Gareth Pepper
After a relaxing weekend off, this week sees our showcase meeting taking place on Sunday. The SIA Cup and the Krisflyer Sprint promise racing of the highest order and everywhere one goes, talk is of horseracing, and more horseracing, writes Gareth Pepper.
Before we get into that, racing fans can get the juices flowing with some high class, thrilling racing action on Friday. The headline event is the S$500 000 Gr1 Guineas and the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe for the juveniles for a stake of S$325 000.
The Guineas is one of the strongest and most competitive lineups I have seen.
We have 6 last start winners and the champion 2yo Affleck, who has run second in the first two legs of the 3yo series, taking part in this bumper event.
Spanish Bay, winner of the 2nd leg takes his place but the most intruiging runner for me is Jimmy Rea. He has won 5 0f his last 6 races and has shown a turn of foot that makes your hair stand on end- but all over 1200m.
Lucky Nine wins the 2013 Krisflyer
He does have stamina doubts and also seems to do things the hard way by dropping out of his races, coming wide or weaving his way through other runners and still producing exceptional 400m to finish times.
Affleck trialled extremely well last week, beating the strongest trial field many have seen here for a long time and the Laxon yard are confident that he can regain his crown and rise to the top.
Super One is looking to make it 3 from 3 in the Juvenile Golden Horseshoe and looks to be an exciting prospect.
Sundays SIA Cup And Krisflyer Sprint hosts runners from around the world.
The Cup has attracted previous winners Dan Excel and Military Alliance and the Krisflyer sees Aerovelocity travelling from Hong Kong too.
Locally the entrants feature some of the best Singapore has to offer and the Turf Club’s website is the best port of call for fields and all other info needed – www.turfclub.com.sg
We also have some international jockeys making their way here on Sunday including Joao Moreira, Zac Purton, Tommy Berry, Mickael Barzalona, Olivier Doleuze and Brett Pebble.
Till next time.
