread-eagled the field the last time he stepped out on the Poly (albeit Class 3), he looks hardest to beat. Of the top four chances mentioned, FATKID has drawn best in gate three and that will count for plenty in this field. The star of the HK Tan stable, FATKID put in a terrific effort to the wire in the Gold Cup and if he gets a nice run tucked away on the fence midfield or worse today, should be flying late and could surprise. PARFUMIER always looks a show (a win is well overdue) and FLYING FULTON, drawn badly in 11, has to be respected and certainly in the mix. Of the rest, SOUTH EASTER and SMOKING JOE look best in at the weights from the JOYFUL HEART MAN form line but you could throw a blanket over most with value the key."

RACE 11: RIZUAN SHAFIQ STAKES GRADUATION (SW) - 1400M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:05 PRIZE MONEY: S$65000

Larry says, "At the conditions of the race, a couple of smart 3YO's stand out and hard to go past DISTINCTION and CITY LAD when looking for the winner. And it's not just the 53.5kg the two-time winners have to carry but the form they both bring into this with 1400m looking ideal for both. DISTINCTION has done little wrong in five career starts and his win two starts back over this distance was a beauty. The BRILLIANCE gelding has drawn well again and the experienced John Powell will get all the favours and can start the New Year off with a win for trainer Michael Freedman. Like DISTINCTION, CITY LAD is in fine form and his win two starts back over 1400m was his best. And while he made every post a winner to win easily that day, the wide gate in this field suggests he may have to work harder to make it three-in-a-row but certainly looks up to the task. While these two will dominate the betting and should figure prominently, I will be watching for value in the likes of TRAVERTINE - super home last start and better again when racing on the pace - and CARIBBEAN MOON who is in terrific form and might just sneak out to each-way odds given the likely attention for the 3Y0's. "

RACE 12: GOOD HEALTH 2012 HANDICAP CLASS 3 - 1400M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:35 PRIZE MONEY: S$75000

Larry says, "Although we have a couple of exciting prospects in RED BEARD and DAVIDE going round in the lucky last, I'm banking on a upset with TRUDEAU. The EXCEED AND EXCEL entire was disappointing at his Singapore debut but showed at his next couple that he has plenty to offer at Kranji and can win first time over 1400m. In fact the way he has been getting home the step up in distance looks in his favour and from gate one, can win. And with barriers bound to play a big part in this tough race I have the consistent METEOR MIKE also well in contention. The David Hill-trained 5YO looks best suited when racing on the pace and might be hard to pass with gate two ideal for him to show his best. RED BEARD is smart - four wins from five testament to that - but from the widest gate newly licensed Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson will be at his very best. In saying that his first up win was a very good and obviously trainer Bruce Marsh will be hoping the ZENNO ROB ROY gelding can keep his excellent run of form going and win again. Likewise DAVIDE will be hoping to keep his excellent race record in tact but he was tested as odds-n fave last time-out and will need to do better in what looks a very strong Class 3 field. With so much depth and form in this race it may pay to keep the likes of ASPEN HEIGHTS and BENJI'S EMPIRE safe at value and it will also pay to go very wide in exotics."

Gear
BB - Blinkers for the first time
PP - Pacifiers for the first time
B - Blinkers
BRS - Blinkers on the right side
BLS - Blinkers on the left side
P - Pacifiers
BP - Blinkers and Pacifiers
BP1 - Blinkers and Pacifiers for the first time
TT - Tongue Tied
WK - Winkers
VIS - Visor