Hardworking, popular and a natural lightweight.

Three good qualities for a jockey to have and Barend Vorster has them in spades.

The diminutive South African hoop has been based at Kranji since the early 2000’s and while he has mainly ridden for compatriots Pat Shaw and Ricky Le Grange in recent years, he is in demand with most trainers, especially if they have a good chance on the minimum.

Five winners thus far in 2017 is about par for the course for Vorster who finished last year with 45 wins, however, a few live hopes late on Sundays card could have that tally ticking over.

STORM TROOPS in particular looks very hard to beat in race 9 on the card, a Kranji Stakes A Sprint over 1200m.

The 5YO Argentinean-bred gelding has won six from only twelve career starts and given he has already won at this level and his last start win in BM89 Company was very strong, he is very hard to beat.

Vorster jumps on another last start winner in QUICKSILVER in race 10 and the South African-bred 5YO looks to have found a weak enough Class 4 to win again.

Hopefully Barend - who now calls Singapore home - is gunning for a hat trick and ELUSIVE EMPEROR looks in good enough order to make use of gate 3 and knock in a well deserved win.

Best Bets: (STORM TROOPS race 9, win), (QUICKSILVER race 10, win) and (ELUSIVE EMPEROR race 11, each-way).

Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (2, 3, 4 and 5), race 9 (2, 5 and 7), race 10 (1, 4 and 9) and race 11 (2, 3, 7, 10, 13 and 14).

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 5: OPEN BENCHMARK 67 - 1600M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 14:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "A small field do battle over 1600m but there are several chances. Blinkers go back on TARAMEA who drops in grade; he has won three times at this trip and with a 2kg claim can be in the finish. ARR FLAIR also gets blinkers; he drops back from 1800m but has placed twice at a mile and could show up. MANGATOETOENUI won a Class 4 over this trip last start; he rises 2.5kg and if he gets a solid tempo should be hard to hold off. NOBLE LIAISON is racing well over shorter but is on trial at 1600m; he should be handy throughout. OXBOW SUN won twice over 1400m in Australia before arrival but was unplaced at both mile attempts, he could go forward and give a sight."

RACE 6: CLASS 5 (2) - 1200M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 15:25 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "Another one of these very ordinary Class 5's full of battlers and non-winners. ACROSS THE SEA has placed at his past three starts on the poly, twice at this trip. His only win was at 1600m on turf and he has better recent form than most; he should be in the finish. SECONDWAVE's only win was on turf, he placed on the poly last start and is better suited by this distance; he gets back but should be running on. BEST JADE has only had one previous turf outing and was unplaced but he has some recent poly form and with 2kg claim should be handy throughout. The rest are a dreadful lot but OASIS SPUR has speed and could give a sight, MILLION ROUND and KING CROSS have won races and of the Maidens, LAM EDITION and BONJOUR BOB have shown up over this trip on turf."

RACE 7: CLASS 3 - 1400M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 15:55 PRIZE MONEY: S$80000

Larry says, "One of the better races of the day with some smart ones involved. ABSOLUTE MIRACLE bolted in over this trip last start; this is harder and he is up 1kg but is in form and should get a good run throughout. SKYWALK put in a good effort when resuming and is helped here by a good gate and Vlad Duric taking the mount. The 3YO steps up in distance but should be handy throughout. BATTLE OF TROY had support but disappointed when resuming over 1600m. All his three wins have been at this trip and he has a good record second-up, he can make his presence felt. NAZIR only battled over this trip last start after a smart win when resuming; he should improve third up with Shafiq taking the mount. The Cliff Brown pair of GILT COMPLEX and MAGSTOCK are resuming, both will not be fully wound up and need longer but have a touch of class and could race well fresh."

RACE 8: CLASS 5 - 1600M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 16:25 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "While only a two- time winner from some 30 career starts, it's hard to fault MASUAO's form and he get his chance to knock in another win today. The 5YO has placed or won at his last seven starts and is obviously the benchmark in what is a solid at best Class 5 mile. On paper the only horse with better recent form is the last start Poly winner in GENERAL CONATUS. But he did win a weak one and not sure if he is the type to back up although he did win on the turf over this trip five starts back. NATION THEATRE is the interesting runner. The 7YO has never won on the turf but drops significantly in Class and gets blinkers so well worth a watch with a handy claim. WONDERFUL ERA is the other that could improve on recent form to win given he had excuses last start and this trip is his caper."

RACE 9: KRANJI STAKES A (SET WEIGHTS) - 1200M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 17:00 PRIZE MONEY: S$125000

Larry says, "As you would expect at this level, most of these know how to win and the more progressive types have 50% win strike rates. That suggests they still have more to offer as they find their respective peaks with STORM TROOPS and LINCOLN TROOPS the two that tick that box. STORM TROOPS has won six from 12 race starts and won one of these three starts back. His last start win was in easier Company but strong so he looks the obvious pick. LINCOLN ROAD is five from ten in Singapore (he arrived a race maiden) and his first up run behind Wimbledon in this Company easily good enough to give this a shake. Of the rest, POSEIDON won one of these when resuming back in November so obviously has some say fresh for this while a blanket goes over most others including DANIEL back in trip who may just show up on Class alone."

RACE 10: CLASS 4 (1) - 1400M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 17:30 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "Not an overly strong division for this Class 4 1400m and as such a last start winner in QUICKSILVER looks the obvious choice. The Ricky Le Grange-trained 5YO backed up a solid run over 1200m when blinkers were removed two starts back and his effort to win last start over this trip was strong enough to think he goes on with the job although carrying some 3.5kg more. In his favour is the fact that nothing jumps off the page to beat him although LUCKY LINCOLN was in solid form prior to putting in an average one last start and MUSCULAR CAPTAIN looks a handy enough type who is more than up to winning in Class 4. PEACH BOWL also should be competitive and market best guide on the rest including the newcomer from Ireland, CHAIRMAN, who should really need longer."

RACE 11: OPEN BENCHMARK 67 - 1200M COURSE A (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:00 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "A typically strong race to finish what should have been a good meeting and don't be surprised if Barend Vorster can finish on a high. The diminutive South African is on ELUSIVE EMPEROR in the lucky last and while the field has depth, the 5YO can win. Yes, his most recent win was on the Poly but his previous victories were all on the turf and a recent easy trial suggests he goes very close here with gate 3 a factor. GUILTY PLEASURES is also due but hasn't drawn as kindly in gate 12. So the consistent 5YO will need some luck but should be thereabouts with Matt Kellady retaining the ride. As mentioned the field has depth with EN CIVIL and OPTIMUS both in the mix with 54.5kg while RISKY ROCKEFELLER and EATONS GOLD will be thereabouts. You can go even wider in exotics and good luck!"

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