Nine races on offer from Singapore on Friday night  - all on the Polytrack - and while there looks some steady races on the card, a couple of relative newcomers will get the majority of punter attention.

SPEEDY CAT (race 6) and CALIFORNIA STAR (race 1), who coincidentally met at their only race start, both look good things given the display we saw on debut.

On that day – January 8 to be precise – SPEEDY CAT jumped from gate 12 and with the proverbial weight of punters support and the literal 57kg to carry, equaled the course record over the 1100m.

He didn’t have it his own way either – CALIFORNIA STAR made sure of that – which just makes the feat all the more remarkable.

And if he wasn’t already a good thing in race 6 today, the fact he gets in with just 54.5kg at the race conditions suggests he is a very good thing.

If only it was all that easy!

The connections of CALIFORNIA STAR can be rest assured in the fact there doesn’t look to be a record breaker in the field assembled for race 1.

The Bruce Marsh-trained 3YO did a super job with some support behind the red-hot SPEEDY CAT on debut and that form is obviously going to hold up in this Restricted Maiden.

Two good things on paper and two good things to follow in their respective careers.

Best Bets; CALIFORNIA STAR (Race 1, win), SPEEDY CAT (race 6, win) and HAPPY ENDING (race 9, value).

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

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: RESTRICTED MAIDEN (2&3YO) (WEIGHT FOR AGE) - 1000M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 18:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$65000

Larry says, "Only eight to face the starter in race 1 and with exception of the speedy BOLD BID, an inexperienced lot. CALIFORNIAN STAR was well supported and beat all but the very smart SPEEDY CAT at his first start and with Opie Bosson in the saddle he must be the benchmark. In fact should win. Of the rest, Joao Moreira rode BOURBON NIGHT in a recent trial and takes the mount thus ensuring heavy support. AIN’TSEENOTHING went well enough at his first start to be considered and has the bonus of a senior rider. HOT GOLD has won a trial and has Danny Beasley in the driver’s seat but being by IFRAAJ, might want a longer trip. MIGHTY CREATION had a start back in September and incurred the wrath of the stewards – he has had a number of trials since - but in-form jockey Oscar Chavez has stuck with him and could run a cheeky race from the inside draw. "

RACE 2: CLASS 4 (2) - 1100M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 18:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "The improving three year old THISISIT faces his toughest test in an open race, but his ability may overcome his inexperience. Moriera has taken the mount on SHINKANSEN and from the inside barrier he should make his presence felt. Both these horses should dominate teh betting and the race. GENGHIZ KHAN is an interesting runner, having his first run for over a year after winning at his only start, and he could race well fresh, watch the market. At his best, NEW TARGET could street these, he will appreciate the drop in class but he hasn’t shown anything for a long time. SPIRIT OF NATURE who had excuses last start is down in the weights and should be improved. STEVEN ran a shocker last start but his previous form in this Class was good and the old battler KINGTRAP has to be included. QUI EST LA is on a quick back up after a long break – his first up run had merit and he should be considered in exotics. "

RACE 3: CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 19:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "An extremely open Class 5 over 1600m on the Polytrack. TRIPLE GOALS is no champion but his last two starts have been good with his only win over the distance on the Polytrack ridden by Moreira – enough said. DOUBLE DOSE gets back onto the Polytrack and with the claim for Zawari may be able to overcome his outside draw. OIL BARON also has some nice recent form and pay to follow at each way odds. The emergency CONQUEST has good form in similar affairs– watch if Sam Chua scratches one of his other runners to give the horse a start. Likewise, KUTI KUTI trained by HW Tan has a good chance if it gets a start although his wide draw an issue. DRAMA SUPERSTAR runs on and has the form to be competitive in a race like this. RECIPROCATE is a battler who could win, and MESTI BOLEH never wins but needs to be included in exotics. The 3YO ILLUSIONIST has shown nothing to date but comes from a top stable and a magic trick could be in store."

RACE 4: CLASS 4 - 1600M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 19:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "Another open race with PHANTOM KNIGHT demanding attention after running on strongly despite being caught wide last start. He goes well on the Polytrack and the claim for Tengku Rehaizat should help. SUPER JETSET has nothing on his back, apart from Zaki who is a very good rider of front-runners and if he gets an easy run in front, could defy them to run him down. LOCKDOWN is back in Class 4 and despite an awkward draw with Vorster up he should be highly competitive. Of the rest, AGENAIS very much appreciates the nice gate and the first run back with QUINTA DA LAGO not far away last start and with Moreira in the driver’s seat from gate one, he should be the testing material. EL PERIGO is getting better with every run, and should be in the finish while BUKIT ROSEWOOD - a progressive type who runs on strongly – could win without surprising. "

RACE 5: MAIDEN - 1100M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 20:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "CALIFORNIAN GIRL was placed in City company in Brisbane at her only two runs prior to coming to Singapore. She has subsequently trialed well and looks the one to beat here - could be super short in the betting though. PRIMITIVE INSTINCT has finished close to some good ones in his short career and may find this a lot easier. COOL LUKE has speed but stops and it remains to be seen whether Moreira can improve him. Of the rest, CHINESE TYCOON looks a horse to follow when he gets his act together and LIGHT AS FEATHER has showed improvement, albeit in weak Class 5s, but the distance and conditions should suit. HAIZUM has had one run back after a bleeding attack but had shown promise in a couple of previous runs. NAPOLEON B also goes quickly, but stops, the tongue tie may help him and he could be considered for exotics."

RACE 6: NOVICE (SET WEIGHTS) - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 20:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$65000

Larry says, "Although KOMPRESSOR won well enough on debut and certainly looks a youngster to follow, SPEEDY CAT did the impossible at his first time on the track - equaling the Polytrack record for the 1100m and is the horse to beat. Add the fact the SCAREDEE CAT 3YO did it from the widest gate with 57kg and the sky looks the limit for the HW Tan-trained star. Sure, one run doesn't a career make, but when you consider jockey John Powell only has to carry 54.5kg at the condition weights, he is a 'monty'. The field is not strong; in fact it has no depth at all, so KOMPRESSOR looks the only serious threat with globe-trotting Oscar Chavez on-board. The American-bred 3YO gets a 3.5kg weight pull on the favourite but not sure that is enough to make a difference given what we saw at their respective debuts. Of the rest, BABY FACE looks the obvious choice for third and a very solid option for the 'skinny' end of exotics with NEVER RETREAT the likely improver. "

RACE 7: CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 21:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$35000

Larry says, "Very hard to be confident heading into this race with no stand-out and plenty of horses that can win if at their best. In saying that most of these are coming off 'just fair' runs and most will need to lift to win with luck in running an obviously criteria in these battler affairs. Two recent Class droppers, LIGHTNING ACE and SAHORO, both should win sooner than later back in this company and worth considering. LIGHTNING ACE won a similar affair back in August and it will pay to watch the tote as he was supported that day with regular hoop, YF Leong, on-board. SAHORO also won back in August in Class 5 and looks to have a big show today after drawing favourably in gate one. Plenty of other hopes though with KNIGHT KINGDOM looking in solid form and improves with blinkers added and TOP THREE also in the consistent form that has him right in this. HILARY and VANQUISH are also worth a mention with ATLIXCO the roughie with blinkers back on."

RACE 8: CLASS 3 - 1000M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 21:50 PRIZE MONEY: S$75000

Larry says, "PALOMBARO looks to have found a good race to turn some nice recent form into his seventh win. The RUSTY SPUR 6YO did look to be struggling to find his best late last year but with excuses for a few poor results and showing more than enough at his last two behind the likes of RED BEARD and LAGO BAY, he is ready to win with gate three a bonus. But while his form has him the one to beat, jockey Opie Bosson would be well aware that KAISER is a very smart 3YO and certainly looks his biggest danger. The SEIDNAZOR gelding had a terrific juvenile record and has certainly shown enough in his 3YO campaign to think he is right up to this company first up from a break. But while both of these horses should go well and will get plenty of support, I will be keeping a very close eye on SMART GENERAL with blinkers added to his gear. In fact given his two runs this campaign have been sans blinkers, we can assume that he has been looking at this race to show his best and hopefully sneaks under a few punters guards and is each way value. SQUALL LINE has had a horror run of late jumping from bad barriers and while worth following, he might find an excuse after drawing badly again with SWAGGER the other winning hope after drawing favourably in gate 1."

RACE 9: CLASS 4 (1) - 1100M (POLYTRACK) TIME: 22:20 PRIZE MONEY: S$55000

Larry says, "HAPPY ENDING could be the omen bet of the night. And the sub-editors dream. But obviously we like to go on more than that and HAPPY ENDING gets the nod in the last on what he showed doing it tough last start - his first after a break of six months. The HAPPY GIGGLE gelding was going through a rough patch of form at his last campaign, so the fact he has come back in form is good news as he always looked to have the ability to add to his three Poly wins and certainly good enough to win in Class 4. He has drawn 8, but with the experienced J Saimee on-board he should get a nice position into the tight early turn and have plenty up his sleeve with just 51.5kg and go very close. The race is a tricky one though with no stand-out and two raced newcomers making things more than interesting. DOLLHOUSE and ROYCE - both ex-Australians - look well rated in Class 4 and both have trialed well enough since arriving in Singapore to have a say at their Kranji debuts. DOLLHOUSE probably has the edge on what we have seen at the trials with the market a very good guide. Of the rest with chances, XIN TREASURE - with a career record of one win and five places from just six career starts - looks the most solid option in the field and certainly worth an each way look with Joao Moreira's mount, SECRET PARTY, also a show first up after a six-month spell."

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