3 minute read

Rising star Top Knight will be out to confirm his position as one of the best 3YOs in Singapore, when due to contest the Group 1 Singapore Guineas this evening.

An impressive winner first up, Top Knight  went on to finish a narrow second behind Bold Thruster in the Singapore 3YO Sprint [1200m], when arguably the run of the race.

Ridden conservatively from the wide draw, Top Knight was forced to weave his way through the field, storming home late.

Visually he couldn't have been more impressive and the clock certainly backed up the strength of his performance.

Not only did he return the quickest closing splits of the race, he also returned the fastest 1000m, 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the meeting.

The second leg of the 3YO series was no different.

Sent out the pronounced favourite ($2.20), Top Knight settled towards the rear, before peeling the widest runner on straightening.

Though appearing to take a while to wind up, he again reeled off some very slick sectionals, gunning down the Donna Logan trained Makkem Lad in the last stride.

While only a bare margin, when analysing the race sectionals, it clearly flattered those on-speed and if allowed to run his race more efficiently, there is certainly more to come with Top Knight.

Second placegetter Makkem Lad couldn't have been ridden any better, Wong flushed it, however under a different scenario Top Knight has close to 2.5L up his sleeve.

Out to a mile he remains open to further improvement and now has the perfect platform to explode fourth up.

A winner of five of his eight starts, he is one of the more promising horses in Singapore and while again likely to get back, he should prove very hard to hold out.

Stablemate Siam Blue Vanda closed off well to finish fourth behind Top Knight last start and shapes as the main danger.

While unable to get into the finish, his closing splits were very good and suggest the mile will be right up his alley.

Ben Thompson sticks aboard and with even luck, he should be right there.

The Cliff Brown trained Elite Incredible displayed sharp improvement in his second start in Singapore and has to be respected, despite the horror draw.

Formerly based in Argentina, Elite Incredible finished a close fifth in his Singapore debut, before taking a good step forward when a narrow third behind Top Knight.

Imagine he still has good improvement to come, just needs a back to follow from out wide.

Of the rest, the sole filly in the field Siam Vipasiri has to be included.

While unable to run her race last start, her effort prior was very good and she notably gets the blinkers on for the first time.

Drawn to get a lovely suck run and cannot be taken lightly.

Good luck and happy punting.