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Singapore racing best bets, race by race analysis looking at the full Singapore card Friday 18 January with selections & information on all the contenders
RACE 1
MILLION ROUND (11) – Would not be the worst in a race of this nature. Better known as a Polytrack performer but does have sound winning form off the turf and he has won over the course and distance off his current mark of 37 a couple of seasons ago and did win over 1600m last June off a six-point higher mark. This is a race he can win and looks ready to win another.
EVERYBODY HAPPY (2) – Yet to win here in seven starts so far, but did go well last time out when second, and judged on that effort, he should be included in the numbers.
RED CLAW (5) – A winner off four points higher and placed off his current mark on his last couple of outings, the most recent only seven days ago. So he has fitness on his side. Each-way chance.
YULONG SHENGDAO (3) – Has shown precious little in five runs so far but looked much better in a trial last week when sporting blinker-pacifiers to win by 1 ½ lengths in a time of 60.58. A lot is taken on trust but is one of the more interesting runners in the line-up.
RACE 2
ROCK ME EASY (11) – Looked good when finishing off his winning trial under a tight hold from Vlad Duric on January 8. There is quite a bit of ‘dead wood’ in this contest and this Stephen Gray-trained galloper is taken to improve on his first look at the racecourse.
GLAMOROUS (2) – Has bits and pieces of form that give him a decent chance in a race of this quality. It’s not overly strong on paper and that would bring him into the reckoning.
ACCUMULATION (3) – Has reserved his best for the Polytrack in nine runs so far but if he is able to translate some of that all-weather form here, then he should be kept safe in this.
CALVADOS (1) – This is easier than the Novice he ran in last time. He has the highest rating (60) which may well count for something.
RACE 3
NO FUN NO GAIN (6) – A horse with plenty of scope for further improvement. He was last seen running fifth in a hot Novice won by the useful Siam Vipasiri back in early November. He looked good in winning a trial on January 8 in 60.89 (Super Talent second) and was forward enough to score on debut. So expect a big run first-up here.
SUPER TALENT (7) – Caught the eye in the last race of 2018 when finishing off very well for third behind Petite Voix on the Polytrack. Is a turf winner in Australia over 1000m further last January and the recent trial second leaves him spot-on for this.
QUANTUM (4) – Looks fairly treated off his current mark of 60 judged on three runs to-date, the latest of them when keen from a wide draw to run a close fourth on Gold Cup day over 1400m. There was enough to like at the trials to certainly include him in this.
LIM’S REFORM (3) – Some very solid runs in defeat of late, the latest in the same race as Quantum when runner-up and is another to have trialled well leading up to this race. He should go well again and is a must for exotics here.
RACE 4
SACRED DON (1) – Lightly-raced galloper here in Singapore and trained by Mark Walker. This horse looks suited with Vlad Duric to ride stepping up to 1400m. Looks hard to hold out in a race of this class. Top pick.
MAI DARKO (4) – Was okay first-up in 1000m Open Maiden. Better suited at 1400m here where he can race up on the speed and will give a bold sight. Looks some sort of danger.
MILITARY CHAIRMAN (5) – Is worth including among the chances. Nice effort back in December when placed behind Irving Lipschitz at 1600m. Will strip fitter for this run.
MIRACLE TIME (10) – Is drawn to get a nice run from barrier 2 and with clear running in the straight, don’t be surprised to see this horse run a cheeky race. Showed some ability last preparation running fourth to Monte Nerone and the recent trial was okay.
RACE 5
GAIN ECLIPSE (1) – An admirable mare who is largely very consistent and only ever once out of the first three in all her races both here and Malaysia. She will have the assistance of the superb talent that is Noh Senari to offset the 58kgs by two. The pair looked to be in perfect harmony in a trial recently. Can go very close.
ALAMOSA EXPRESS (3) – Came good at the 14th time of asking here in Singapore when landing a competitive Class 4 Non Premier on Singapore Gold Cup over 1400m. He is a last-start winner and must be respected.
PAPERBACK TROOPER (5) – Possibly against one’s better judgment this horse gets included, but it is a weak race outside of the top two. It is hard to put a losing run of 21 starts to the back of your mind (only win was on debut)! He can run well if in the right frame of mind. Not one to trust.
SACRED TONIC (2) – Still lightly-raced compared to most of these and could improve on current form in a less than competitive event.
RACE 6
GOOD NEWS (2) - Experienced campaigner who has been tending to mix form in recent outings but certainly finds a suitable assignment. Hasn't been down to a mark of 72 since July 2015 and is well drawn to perform. Capable of bouncing back into form.
ELITE POWER (1) - Handy type who has developed a serious record in a relatively short career. Hard to knock on recent efforts and gets the services of Vlad Duric. Capable of fighting out the finish.
LIM'S KNIGHT (7) - Rarely wins but is constantly knocking on the door. Isn't ideally drawn but is capable of figuring with even luck. Mustn't be ignored for the minor end.
SIERRA CONQUEROR (4) - Impressive on-pace winner on debut in Singapore. Has since performed well at the trials and gets conditions to suit on raceday to repeat the dose. Capable of figuring.
RACE 7
BE BEE (10) – A winner in both Group 2 and 3 company and extremely classy on his day. A recent trial success (60.91) in a strong heat would have set him up nicely for this assignment and even with a little overweight from Ben Thompson, he still gets in very well at the weights for a horse of his ability. Although he has never won on the Long Course he can still prove a tough nut to crack.
SUPER FORTUNE (5) – All five wins have been over this course and distance and last time out a plugging-on seventh was the best he could muster in the New Year Cup (Polytrack). He is much more at home on the turf and should find these conditions to his liking with only 52kgs. Every chance.
MAXIMUS (2) – Bagged his Group race win last backend with victory in the Colonial Chief Stakes and backed it up with a third in the New Year Cup behind Constant Justice. He is yet to win on the turf (eight Polytrack wins) but his turf form isn’t bad by any stretch (36266), running sixth in both the Merlion Trophy and Kranji Mile. He is a classy horse who will give his running here.
AFFLECK (6) – Great to see this seven-year-old back in the winner’s enclosure last time out when landing a Kranji Stakes B under Simon Kok. Perhaps not the force of old but he will be finishing off the race well when maybe others have cried enough.
RACE 8
QUADCOPTER (10) – It was a solid run in defeat last time out at the hands of Ironside (fifth next time) and shouldn’t have lost any admirers on what was a very good run. He had Mach a half-length behind him that day and on these revised terms, he should be able to confirm those placings here on the back of a second in a recent trial.
MACH (4) – Yet to finish out of the first three in five career starts to date and was not far from Quadcopter when they last met. He has two trials under his belt since then and the Steven Burridge team have started the year well and after just four meetings are operating at 18.18%. Player.
GOLD STRIKE (3) – Third to Quadcopter in latest trial (60.77). Last seen in September when fourth on the all-weather behind Revolution and he was only two lengths off the subsequent Group 3 placegetter Mo Almighty. He’ll appreciate conditions now back on turf.
ONE KINABALU (6) – Ran a screamer on debut for Copperbelt when a fast-finishing second behind Super Denman (winner last week) in a closing sectional of 23.61 and it is quite feasible he can offer some value here in a hot little race.
