Singapore champion sprinter Rocket Man goes for his fourth Gr1 Lion Cup victory
He’s back, and don’t we love it!
ROCKET MAN, arguably Singapore’s finest thoroughbred, returns to Kranji for his fourth KrisFlyer Sprint campaign which starts this Sunday with the Lion City Cup (race 10)
And although a Group 1 in it’s own right and worth a healthy SGD $500,000, the Lion City Cup has become a mere ‘prep’ race for ROCKET MAN and a unprecedented fourth victory in Singapore’s most honored domestic sprint looks a formality. The combined margin of his three wins in the race is an incredible 10.1 lengths and when you consider he beat the likely second favourite in this race, BETTER BE THE ONE, by a lazy five lengths last year, the question is; ‘how far’?
Unfortunately it is also a question of ‘how short’?
But for purists it is all about the horse and a night to savour and a tasty entrée to his much anticipated defense of his KrisFlyer in May.
In the Admiralty Stakes (race 8), FLYING FULTON should continue his great run of form and can knock in what would be his third feature win of the year. His two previous features have been on the Polytrack but this versatile and gutsy galloper looks well suited at the conditions and it does look a case of whoever beats him, wins.
It is a mixed surface meeting with races 7, 9 and 11 on the all-weather Polytrack and races 8 and 10 on the Short Course (B), Turf.
Best Bets;
ROCKET MAN (race 10, win), FLYING FULTON (Race 8, win); MAGIC ICON (race 7, value).
Bankers for Jackpots:
Race 8 (2); race 9 (2, 4, 5, 6, 7); race 10 (1); race 11 (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9).
Sunday 29 April – Meeting Preview/selections, comments and odds, courtesy Larry Foley
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 7
Selections; 1 BUZET – 2 MAGIC ICON – 3 NEW FRIENDS – 9 AMERICAN TYCOON
BUZET looks well placed to turn some near misses since dropping to Class 5 into another win. The 4Y0 has two Poly wins to his name and looks the obvious top pick (and favourite) with trainer David Hill opting for apprentice R Zawari and what looks a winning 3kg claim. MAGIC ICON looks the biggest danger at his first run in Class 5. The USTINOV gelding has a win over 1900m on this surface in better company than this to his name and from gate 3, should show his best dropping to very winnable company. Of the two, MAGIC ICON should be the value and well worth a look if missed by punters. Of the rest, NEW FRIENDS has had his chances but is always a show and down the weights it will pay to keep AMERICAN TYCOON safe as he looks a likely improver.
1 BUZET *** Foot on the till and 3kg claim can’t hurt his chances. 2.50
2 MAGIC ICON *** Significant drop in Class and this race very suitable to get back into the winners circle. 6.00
3 NEW FRIENDS *** Maiden status always a concern but thereabouts so keep safe with winkers added. 4.00
4 SUPERNATURAL POWER * No. 100
5 SUPER NEW HAWK * Easier to ignore. 100
6 CAN’T TOUCH ME ** Only win was in this Class but on turf and have to take on trust. 12
7 IRISH FLASH ** Supports and only fair two starts back similar affair – take on trust. 6.00
8 TAKE THE FIFTH ** Should strip fitter for the first up run and improves – market good guide. 15
9 AMERICAN TYCOON *** Had some tough runs of late from wide draws so very much appreciates gate two and could surprise. 10
10 LONG FENG ** Slight improvement at last few and could at some value in exotic bets. 40
11 JOLLY ONE * Last start better and drawn the fence but struggles as a rule. 50
Race 8
Selections; 2 FLYING FULTON – 4 PARFUMIER – 3 JAMAL MALIK – 1 ALWAYS CERTAIN
At the conditions of this feature a few horses look ‘weighted to win’ and non better than FLYING FULTON. The FLYING SPUR 5YO is in career best form this season and from gate five with just 56.5kg on his back, another win looks likely. And while finding one better on the day at his last two outings as favourite, he has certainly been the benchmark and his third feature of the year is on the cards. And while there are plenty of good horses in excellent form leading into this – ASERIOUS and SUPER GURU to name two – the higher rated horses do look the danger to FLYING FULTON with PARFUMIER, JAMAL MALIK and ALWAYS CERTAIN likely to feature heavily in the finish. In fact PARFUMIER looked in good enough order last start to think he could surprise and might be the value runner in what is a very even field. Down in the weights you may want to consider FLYING WEST and SILVERON WINGS – both in well at the race conditions – for exotics.
1 ALWAYS CERTAIN *** First run back after unsuccessful Dubai campaign and this look suitable to get back into the thick of this action. 4.50
2 FLYING FULTON *** In top form and looks a case of whoever beats him wins. 3.00
3 JAMAL MALIK *** Bounced back to his best first up and pay to follow as knows how to win. 10
4 PARFUMIER *** Also bounced back to good form last start and will be thereabouts. 12
5 MAURICE UTRILLO ** In very solid form and not far away from a result – value. 10
6 ASERIOUS *** In super form and close enough last start to think he has an open win to his name soon. 6.00
7 SUPER GURU ** Big step up in Class but five wins from 12 career starts suggest he knows what the caper is about. 12
8 BORN TO FLY ** Nice win last start but this is obviously a lot tougher and not in well at the weights. 30
9 JOYFUL HEART MAN ** Resuming after something amiss last start – have to take on trust. 30
10 MARTINCHO CAT ** Another stepping up in Class after a nice enough win but question mark this company. 30
11 FLYING WEST ** Well weighted here, last start better than the result and the type of horse than handles most company – keep safe. 20
12 SILVERON WINGS ** Continues to step up to the plate and while this is a tough ask again, he is due for a win and not in badly at the conditions. 30
13 EXCUSE MY FRIENDS * Better than what he showed in the slop last start but prefer later/easier. 100
14 JET STREAM ** Disappointing not to have won with support easier company than this but could be in the place mix. 30
Race 9
Selections; 2 RALEIGH – 7 BOMBAATA – 4 HONEST TRUTH – 6 MAPLE STAR
This Poly sprint looks a beauty with plenty of unknowns, plenty of good form and plenty of action expected into that all important tight first bend. You could seriously make a case for six or more of these and given the only last start winner and likely favourite in the field, HONEST TRUTH, has drawn wide in gate 8, there could be value elsewhere. Eventually I settled for RALEIGH on-top given he has shown plenty this campaign and has a more experienced claimer in R Shafiq on-board. The O’REILLY entire has won three times on this surface and from gate six should get every chance. But with value and a bit of an upset in mind, I think BOMBAATA bears serious thought. The STRAVINSKY 4YO has won and been placed another four times from just nine career starts and could easily win a race like this first up after returning a roarer as favourite back in October. But HONEST TRUTH, MAPLE STAR and SQUALL LINE could all win without surprising and most others all some hope for exotics.
1 VIVA PANATA ** Hasn’t been at his best of late but this looks suitable company and has a handy claim – watch. 20
2 RALEIGH *** Has been in very good form two runs this campaign and wins sooner than later. 3.50
3 MOOVA HOOVA * Resuming and easier to ignore. 200
4 HONEST TRUTH *** Showed more than enough winning last start to be another leading show in this. 3.00
5 SQUALL LINE *** Always in the mix and keeps a few honest here – each way. 8.00
6 MAPLE STAR *** Blinkers go on to see if he can turn some good form – often value – into a win. Goes close. 3.50
7 BOMBAATA *** Resuming after returning a roarer last start. Goes very well on this surface and might sneak under a radar or two – keep safe. 8.00
8 GLOWNIGHT RACER ** Not a million miles away last start similar affair and gate one always handy. 30
9 GOOD STRIKER ** Appreciates first run back and certainly good enough on his day to be in the mix – watch tote. 30
10 WOJCINSKI ** Form starting to read badly but 1000m always looked his preferred trip and could surprise with no weight. 50
Race 10
Singapore champion sprinter Rocket Man goes for his fourth Gr1 Lion Cup victory
Selections; 1 ROCKET MAN – 2 BETTER BE THE ONE – 7 MASTHEAD – 6 MR BIG
Who runs second? ROCKET MAN has dominated this race for the past three years and there is no reason he makes an exception today. In 2009 he won by almost three lengths as a 3YO before beating the benchmark, WAIKATO, by 2.3 lengths in 2010 in what was his comeback campaign after a career threatening bone chip injury. And he got better again in 2011 winning the Lion City Cup – Singapore’s most prestigious Group event – by a massive 5 lengths. That feat was made all the more impressive considering Dubai placed BETTER BE THE ONE had closest look at his backside on that occasion. And that looks to be the forecast again with BETTER BE THE ONE – certainly not disgraced in Dubai this year – the obvious choice for second. Of the rest, it was hard to leave out ATO but I like the fact a couple of smart 3YO’s get a nice weight pull and happy to think MASTHEAD and MR BIG are in the place mix. But no match for the Champ.
1 ROCKET MAN *** Singapore’s top racehorse first up after valiant effort in Dubai. Trialed brilliantly recently and this looks his for the taking. 1.05
2 BETTER BE THE ONE ** Class performer who went fairly in Dubai. Has top postilion and if there is a danger he could be it. 7.00
3 ATO ** Extremely consistent horse who always goes an honest race. Good place chance. 14
4 NORTHERN LION * Will give cheek but better on Polytrack. 100
5 BLACK ICE * Very smart horse who won well last start but tough at WFA conditions. 50
6 MR BIG ** Honest as the day is long, will try his heart out and good place chance. 14
7 MASTHEAD ** Tongue tie on, up and comer, but will find this tough. 30
Race 11
Selections; 5 PREMIER GRADE – 2 JET ACE – 7 FLY FREELY – 3 SPEED DEMON
This race looks like it will get plenty of punting action with JET ACE and SPEED DEMON both coming off impressive debut wins and PREMIER GRADE looking set to open his Singapore winning account. The market should be a good guide (as they may whack one) but as it stands I think PREMIERE GRADE is ready to win. The former Argentinean took a while to find his feet in Singapore (an understatement given eight unplaced runs straight) but his last two places – both over this trip/surface – have been excellent and he has to win soon. Felix Coetzee should be looking at a race-to-race double and from gate five, PREMIERE GRADE will be given every possible chance. JET ACE won at $1.60 on debut – that tells you plenty – and the Joao Moreira factor suggests he might go close to even money again even though he has drawn gate 12. SPEED DEMON is the other debut winner and has to be respected while FLY FREELY and ITISWHATITIS keep them all honest and are musts for any exotics.
1 SECONDTONONE ** Pulled up lame last start so have to take on trust. 30
2 JET ACE *** Backed like he was a good thing and won accordingly at debut – hard to beat. 3.00
3 SPEED DEMON *** Also won convincingly on debut and is going to be right in this. 4.00
4 BOSS CAN I CAN *** Could make excuses last start and switch back to Poly a good move – give another chance this grade. 20
5 PREMIER GRADE *** Did it tough last start for narrow defeat – can win this. 3.50
6 ITISWHATITIS ** Consistent and versatile enough to be some hope dropping back in distance. 12
7 FLY FREELY *** Another consistent type who showed enough last start to think he knocks in a win sooner than later – keep safe. 10
8 STATE TROOPER ** Blinkers off after a couple of just fair runs this Class – prefer to watch. 40
9 MINAH CURRENT *** First up run good and should improve for the outing and in this a long way. 10
10 STORM ARC * No. 200
11 HILARY * Last start better but happy to wait for Class 5. 100
12 PERFECT KID * Can come into his own late but prefer to wait for Class 5. 50
