There are nine races on offer from Singapore on Friday night - all on the Long Course (D), Turf – and with all due respect to the other quality hoops riding, it does look set for a ‘Magic’ handful.

Naturally the leading hoop usually has a strong book of rides and a winner or two ‘all-but’ guaranteed, but Joao Moreira’s nine rides tonight look perfect to start the month with a bag that could easily total more than half the card.

Five of Moreira’s mounts will start favourite or thereabouts and the rest well in the betting with punters likely to flock to the popular Brazilian ace.

But it will be a case of not resting on his laurels as most races look very competitive with plenty of top hoops and hungry apprentices doing their best to keep ‘Magic’ quiet.

In saying that, race 4 does look at Moreira’s mercy as he continues his association with the impressive SHUTTLE MAN.

The Japanese-bred 3YO gelding looked like one ‘out-of-the-box’ winning comprehensively on debut and will be a red-hot favourite to continue that form today.

While not as talented as SHUTTLE MAN, RENA CROSS also looks a ‘good thing’ for Moreira in race 8 with DANNY (race 1), SOCIAL NETWORK (race 3), SHOPPING LIST (race 6) and TRUDEAU (race 8) all very strong hopes.

Best Bets; SHUTTLE MAN (Race 4, win), RENA CROSS (race 8, win) and BETTER LIFE (race 9, win).

Bankers for Jackpots: Race 6 (1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7) race 7 (field), race 8 (2) and race 9 (1).

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 1: CLASS 4 (3) - 1400M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "The Old Master, Laurie Laxon, looks to have a strong hand here. DANNY is a handful to ride but has the younger master, Moreira, steering – he runs on and looks a real threat. FORGIVEN is third run back from a spell and he should be ready to do his best. Whilst he would probably like it 200m further he has drawn well, has Saimee on board and always runs on strongly. FAMOUS N FAST is a speedy type and could be hard to run down. IWA ANTILIA surprised last start but has no weight and could run well again. MOVIE GOER is also another last start winner in a similar affair that should be competitive. SPECIAL ENCORE should be improved by his first run in Singapore and had New Zealand form – he bears watching."

RACE 2: INITIATION (HORSES NOT WON A RACE IN 2YRS PRIOR TO NOMINATION DATE & HAVE NOT HAD > 8 STARTS IN SIN / MSIA) ( UNDER 4YO) (WFA) - 1400M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$65000

Larry says, "An interesting affair between some useful 4YOs and some improving 3YOs, in which a case can be made for nearly every runner. WAR CRUSADER ran on strongly last time and will appreciate the longer journey as well as the claim for Shafiq – he represents a strong chance. Bruce Marsh has three contenders, ALL FORUS who was a shade disappointing as a popular pick last start; Moreira takes over from Opie Bosson, who has a good chance on the stable mate ARABIAN KNIGHT, and his third runner, COMSTOCK BOY, has shown up at the trials and has experienced South African rider Greg Cheyne on top. MR CERTAIN comes from the powerful Michael Freedman stable and with Stephen Baster riding is bound to give a strong sight. The 3YO DESTINY ACTION was placed in the Magic Millions Juvenile last season behind MR BIG, and at his first run back was trapped wide, he should be improved and deserves consideration. PRIZEFIGHTER, one of the South African team of Vorster and Shaw’s two entrants, demands attention after a good effort against a few of these last start. Steven Burridge has a nice horse in SHORTCUT and he could run well. FIRST EXPRESS and LONESOME ME have shown enough to be right in the mix and even GREEN JACKET, if it gets a start, has a decent chance. Tough race!"

RACE 3: CLASS 5 (1) - 1400M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 19:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "A tough Class 5 with numerous chances. SOCIAL NETWORK has improved recently, and with Moreira having an outstanding record in these types of races, he looks the one to beat. SILVER LINING loves the 1400m and his last run indicated he is ready to win. SIR ELTON has showed improvement with a recent barrier trial win and he could surprise. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY is a 3YO and has to concede weight but is probably better than many in the field. The seasoned campaigners SIR RUMBLE and SUPER KNIGHT have snuck down in the weights and could be the knock-out hopes. If CHAN’S ELECTRA gets a run he could lead a merry dance and may defy them to run him down with STRIDE METEOR a sneaky hope dropping to a suitable grade. Do your best!"

RACE 4: CLASS 4 (1) - 1400M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 19:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "SHUTTLE MAN stamped himself a future star at his only start and he will be long odds-on to go on with it here. It looks a matter of how far for Moreira, Steven Burridge and this Japanese-bred gelding - a horse to follow. Who runs second? DRAGON SPIRIT is a consistent 3YO who will do his best and no reason to think he isn't in the place mix with the mare, SMITTEN KITTEN also likely to keep a few honest late in the exotic mix. Of the others, DEEP POCKETS runs on and could be a fair forecast option and STANZOUT will improve with each run in this company."

RACE 5: RESTRICTED MAIDEN (2&3YO) (WFA) - 1200M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 20:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$65000

Larry says, "A Restricted Maiden in which there is little revealed form and it will pay to watch the market. GUSHA allegedly has plenty of ability and could provide Greg Cheyne with his first Singapore winner. GOLDEN CURL is another that trials well and with Saimee aboard is guaranteed a good trip. The Leslie Khoo stable has BRING MORE MONEY who has won several trials, and if there is stable support, it could be the one to beat. MARATHON LAD has the benefit of race experience and has the genius of Moreira to steer it – must be a strong chance. The Patrick Shaw trained POSITIVE THINKING has also done well enough at the trials to merit serous thought but the tote will definitely be our best friend in this."

RACE 6: CLASS 5 - 1800M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 20:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "While a few horses are well worth a second look and ready to show their best over 1800m, a couple stand out and the winner should come from SHOPPING LIST or NEW FRIENDS. Both come into this with very similar form showing enough in their respective seven career starts to think they win in this company and are horses to follow. Both should also eat up the 1800m and both should get plenty of support on the day. SHOPPING LIST - courtesy of a last start second placing and Joao Moreira taking the ride - should start favourite and the one the others have to beat. And while that placing was his first, the HONOUR'S LIST 5YO had shown enough previously to think he goes very well on his day and every chance from gate two. But NEW FRIENDS has shown more than enough to think this is perfect to break his maiden status, will be flying late and can win. He has drawn a tad awkwardly in gate 10 but apprentice SH Low should be happy to sit back and have a solid crack at them in the long straight. As mentioned there are a few others to watch with KNIGHT'S PARADISE, DEBONAIR and MONGOLIAN STAR usually thereabouts, CHENGDU WARRIOR the big Class dropper with ROYAL BRAT and JOLLY ONE providing the value down in the ratings."

RACE 7: CLASS 3 - 1400M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 21:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$75000

Larry says, "This race looks tough in the fact most can win without surprising and a few lightly raced smart types look ready to take the next step. DAMO, already with a Group 1 Argentinean win to his name - is one of those 'smart types' who should go further than Class 3 in Singapore and certainly showed enough at his Kranji debut to win this. In fact the effort behind ONE MORE MINUTE with heavy support was excellent given it was his local debut and with a recent solid trial under his belt, can win second up. TRUDEAU, who comes into this race with three eye-catching thirds to his name, looks the danger with Joao Moreira electing to stick with the EXCEED AND EXCEL entire a factor. The Brazilian ace had no luck on TRUDEAU last start and will be hoping to make amends for connections on what looks a leading hope today. But you can't discount horses like RUSH - another lightly-raced star in the making - and the consistent SHINING GLORY, to name but two. A tough race but DAMO looks a horse to follow."

RACE 8: CLASS 5 (2) - 1400M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 21:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "While not winning for over two years is somewhat of a concern, RENA CROSS looks, dare I say it, 'due'. Obviously the fact he hasn't won for so long and will start close to even money favourite suggests he is a risk but given his recent form and the opposition, the CAPE CROSS 7YO is the only horse to be on. Also in his favour, apart from the Moreira factor, is that his major opposition - KING CROSS and RICH BORN - are both maidens and hopefully stay that for another week for those on RENA CROSS. KING CROSS did look good at his first run back though so looks a horse to follow this campaign and RICH BORN has had support of late and given he is from the red-hot Leslie Khoo stable, also a horse to watch. On the other hand, ZINLY is gunning for his tenth win at start 109 but while in solid form, blinkers off suggests the old boy might just be getting tired."

RACE 9: CLASS 4 (2) - 1400M COURSE D (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 22:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "There is a lot to like about BETTER LIFE. The 3YO filly looked something special winning on debut against the bias but more importantly backed up that great effort with a super win over 1400m at her last start and is a horse to follow. True, she won last start with the postage-stamp weight of 50.5kg, but the dominance of the win suggests she can more than handle 57.5kg in Class 4 and wins again with one eye on bigger races than this in the coming months. And while it is a solid Class 4 field, there only looks a couple of real dangers in RARE EARTH (Stephen Baster) and FOREIGN EXCHANGE (Joao Moreira). RARE EARTH in particular showed plenty at his first run back from a freshen up and looks ready to show his best. Whether his best is good enough against the filly is the question as it is with FOREIGN EXCHANGE who was trounced by BETTER LIFE at their only meeting back in November. FOREIGN EXCHANGE has improved since that run and meets the filly some 12kg better off at the handicap conditions so must be considered a threat. The rest do look to be making up numbers in the last with SPEEDY DWARF perhaps pick of the bunch."

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