Singapore Racing – Sunday

Danny Beasley gets the best from Cash Luck on the way to taking out the Panasonic Kranji Mile. Picture Singapore Turf Club.06/10/2013

One of the better days of racing from Singapore with the Juvenile Championship and the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy the obvious highlights.

The Chairman’s Trophy looks an absolute beauty with the likes of CASH LUCK and STEPITUP heading the ratings and the WFA form going right down to the three horses with a weight-pull at the conditions – GOLD RUTILE, GOODMAN and BENDICION.

With a gutsy placing in the Singapore Derby from a wide gate under his belt, STEPITUP is due and while he has drawn badly again, he looks the benchmark.

The champion 3YO – who is now a week away from turning five – hasn’t won for a while but given the circumstances and his honest run of form, he gets his chance.

The 1800m long-course chute will take away some of the pain of the widest gate and Davey Flores will be keen to knock in what will be his first win on the star of the Sonny Yeoh stable.

But the field has plenty of depth and apart from the horses already mentioned you have WILD GEESE and JOHNNY GUITAR looking well placed at the WFA conditions and both should figure heavily in what could be a very busy finish.

Elsewhere on the card, there looks plenty of value on offer in some very strong fields. And while they will have to be at their best to win, each-way punters might want to keep the likes of STREET LEGAL (race 8), the emergency, THESE STREETS in race 10, FUKU ICHIBAN (race 11) and even NATURE IS NATURE in the lucky last safe as they could
show up at odds.

Best Bets; (STEPITUP race 9, win), (STREET LEGAL race 8, value) and (FUKU ICHIBAN race 11, value).
Bankers for Jackpots: Race 9 (1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11), race 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11 and 15), race 11 (1, 6, 9 and 11), race 12 (1 and 9).

Race 8

Selections; 7 BLUE LION – 4 THUMPING – 1 STREET LEGAL – 5 CANNON HILL
An odd race where the veteran STREET LEGAL compresses the weights and a couple of very progressive types in BLUE LION and THUMPING look the ones the punters will flock to. BLUE LION arrived from Australia with a modest record but has put together a nice run of form which included a placing in Group company (albeit weak) at his last start. His win three starts back was just as impressive and with 50kg on his back in this BM89, he could be hard to beat. But THUMPING has also put together a good CV and while she was unplaced at her recent Group run, that was a strong field and she did do it tough. She backed that up with a good win and no reason she isn’t right in this with just 51.5kg. But the race has depth and from the top, STREET LEGAL has looked good at the trials and appreciates
the mile, RAFAGA not without hope at value in this company and don’t discount the Pat Shaw-trained pair of CANNON HILL and his newcomer, ALEXANDRA PALACE.

1 STREET LEGAL *** Backed-up solid first-up run with an eye-catching trial and goes close over the mile. 12
2 RAFAGA *** Form better than it reads and might find this suitable. 12
3 SHUTTLE MAN * Goes very well on his day but returned a roarer last start and have to take on trust. 12
4 THUMPING *** Won four-from-nine and looks to have a very nice race to continue her good run of form. 3.00
5 CANNON HILL *** Not far away in better company than this over the mile last start and plays a big part here. 5.00
6 ALEXANDRA PALACE *** Former South African who arrives via Dubai and worth some thought on good recent trial. 8.00
7 BLUE LION *** In fine form after placing in Group company last start and hard to beat with 50kg. 3.00
8 VECTIS ** Up in grade but honest and appreciates minimum weight. 20

Race 9

Selections; 2 STEPITUP – 3 WILD GEESE – 4 JOHNNY GUITAR – 10 GOODMAN
After jumping from gate 16 in the Emirates Singapore Derby, connections of champion 3YO would have been hoping for something better than barrier 11 in an 11 horse field. But that’s what he was dealt in the Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy and Davey Flores will again have to earn his keep in what looks a very good and even field. In his favour is the fact there is a very long run in to the first bend from the 1800m chute and you would expect him to find a comfortable position in running and hopefully no excuses for followers. The WFA conditions obviously favour the top-rated horses so you can throw a blanket over the likes of CASH LUCK, WILD GEESE and JOHNNY GUITAR with the two mares, GOLD RUTILE and BENDICION and the only 3YO in the field – GOODMAN – all appreciating a weight relief of 1.5kg. Wide open race – do your best.

1 CASH LUCK *** Resuming after being found out late over 2000m and worth noting win two back was this trip. 12
2 STEPITUP *** Five starts without a win but well placed here to change that anomaly. 4.00
3 WILD GEESE *** Gave weight and just beaten last start over 1600m so a big show at the WFA conditions. 6.00
4 JOHNNY GUITAR *** Derby run better than it looked and goes close if he brings his best. 8.00
5 BORN TO FLY ** Honest in any company but tested at the WFA conditions with blinkers off. 20
6 SUPERNOVA ** Excuses last start not to win at KSA company but query at the conditions. 12
7 CITY LAD ** Pinched a weak Group win last start and this is much tougher. 16
8 MAGICAL TALENT ** Placed at long odds in the Derby and have to respect on that effort. 20
9 GOLD RUTILE *** Very hard to fault form and has to be a show with handy mares allowance. 7.00
10 GOODMAN *** Very progressive 3YO who could very well rise to the open Group occasion with 56.5kg. 7.00
11 BENDICION *** Supported and excuses not to finish closer in the Derby and has to be respected. 7.00

Race 10

Selections; 5 TWICKENHAM – 3 PERFECT CHALLENGER – 8 OM – 6 POWER LION
Not many races are tougher than this depth wise but while there will be enormous value on offer on some of the runners, it is the likely favourite in TWICKENHAM that is the one to beat. The 3YO has been faultless since having excuses at his race debut and his last start win in similar company to this was excellent. While we can’t name them all, PERFECT CHALLENGER gets back to his level which he showed when winning in this company/trip two starts back. Given that win was bookmarked by 3YO Group races, he goes mighty close again. Of the rest, OM gets blinkers after going super close last start in a similar affair, POWER LION has been flying with two wins since blinkers removed and CAPTIVATE looks due and might get out to nice odds. Don’t leave out MATTERHORN, NATURAL NICE and COOL CUSTOMER at the top of the weights with one sneaky eye on the emergency runner, THESE STREETS, at value.

1 MATTERHORN *** Honest enough and finds himself in KSC company courtesy of not winning for over one year. Value. 20
2 NATURAL NICE *** Always an each-way show over 1400m and appreciates senior hoop. 20
3 PERFECT CHALLENGER *** Win two starts back was this trip and company and was tucked in between two Group runs. Keep safe. 9.00
4 COOL CUSTOMER *** Resuming and goes well enough first-up to include at value. 9.00
5 TWICKENHAM *** Won three on the trot after a sighter on debut and hard to beat. 3.00
6 POWER LION *** Won his last two this trip in Class 4 since blinkers were removed and can handle step up to this company. 4.50
7 NEOBIUM * Not at his best last two and wide gate makes this tough. 50
8 OM *** Blinkers on to try and turn some good form into a win. Goes close. 6.00
9 SHIPPING FORECAST ** Won at a rare turf appearance last start and that effort good enough to keep safe. 20
10 TWO M AND M ** Racing well and might be very good each-way option in this strong field with a tongue-tie added. 33
11 CAPTIVATE *** Overdue to win a race like this and another that may get out to odds. 12
12 MR MAGNUS * Blinkers off but needs easier/longer. 200
13 SERGEANT PEPPER ** Resuming but hard to fault winning form from last campaign. 20
14 COLLECT THE CASH ** Also resuming with winning form under his belt and a must for exotics. 33
15 THESE STREETS *** Blew the start and his chances last time out and worth serious thought on that effort with tongue-tie off. 20

Race 11

Selections; 9 SPUN GOLD – 6 AMAZON GOLD – 1 HILLBILLY BEAR – 11 FUKU ICHIBAN
This race looks as tough as the previous event but hopefully a horse that trailed very well recently in SPUN GOLD can win. Obviously his race form is good too and certainly showed enough chasing home MULAN last start to think he is more than capable in this company. Another gold – AMAZON GOLD – also looks well placed to win. The former Argentinean had three runs in Singapore before winning when blinkers were added at his last start and with Nunes staying on-board, he goes close. Plenty of value in a race like this and from the top, HILLBILLY BEAR drops to Class 4 and a suitable race so he goes close with blinkers off and one at long odds that could show up in FUKU ICHIBAN who had excuses last start and loves this trip. SOON YI and THE OMEGA MAN just another two to watch and go very wide in exotics.

1 HILLBILLY BEAR *** Excuses last start and finds himself in the right company with blinkers removed. Big show. 12
2 THE GREAT GREY * Resuming after being the emergency in the 2013 Derby. Market only guide. 33
3 SOON YI *** Looks due and 1400m looks ideal. 8.00
4 THE OMEGA MAN *** Has returned in very good form and looks well placed to win again. 5.00
5 MY DANCING DUEL ** Stayer resuming sans blinkers and goes well enough fresh to include in exotics at odds. 33
6 AMAZON GOLD *** Won well when blinkers added last start and more than up to this company. 4.00
7 SPYDER ** Improves on first-up run after drawing better. 20
8 POWERNOVA ** Backed up maiden win with a solid effort in a similar race to this. Each-way. 12
9 SPUN GOLD *** Drawn wide but shown at two runs since resuming he wins sooner than later with nice recent trial a bonus. 3.50
10 YOU DA ONE ** One of three Cliff Brown runners and could give a sight at odds. 20
11 FUKU ICHIBAN *** Form better than it reads and this race is suitable. Value. 33
12 COGITO ERGO SUM * In winning form but will find this a lot tougher than Class 5. 33
13 BEAT TO QUARTERS ** Love to see in Class 5 but pay to include in novelties. 20

Race 12

Selections; 1 DANNY RICARDO – 9 NEW YORK CITY – 14 CITY OF KIRKWALL – 2 NATURE IS NATURE
Great race to finish what should have been a terrific days racing. Hopefully a winner or three has been found and DANNY RICARDO can get us home with another. Just like his Formula 1 name-sake, the 5YO showed plenty before a relatively recent change in stables saw him knock in three of his four career wins. And he showed last start he is not done with yet and he will get every chance after drawing the ace. It is hard to leave out NEW YORK CITY and he can easily win. He ended a frustrating run of form with a win last start on Derby Day and no reason to think he isn’t the one making up the most ground late. Stephen Gray’s stable is in form and his two last start winners – CITY OF KIRKLAND and GOLDEN CURL – both come under serious consideration with IMPERIAL FIGHTER and NATURE IS NATURE (value) two others to watch.

1 DANNY RICARDO *** In very good form and the mile looks perfect. Big show. 5.00
2 NATURE IS NATURE *** Appreciates two runs back this campaign and showed last start he wins again soon. 14
3 BOARD WALK ** Excuses last start and usually competitive. 33
4 YES BABA * Honest and recent trial was good but better in Class 4 and on poly. 33
5 GOLDEN CURL *** Knocked in well-deserved win last start and pay to follow. 7.00
6 SWEET LODGE ** Didn’t show a lot last start but right in this late if having a good day. 12
7 ALADDIN ** Honest and shown he is more than competitive in this type of company. 12
8 FLYING AHEAD * Better than what he has shown two runs this campaign but hard to have. 33
9 NEW YORK CITY *** Broke through for over-due win in Singapore at his last start and will figure heavily again late. 4.00
10 JIMTOWN ** Back to the turf after poor Poly outing and can improve at odds. 33
11 SILVER AND GOLD ** Showed last start he can handle the turf but wide gate is a concern. 20
12 SUNNY * No. 100
13 IMPERIAL FIGHTER *** Excuses not to win last start and form suggests he is worth a look with just 51.5kg. 7.00
14 CITY OF KIRKWALL *** Broke maiden status in fine style last start and mile looks ideal. 7.00

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