An all-Polytrack nine race card from Singapore on Friday and at the half-way mark of the 2012 season the race for the trainers’ premiership looks an absolute thriller.

So while Joao Moreira wrapped up the jockeys title well before he knocked up his 100^th winner a couple of weeks back, the trainers race is tight with only a couple of wins separating the top three.

Laurie Laxon, six-time winner of the prestigious award, sits on-top with 39 winners but gets a good chance to add to his tally with KARMA DANCER (race 1) and the promising FULL TOSS in race 5.

Both look strong chances for Laxon with PRECISELY some hope to upset the favourite EMERALD HILL in race 7 and GEORGE an each-way hope for the affable Kiwi handler in the lucky last.

Michael Freedman – who is enjoying a stellar year at Group level courtesy of stable star SUPER EASY to name just one – is one behind Laxon on 38 winners.

But the stable is having a quiet time of late; highlighted by only two runners on tonight’s card with BIEBER (race 5) an each-way hope at best.

Local trainer, Leslie Khoo, is enjoying a terrific year and sits outright third in the premiership with 37 wins to his name.

His chances tonight include the newcomer, NARUTO (race 2) but it is his two-pronged attack in race 8 – PERFECT KID and RICH BORN – that should see him knock in a winner and keep the pressure on Laxon and Freedman on the trainer table.

And while John O’Hara has just 14 wins to his name and sits 19^th in the 2012 trainers premiership, he looks to have some excellent winning hopes tonight and a hat-trick of winners – ABASTOR (race 2), FLASH GIFT (race 3) and EMERALD HILL (race 7) – is on the cards.

RACE 1: CLASS 5 (1) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 18:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "Back on the Polytrack, with the usual difficult Class 5 to start proceedings. They put plenty on KAMAR DANCER at his initial foray into Class 5 and he did not miss by much, from the ace draw he should get the run of the race and with Danny Beasley to steer, makes considerable appeal. RISING SHADOW won a similar event two starts back, he is well drawn and with Alan Munro on-top should be on the pace for a long way. GOOD DAY is a tough old fellow who finds himself back on the Polytrack. He is racing well and has won four times at 1200m and could be excellent place value. SWITCH DOUBLEMISTY showed plenty last start and was unfortunate to have to race wide for a large part of the journey. He is better drawn here and goes well for Zaki and whilst 1200m is a stern test, he should be in it for a long way. HAPPY ENDING is way down in the ratings and it is a long time since he won but at his best he would be right in this, and the enigmatic ZAC WARRIOR is another that could show up having a strong rider in Ivaldo Santana in the saddle. ANG PAO KERETA and STORM ARC are Class droppers who could surprise and do not leave SURGESS out of the exotics - he won first-up over this course and distance at long odds back in December, had one start in January and is now resuming."

RACE 2: INITIATION (HORSES NOT WON A RACE IN 2YRS PRIOR TO NOMINATION DATE & HAVE NOT HAD > 8 STARTS IN SIN / MSIA) (4-YO) (WFA) - 1000M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 18:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$65000

Larry says, "A weak Initiation gives ABASTOR a long-overdue chance to knock in a win. The 4YO has had a number of health issues in the past, but this time in has been racing consistently and narrowly missed out last start. He would probably like it a little longer but from the good alley should be able to sit not far off the speed and finish off strongly. SPICY CAT was well supported at his first outing and made a mess of the start. He is drawn out wide but showed he possessed speed and could well be able to lead or get near the lead. DIAMOND ON THE BAY likewise is possessed of abundant speed and should be in the race for a long way. INTO THE STORM is an interesting runner being a raced maiden formerly from New Zealand. Trainer Mark Walker has given him a couple of soft trials and he could show up at his Singapore debut. NARUTO from the Leslie Khoo stable has looked comfortable in its trials and could go well first up- a market watch is in order. Others that could race well include STARSTRUCK, and CALIFORNIA KID."

RACE 3: CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 19:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "FLASH GIFT smashed them on debut and is the one to beat again. He is drawn a little wide but possesses enough speed to get across and get a sit on the pace. If he can produce the same kick as last time he should be too strong. SHINING GLORY has been running in far higher Class and whilst this is on the short side, he has winkers added and might just try to hold his position early from the ace draw. The last time he had winkers in this class he won by leading. With a sizzling pace expected early from the inside and out, the tempo may just suit a tough horse like ANAVILA. The flashy grey put in a poor run last time but had excuses not to finish closer and his previous form was consistent and he should be running on at the end. Of the rest, I think PERFECT TIME has plenty to offer in Class 4 and might be value. DANZIG ROCKET has won three of these 1000m flutters and with CS Chin’s allowance helping, from his good draw should be right on the speed and prove hard to beat at the end. THAT’S GOLD put in a super first-up effort last start and with the good draw and little P Dellorto’s claim should be a good chance again. BRIAN should be improved by his first-up run and even though it is too short, old KAEPEEYAI will run on bravely at the finish but might just be looking for Class 5."

RACE 4: MAIDEN - 1100M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 19:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "An ordinary maiden field faces the starter over 1100m. HEARTS has been placed at 4 of his 5 starts on the Polytrack. He is perfectly drawn here and has Oscar Chavez as the pilot, he gets a very strong chance to break his duck and give Steven Lam a welcome winner. BE LUCKY had major problems at his last start and was pulled up, he has subsequently trialed satisfactorily, the tongue tie goes on and if he runs up to his first two starts, despite his wide draw, he should be hard to beat. HELLOLO has plenty of speed, and raced far more tractably at his last start and with Vorster to steer he should be right in the finish. WAIRAKEI was heavily supported at his first start and failed; he has been thereabouts at his two subsequent efforts and gets his chance in this field. IMPAYLER showed plenty of speed last start from a wide draw when blinkers added, and from the better alley could give a lot of cheek. OASIS CHARM has some ability and it would not surprise to see him go well first-up. Amongst the disappointments PASHA KHAN has had many chances being placed 6 times from 23 starts, and the less said about DESTINY ACTION the better - he once finished not far behind MR BIG but since then he has been supported on numerous occasions and failed to deliver – he now has barrier one and gets his (last) chance on Polytrack. "

RACE 5: KRANJI STAKES C (SET WEIGHTS) - 1700M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 20:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$75000

Larry says, "A good race with some potential Derby contenders engaged. Laurie Laxon holds the trump cards with the very promising FULL TOSS looking to make it three wins in a row and get a few valuable rating points. He is perfectly drawn, should be able to lead and with Danny Beasley steering is every chance. The stable-mate FORGIVEN is a solid performer, is coming off a last start win and Alan Munro should give him a good ride. MARTINCHO CAT looked a good thing beaten last start and with blinkers added for the first time and the in-form Barend Vorster to steer, he should race well. SAMURAI PHOENIX and BIEBER are coming back in distance and that certainly should suit the latter. And whilst JOHN OF ARCH has a big weight, he is a grand horse in form and cannot be ignored. KNIGHT SCORPIO is coming off two wins and whilst this is much harder he has speed, no weight and likes to lead, he could be serious nuisance value."

RACE 6: CLASS 5 (2) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 20:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "He might have a rating of just 25 but KIM PEGASUS looks well placed to win this race. And as ridiculous as it seems with only one win to his name (back in July 2010), he might come in for support on some recent good Poly form with in-form hoop, Barend Vorster, an added bonus. The fact the race does look a raffle is also in his favour but obviously hard to be confident given his previous record. The likely favourite, REAL GOODMAN, has drawn the widest but still looks a very strong chance. He was disappointing with support not to break-through from gate one last start but his recent record from wide gates easily good enough to win this. Of the rest with winning hopes, LUCKY BANKER did it tough last start and the run good enough to suggest he is ready to show his best (and his best wins a race like this) with REDPACKETDAY, PRINCESS JANA and SUPER VELOX all in the mix. The first emergency, NINTH AVENUE, is a serious winning hope if he gets a start and might even come in for big support - watch."

RACE 7: PROGRESS (SET WEIGHTS) - 1000M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 21:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$75000

Larry says, "All things being equal it's hard to see EMERALD HILL getting beaten here. The American-bred 4YO has taken all before him winning at both Singapore starts and no reason to think he doesn't make it a hat-trick of wins today. Obviously he loves the Poly - a good trait from American-breeds - and his last start win over this trip was super with gate one a bonus today. He is in well at the race conditions as well - only BM WIN gets in better - with the only concern being a prohibitive starting price. With a short quote in mind for EMERALD HILL, the race does look a good exotic option with only three genuine place hopes. As mentioned BM WIN is in best at the race conditions and has the form to keep the favourite honest with PRECISELY and MIGHTY CREATION also in form and in good enough at the weights to figure heavily in the exotic mix. The only other horse worth mentioning on form is HUMOR TOWN but he is a risk giving weight to the top four picks."

RACE 8: CLASS 5 - 1700M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 21:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "Leslie Khoo - a trainer who knows how to land a good punt - has a two-pronged attack in PERFECT KID and RICH BORN and happy to follow the stable. And the tote might be the best guide to which one gets the chocolates as both look well placed with senior hoops, good recent form and nice gates. The early pick (just) is PERFECT KID given he showed plenty late over a shorter trip last time out and RICH BORN was disappointing as fave at his last start; but not much between the two. The field has depth though and TAKESHI has had a nice freshen up so he should be able to overcome the wide gate and be in the mix throughout with the proverbial blanket thrown over the likes of ZAC GENERATION, DIAMOND QUALITY, KNIGHT'S PARADISE, AUDIO FRIEND and MY WAY. Go wide in exotics. "

RACE 9: CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 22:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "A lot to like about JET ACE'S form since winning on debut back in March and happy to think he can get a result for followers in the lucky last. The NO EXCUSE NEEDED 3YO has only had the one bad run (with excuses) at five career starts and his last two efforts suggests he goes mighty close from gate two. The good gate is important as one of his biggest dangers, PERWIRA, has drawn the outside and that could be the difference. In saying that, PERWIRA is in form and certainly wins a race like this soon. INDULGE showed last start he is a horse to follow and no reason to think he isn't in the mix with come-back jockey, Richard Lim, in the saddle. The three mentioned should dominate the betting but worth keeping GEORGE and KINGTRAP safe at value."

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