Meeting Preview

There is no magic formula - otherwise this game would be too easy - but while some top imports struggle in the tropics, some grow a leg and ARAMCO could be one of those.

The former Australian only won once from some 10 starts before arriving in Singapore but did place another six times which suggested he didn’t need to find much more to go through the grades.

But trainer Shane Baertschiger and connections would not have envisaged three wins from his first five starts in Singapore and his most recent effort easily good enough to step up to BM83 Company (race 7) and win with just 51.5kg.

KNIGHT JUDGE is another one-time winner from Australia (from only one start) who looks to have settled in very well to the Kranji environment and after two close-up places at his first two starts, gets his chance to break through in race 10 on the card.

The two runs were on the turf and given his very good trial form, the switch to the Poly should see a result and he looks a horse to follow through the grades.

Plenty of other good races on the card and most look to have enough depth to make it very interesting for exotic players - especially in the jackpot and quaddie legs.

Best Bets: (KNIGHT JUDGE race 10, win), (MAKANINI race 3, value) and (TOP NOTE race 8, value).

Bankers for Jackpots: Race 8 (1, 6, 8 and 9), race 9 (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9), race 10 (1, 4, 5 and 6) and race 11 (1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12).

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: CLASS 5 - 1800M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 14:40 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "Some tough customers fight out a Class 5 over 1800m on the poly. QUETZAL fought on well on the turf last start after scoring his first win over 1900m on the poly at his previous start; he is suited by this distance and should be running on. GALAXY EXPRESS won three starts back on turf and his only poly win was at this distance; he is suited by this class and distance and should be closing late. KNIGHT SPIRIT is a tough 10YO who won in this Class on turf last start; two of his 11 wins have been on the poly and at his 90th career outing, he will be running on. CLERMONT CLUB hasn’t won in his past 20 outings but has been battling away at most recent starts and has won three times at this trip; he could be prominent for Nooresh Juglall."

RACE 6: MAIDEN - 1200M COURSE B (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 15:10 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "A very, very moderate Maiden. In fact one of the weakest races seen this year. SECRET SQUIRREL just missed at his most recent outing on the poly and the saddle slipped on that occasion. The 4YO is having his first turf outing but should be prominent and looks extremely hard to beat. QINGDAO gets blinkers and a tongue-tie after a moderate debut when caught wide. He had a placing at Matamata before arrival and could improve with Gerald Mosse getting aboard. Nothing else appeals although SHE’S THE ONE placed at Te Teko before arrival but has done nothing at both outings; he gets a tongue-tie and could improve. MR JACKSON has placed at five of 10 outings on poly but has struggled at three turf outings; he pulled up lame last start but could show up. The others have done very little, watch market moves."

RACE 7: OPEN BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M COURSE B (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 15:45 PRIZE MONEY: S$100000

Larry says, "A strong race with little between the top hopes which includes a very progressive type in ARAMCO. The 4YO former Australian has hit the ground running in Singapore winning three from five starts and looks very well placed here with 51.5kg. He has some solid types to beat though including POSEIDON who battled on when resuming and has a good record at this distance; he will find this easier and should be running on. HIP HIP HOORAY had a good record in NZ and won a Class 3 on arrival. He has battled at his most recent starts and pulled up not striding out freely at last outing but his recent trial was strong and he should be in the finish. VIVIANO is racing soundly and suited by this distance, he will find this easier than recent outings and should be running on. DARCI CHARMER battled on poly when resuming but is better suited by this distance on turf; his recent trial was good and he could show up."

RACE 8: CLASS 5 (2) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 16:15 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "It's safe to say this is a very weak Class 5 field and best to punt with caution. So with no confidence we look at the highest rated horse in the race, TOP NOTE. The 5YO looks hopeless on form - he's no Robinson Crusoe there - but given he gets blinkers and a tongue-tie and his only win was with headgear in a similar affair, he could show up. Nothing looks like winning this race so SUVARNABHUMI and BONJOUR BOB come into calculations while it would be remiss not to give last start surprise winner, GOLDEN ROSEWOOD, a big show on winning form."

RACE 9: KRANJI STAKES C (SET WEIGHTS) - 1600M COURSE B (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 16:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$80000

Larry says, "A cracking race - perhaps the most competitive on the card - and you would think a busy finish is on the cards with value to be found if we can find the winner. ZIP A DEE DO DAH impressed winning over 1200m when resuming and the promising stayer looks a big show over the mile. The 5YO was on the Derby trail last year and he will be a horse to follow through the grades and can win this. BRING MONEY HOME showed last start that while he isn't quite up to Group standard, he wins races like this and he will be prominent throughout. MAGSTOCK is another promising stayer who it will pay to follow through the grades and he will find the mile to his liking after a good run fresh over 1400m. Plenty of others to consider including three last start winners in NAZIR, TARAMEA and the honest CERTAINLY and don't discount KIRKS RYKER sans blinkers."

RACE 10: CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 17:25 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "Not a lot of depth to this Class 4 Poly sprint, which should give KNIGHT JUDGE his chance to break through in Singapore. The one-time winner from Australia (over 1100m) has been close up at his two Singapore starts on the turf and his trials suggest the Poly hold no fear and he could be hard to beat. AUTUMN RUSH is right in the mix after breaking his maiden status last start. The 4YO deserved that win after three good runs and he will certainly win sooner than later in Class 4. LIM'S SHOT and LOUEY VELOCE are both in honest form and both will win without surprising and you can almost forget the rest although BLACK MAMBA could run forward race at odds while the first emergency, SAVAGE STORM, could figure if he gets a start."

RACE 11: OPEN BENCHMARK 67 - 1400M COURSE B (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 17:55 PRIZE MONEY: S$60000

Larry says, "Nothing jumps off the page to win the lucky last and a solid each-way option in OPTIMUS might be a good punting option. The 5YO has drawn awkwardly but has enough early pace for V Duric to have him handy enough in running to be a winning show. He has been in good form this campaign in some nice company and gets his chance here. His Stephen Gray stablemate, PUSAKA, is also a winning show and the 6YO will be working into this strongly late with a 2kg claimer on board. Shane Baertschiger also has two runners with winning hopes in BIG MAN and GUILTY PLEASURES, who will both be prominent throughout, while the blanket goes over RED ANT, KEEPITUP, RISKY ROCKEFELLER and MORITZ ECLIPSE."

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