Weight, they say, can stop a train.
And when you get to the top of the tree in Singapore, there is a good chance that more often than not you will be asked to carry a big weight when racing against some up-and-coming stars at handicap conditions.

A Gold Cup and Derby trophy on the mantelpiece suggests QUECHUA has reached the pinnacle of staying racing in Singapore and while the 6YO is always hard to beat at WFA conditions, he needs to be at his very best giving plenty of weight to a handy field in race 7 on tonight’s card.

After a tough run when not disgracing himself at the highest level in Hong Kong in December, the star of the Le Grange stable has had a sighter back on his home turf over 1400m and is the benchmark back over 2000m although carrying 59kg.

But while we wouldn’t back against him and will most likely be cheering him home regardless, the bang-in-form GURU-GURU on the minimum is the one to beat.

The 4YO has always shown potential but it has only been in the last six or so runs where he has got his act together winning three of his last five - his most recent at Group level.

A close-up second to eventual Gold Cup winner Bahana in the El Dorado suggests he is more than up to a handicap race like this and it would be tough to tip anyone else on top.

It’s by no means a two horse race but a blanket finish between QUECHUA and GURU-GURU would be just what the doctor ordered.

Best Bets: (NOVA MISSILE race 5, win), (KIRKS RYKER race 8, win) and (DRAGON STEED race 6, value).

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

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 5 - 1400M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "A very solid Class field and as is often the case, a couple of Class droppers come under consideration. HOT GOLD hasn't won for a very long time but loves 1400m and has to appreciate the bottom grade. Likewise, IN BOCCA AL LUPO very much appreciates dropping to Class 5 and his form has been very solid in better races than this. D David looks a good booking and he will be thereabouts. Not a Class dropper per se but the maiden MAI DARKO has his first crack at Class 5 Company after showing glimpses in Maiden and Novice races. He should find this easier and gets is chance with Duric up from a good gate with winkers added. Of the rest, it's hard to fault the form of MAGIC PAINT in similar affairs to this and ASTRO MAN improves on his first-up run and should figure with luck in running. Keep the emergency Q NINE MAGIC safe as he can win and should be value."

RACE 2: OPEN MAIDEN (WEIGHT FOR AGE) - 1400M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 18:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "An excellent maiden field given five look like winning sooner than later and will be horses to follow once they can break their respective ducks. There looks plenty of pace in the race with GALILEO'S APPROACH and LIBECCIO both likely to go forward. But while both are in good enough form to be in the mix late, the solid early clip could set it up for a couple of swoopers in LAUGHING BUFFALO and SACRED ARMY. Nothing separates the pair on best form but LAUGHING BUFFALO would have very much appreciated a soft first up run over this trip in Class 4 Company and he will be hard to hold out late. In saying that, SACRED ARMY will be with him when they make their runs late and it does look a toss up between the pair. CHALAZA the other that wins without surprising given what he showed when placing at his Singapore debut."

RACE 3: CLASS 4 (2) - 1200M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 19:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "A top heavy Class 4 affair with not much separating the top five in the ratings and it could be a case of forget the rest. Of those with winning hopes, LIM'S KNIGHT gets his chance. The 4YO has his foot on the till in similar affairs to this and switch to a senior hoop in Dan Beasley looks a winning move. KELTIC KARMA resuming is the interesting runner. The 5YO pulled up lame over a mile last start and given the form prior to that run, she could be hard to hold out first-up over 1200m. WAIPAKIHI is also resuming and his recent trial and form prior to the break suggests he wins this without surprising with J Powell up. Last start winner COURT CASE and ZIPPY GENERAL with G Boss back on board the other two to consider."

RACE 4: INITIATION (4 YEAR OLD AND BELOW) (WEIGHT FOR AGE) (HORSES NOT WON A RACE IN 2YRS PRIOR TO NOMINATION DATE & NOT HAD > 8 STARTS IN SIN / MSIA) - 1200M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 19:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$65000

Larry says, "Another very good maiden with four horses coming off last start placings and a couple ready to improve with gear changes. Of those that could improve at odds, HAPPY BUFFALO get blinkers and has trialled well enough with headgear to give this a shake. SUCCESS COMES TRUE improved last start with blinkers but did race keenly so he gets a tongue-tie and a downgrade to a visor. Of those with the foot on the till, SECRET SQUIRREL wins without surprising. The 4YO was just edged out last start and given his saddle slipped on that occasion, he gets his chance. BAYU was odds-on last start when placing but the form from that race should hold up and he wins sooner than later. LEON resumes after placing on debut and must be considered while RAJAWALI also placed second on debut but was beaten seven lengths so has to improve."

RACE 5: GRADUATION (SET WEIGHTS) - 1200M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 20:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$75000

Larry says, "An odd race where there looks three serious winning hopes - NOVA MISSILE, COUNTOFMONTECRISTO and DEIMOS - with the rest having no chance whatsoever. In fact picking someone to finish fourth is tougher than finding the winner. So who wins? NOVA MISSILE has won two from four in Singapore but given one of his losses was to the smart Aramco, he could be hard to hold out from gate 2. In saying that, COUNTOFMONTECRISTO is two from two and G Boss will have no hesitation to go forward from the wide gate in this field and he wins without surprising. DEIMOS stormed home to win last start in Class 4 on the turf and that form will hold up here and he might be the value of the three top picks."

RACE 6: CLASS 5 - 1200M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 20:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "Nothing jumps off the page and while the tote will be a very handy guide, this could get ugly for punters. A gear change is always handy and DRAGON STEED could be the big improver. The 4YO is yet to win in 13 starts but a recent trial with blinkers was good enough to think he can overcome a wide gate and show up at odds. We also like a Class dropper and SING ROULETTE has enough speed to give this a shake with Nooresh Juglall likely to go forward early. Of the rest with some hope, ELHAAME placed last start on the turf in Class 5 so he picks himself while PINT SIZED PRINCE has some OK trials under his belt and can show up. Keep SILVER POWER safe and market best guide on the rest."

RACE 7: OPEN HANDICAP - 2000M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 21:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$125000

Larry says, "A tricky Open handicap where Ricky Le Grange has four of the seven runners and Desmond Koh has two. Of the Le Grange runners, QUECHUA is back to a distance that suits and while he has to lump 59kg, he will give this a shake on class alone. SONG TO THE MOON looks his next best and while facing his biggest test to date, he knows how to win and should be up to this with 50kg. TIME ODYSSEY placed in the Gold Cup with a lightweight and he has to be respected in this field. Of the Koh runners, ORDER OF THE SUN probably leads and leads well but GURU-GURU is the form runner in this field and is the one to beat. In fact connections will again be looking at this race to see what could have been in the Gold Cup if they got a start as the El Dorado form should hold up."

RACE 8: KRANJI STAKES C (SET WEIGHTS) - 1400M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 21:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$80000

Larry says, "A competitive KSC with nearly all runners having a realistic chance. KIRKS RYKER will find this easier than his last two outings the most recent a good effort behind Debt Collector; he should be prominent from the good gate and will be hard to pass. ABSOLUTE MIRACLE likes 1400m and can make amends for his last start failure. FIRST PRECINCT can continue to improve as can OXBOW SUN who won twice at the distance in Australia. L'APPRENTI SORCIER has benefited from four runs since coming from Australia where he had a good record over this trip; he is getting down in the ratings and gets a chance to show up with Vlad Duric staying aboard. MIGHTY WARRIOR with Manoel Nunes to ride some hope while D'BUFFALO MAN and WINNING CAUSE also have credentials at the trip."

RACE 9: CLASS 4 (1) - 1200M COURSE D (SC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 22:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "Another solid race, a Class 4 over 1200m. The promising one is DARC BOUNTY who bolted in on the poly over 1000m last start. This is harder, longer and on turf but he has plenty of speed and should be hard to run down from the good gate. STARSHINE is the proven one who resumed with a good win over this trip in Class 4; he rises 2kg and should be running on. HELLO MICHELLE is better than Class 4 but her three wins have been on the Poly. ICONNIC is suited in this class and at the distance, his recent trial was solid and he should be prominent throughout. Of the others, REDMAYNE won an Initiation over this trip before his break and his recent trial was solid; he can be prominent from the good gate. COULD BE PEARLS won a Maiden over 1400m before the break and has trialled twice since; he may want longer but could be running on."

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