Meeting Preview

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

Larry says, "Two last start winners and a couple that look due give this Class 5 some interesting punting options to open the stand-alone Friday meeting. But given both the last start winners - TRIGGER MAN and ONE O NINE - have drawn awkwardly in 11 and 10 respectively, they will need luck but winning form is always good form in this company. But this may give PINT SIZED PRINCE his chance to knock in another win. The 8YO has had a nomadic history (his latest stable move is his sixth) but showed enough dropping to Class 5 last start to think he goes close from gate 1 with J Powell up. LIM'S CONTROL also looks a big winning show and the maiden will be in this a very long way from gate 4. ALOHA will also appreciate a fair gate (6) and while his recent form reads fair at best, he would give this a shake if near his best."

RACE 2: CLASS 5 - 1700M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 18:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "An extremely tricky Class 5 event over 1700m with six horses coming off last start second placings which suggests more than a few are "due". From the top, GREAT BALLS OFFIRE could be hard to beat. The 5YO placed last start over an unsuitable 1000m journey in KSD company so given the step up in distance and drop in Class, he is the one to be on. His stablemate OVER EASY is also due and will have admirers and staying at the top of the ratings, the maiden QUETZAL ran on extremely well last start and he will figure in the finish. CLERMONT CLUB and the emergency, ZAHIR, the two other that only found one better last start and can win. However, SPIRIT SEVEN might just beat them all. The maiden has form behind Debt Collector over a mile on the poly and gets his chance in this race with blinkers added stepping up to a suitable trip. BIG BANKER and GODS SPEED just two others to watch in a very tough race for punters."

RACE 3: OPEN BENCHMARK 89 - 1400M COURSE E (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 19:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$100000

Larry says, "Extremely hard race to do the form given there looks a lack of pace on paper and it may be which jockey takes the initiative early that gets the chocolates. So as it stands it might TWICKENHAM who is the one to run down late. A handy Amirul 2kg claim suggests the 6YO will go forward and given his form over 1400m, the others will not want to give him any favours out front. However, you would think ALIBI will also race handy and given the 4YO has won four from five career starts, he is the one to beat. Regular rider Vlad Duric stays on board and if he hits the front anywhere in the straight, he should win. Last start winner LASER STORM and BLUE SWEDE resuming, both keep him honest late."

RACE 4: CLASS 5 (2) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 19:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "January 2015 seems a long time ago and given that's when ALWAYS A WINNER last won, it is buyer beware in this Class 5 sprint. The 7YO is in solid form and may even go off favourite but winning droughts are always a worry and happy to find something to beat him. So a maiden in MAN OF POWER may be a better option. The 5YO has looked OK on occasion and given he gets blinkers added for the first time and has trialled well previously with head-gear, he could win this without surprising. SATELLITE STAR, SUPERB SEVEN and GOLDEN ROSEWOOD three others that finish in the winning mix on a good day."

RACE 5: CLASS 4 (2) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 20:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "Not many Italian-bred horses in Singapore - perhaps only one - but this one goes OK and HERACLES can win again and take his career tally to three wins from his first four starts. The 3YO was first up when winning in this Company last start and given his only defeat was on the turf, he looks the obvious choice. There are plenty of question marks on some of the other runners including PALLADIO who comes off a shocker after a promising Singapore debut. He gets winkers and a senior hoop for this and pay to keep very safe. PLATOON is resuming with a nice trial under his belt and should race well and DESERT FOX should improve on recent form dropping to Class 4. A market watch on the newcomer from Australia, PEACH BOWL, while STIRLING and LADY IFFRAAJ keep them all honest."

RACE 6: CLASS 4 - 1800M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 20:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "With a few of these horses racing against each other more times than not of late, the race looks a raffle between the top three or four and as usual, Pat Shaw has a few with winning hopes. In fact MIGHTY EMPEROR has beaten his stable mates BIG BROTHER and SUPER JOE into second place at his last two outings and all three look to have a chance in this race. BILLY BRITAIN has and will be again the mix in races like this and it may be whoever gets the best run wins. For value it will pay to keep LIM'S BATTLE very safe. The 5YO had all sorts of excuses last start and this type of race is his caper so look for improvement. BLOSSOMS SEQUEL can also improve at odds down in Class 4 and the emergency, Q NINE MAGIC, is also a winning hope if he gets a start."

RACE 7: KRANJI STAKES A (SET WEIGHTS) - 1200M COURSE E (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 21:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$125000

Larry says, "What to do? With all due respects to some in form horses like LINCOLN ROAD and RAISE NO DOUBT, they are not in the same ball-park as SPALATO and WAR AFFAIR Class-wise and happy to go with the two champs in this KSA sprint. Yes, both horses are resuming after having more than a few issues but if right - and no reason to think they won't be if they start - they both can win this on ability alone. SPALATO resumes after bleeding in the Lion City and his recent trial suggests he is ready to go. He was a late scratching from the Garden City Trophy but hopefully he is right for this. WAR AFFAIR comes off a longer break - over a year - but has had enough trials to think he is fit and can win first-up for his new trainer, Bruce Marsh. The other two horses mentioned keep them honest and go even wider in exotics in what could be a very odd but a must watch race."

RACE 8: CLASS 4 (1) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 21:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "A Class 4 over 1200m on the poly. LONGHU won in this grade last start over 1200m and with the claim he will carry 0.5 kg less than last start and should be on the speed throughout. COURT CASE is racing soundly but battling to win in this grade; he won his Maiden at this trip and should be running on. The interesting runner is BACH'S AIR who is yet to win in Singapore but is now with Pat Shaw and trialling nicely; the tongue-tie comes off so look for improvement. Amongst the others MCGREGOR put in a solid effort to win in this grade last start and with the claim for Kif Toh he rises only 0.5 kg and could show up despite the awkward gate and SUPERSONICSURPRISE is in form and can knock in his first win over 1200m."

RACE 9: OPEN BENCHMARK 67 - 1400M COURSE E (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 22:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "A competitive BM67 over 1400m with some solid Class 3 types involved. INTENSE GOLD has been racing well in Class 3 and has three wins at this distance; he is up 2.5kg on his most recent outing but is a consistent sort who should be handy throughout. FORTUNE WINNER battled on solidly in Class 3 last start; he is up 1.5kg but will find this easier and should be running on. HERO I AM drops significantly in Grade after competing at Group Level and Class 3 at recent outings. He has won a BM67 and won up to 1580m in Australia and should be in the finish. In a race with plenty of depth CASING ROYAL won one of these two starts back and boxed on well in similar company last start; he has a tough gate but should be handy throughout. TERMS OF REFERENCE is better on the poly but placed at his last turf outing and with Barend Vorster to ride should get a nice run from the inside gate. DAMON is racing soundly over longer in similar company; he has won at this distance and should be running on. SPLICE is honest and has won five times at the trip; he might prefer Class 4 but rarely runs a bad race."

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