Gong Xi Fa Cai

It’s Chinese New Year and one of the best days in the Singapore racing calendar to have a good bet!

And no better race to have a punt than in the feature of the day, the Singapore Group 3, Fortune Bowl (race 10).

The condition weight 2,000m event doesn’t have a star-studded line-up so at first glance, the race looks perfect for FLYING FULTON to continue his winning ways and pocket the better part of SGD $200,000 in prizemoney on offer.

The FLYING SPUR 5YO made light work of the ‘calendar’ New Year feature and can make it a festive double in the ‘lunar’ version as he meets most of his rivals from that race better off at the weights.

And even at second glance the likes of POWER BLITZ, PARFUMIER, FAT KID, SOUTH EASTER, TENZING and JOYFUL HEART MAN don’t look to have the improvement in them from that race to turn the tables.

So while nothing is certain in racing, FLYING FULTON looks hard to beat and a great way to start the Chinese New Year.

There are six races on the card from Singapore, a mixed surface meeting with races 8 and 11 on the all-weather Polytrack and races 7, 9, 10 and 12 on the Short Course (B), Turf.

Best Bets; GOLD PYRAMID (Race 7, win), FLYING FULTON (race 10, win) and SARATOGA (race 12, each-way).

Bankers for Jackpots: Race 9 (1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12) race 10 (1), race 11 (4, 5 and 7) and race 12 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10).

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: LUNAR NEW YEAR HANDICAP CLASS 4 (3) - 1400M COURSE B (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 15:55 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "Very hard to know where to start in this race with a few from the 'black book' ready to win and good form from top to (almost) bottom. And when you have eight horses with winning hopes, finding the winner will obviously be tough. Oddly, GOLDEN PYRAMID is our top pick, given he is coming into this race after putting in a shocker with support at his last start. But the fact the stipes were having a long look at the ride (and the stipe form has more than held up of late) and the horse returned with 'debris in his trachea', we can excuse the bad run and give another big winning show with the booking of a senior hoop a factor. Like GOLD PYRAMID, FAMOUS N FAST's last start could be considered disappointing given he was beaten into third place as the odds-on pop. But he looks a nice type and the run good enough to follow in this company although this Class 4 field certainly has depth. I think the two are supported and run accordingly but would need to be on their respective games given the opposition. Others to watch include BORN TO FLY (excuses last start and looks due), HOPKINS with a handy claim and gate, LONG HAUL at likely value with special mentions to FOREIGN EXCHANGE, ROMAN EMPIRE and MAGIC ICON."

RACE 8: SPRING FESTIVAL HANDICAP CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 16:25 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "This race looks a beauty and with so many genuine chances, the winner will need a few favours and those drawn to advantage look the best option. In saying that I will be keeping the likes of CORSAGE, FAT KING and LINDT - all drawn badly - very safe and all can play a part if any luck in running. In fact LINDT, who was knocked off his feet in a similar affair from a bad gate last start, might be the value runner and certainly worth a look at odds. But last start winners, MICHAEL and KOBE TOP GUN, have drawn beautifully in gates 1 and 2 respectively and although both don't usually show a lot of early pace, the barriers will be in their favour. But early speed/tactics/luck will be very important and it will also pay to keep the likes of MY NINJA (blinkers added a factor), SADDLERS CREEK and the emergency, HONEST, all involved somewhere. A tough race with exotics likely to pay well."

RACE 9: HONG BAO HANDICAP CLASS 4 (2) - 1400M COURSE B (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 16:55 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "An interesting Class 4 event in the fact there is no stand-out and there could be a couple ready to show plenty at long odds. But in this even field an up-and-comer like ROYAL STYLE can stand up and show he has more to offer in this grade. The SAXON 3YO won on debut before a couple of solid efforts including a placing in what was a similar event last start. Oscar Chavez (fresh from a rare overseas sojourn in Dubai) is back on-board and that is in ROYAL STYLE'S favour given the wily Panamanian won on him on debut. And while the likes of CAVORTING, DANNY and OK OK look due to show their best, I think the most solid option - with perhaps each-way value in mind - is TOUCH THE LINE for trainer David Hill. The 6YO rarely runs a bad race and often at very backable odds - making him an easy horse to follow. But if keen to have some fun at long odds, it will pay to keep IWA ANTILIA and MALINGISA very much in your calculations. Both come off 'better than the form reads' efforts in OK company, especially IWA ANTILIA who might just spring a surprise at any-old odds."

RACE 10: FORTUNE BOWL (SG3)(3+YO)(CW)(RIDER ALLOWANCES NOT PERMITTED) - 2000M COURSE B (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 17:30 PRIZE MONEY: S$200000

Larry says, "All things being equal, FLYING FULTON should win this. There is no doubt the FLYING SPUR 5YO is in career best form and with a few of the 'stars' missing, looks a good thing with 58kg. His last start win was impressive and although back on the turf, he meets most of these better off at the weights than when trouncing them over 1900m and it looks a matter of 'who beats him?’ Of those horses that finished behind him, I think PARFUMIER can improve and goes close at his best with POWER BLITZ, third behind FLYING FULTON last start, one to watch back on his winning surface. But they, along with FATKID, TENZING and JOYFUL HEART MAN and SOUTH EASTER, need to improve lengths to beat the top-weight and hard to see that happening. "

RACE 11: FAMILY REUNION HANDICAP OPEN BENCHMARK 89 - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 18:05 PRIZE MONEY: S$95000

Larry says, "This race will almost hold as much attention as the feature with MR BIG facing another test in a very solid Benchmark 89 Poly sprint. With two Group wins to his name as a 2YO, the ELUSIVE QUALITY gelding continued his good form as a 3YO, winning two and being placed twice from his four latest runs. It is a test but he does look well in with 54kg and win number six from just his eighth career start is on the cards. He will be tested though and one horse to watch is the in-form PEOPLE'S VICTORY for the Pat Shaw/Barend Vorster combination. The former Argentinean has shown more than enough winning two and placing once from his four Singapore starts to think he more than handles this company with just 51.5kg a factor. Of the others it will pay to keep RAFAGA very safe - his career record of four wins and seven places from 12 starts speaks for itself - with RUN FOR THE HILLS likely to keep them honest at value from gate two. You could also throw in the two DOT COM runners (AROWANA and CASH) in the exotics with McCLINTOCK also some hope on his good run two starts back. A good field but MR BIG the one to be on."

RACE 12: CELEBRATIONS HANDICAP CLASS 4 (1) - 1400M COURSE B (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:35 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "I considered more than a few as my on top in the lucky last before eventually settling on a horse that looks seemingly out of form but, in my humble opinion, ready to show his best. The horse is SARATOGA and while he hasn't looked to have fired a shot at two starts since transferring to trainer Steve Burridge, he has had excuses and with a senior hoop on today, can deliver. He has wasted the one gate at his last two so we are hoping for third time lucky with a nice start very important to his winning chances. Of the rest I will be putting a line through SUPER GURU'S dismal last start effort and give him another strong chance with QUITE A MAN likely to be right in this finish as well. Both these horses will get plenty of support and both can easily win. For value, I will keep MARTEL, CHIEF SECRETARY and the maiden runner, FAITHFUL WARRIOR in all exotic combinations."

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