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Singapore racing best bets, race analysis looking at the full Singapore card Sunday, 16th August 2020 with selections & information on all the contenders.
RACE 1
1st Pick: COMING UP (5) Put up a much more encouraging run at his last start despite racing wide facing the breeze. Anti-lugging bit on. Can open his account here.
2nd Pick: OPTIMUM STAR (2) Ran above expectations last time out. Nicely drawn. If he can reproduce that form, he will be in this for a long way.
3rd Pick: CODIGOS (1) Was knocking on the door before the Circuit Breaker. First-up. Needs more distance, but can steal a place.
4th Pick: ELITE SAINT (11) Ran a cracker at his comeback race. Had every chance but found three better in the end. Working well on the tracks. Go close.
RACE 2
1st Pick: OUR SECRET WEAPON (7) Looks smart going with his two barrier trials wins from two. Can score on debut.
2nd Pick: TUESDAY (11) Another newcomer who has given a glimpse of his ability in his barrier trials, winning two from two. Forward run expected.
3rd Pick: ALMUGIR (2) Wasn't disgraced on debut when sixth to Ronaldo's Dream. Made ground late. Probably needs longer, but can sneak into the minors here.
4th Pick: REAL EFECTO (8) Has trialled nicely (two wins and two placings from four trials) and is worth some consideration on the back of those.
RACE 3
1st Pick: VETRI (2) Showed a glimpse of his form of old when known as Siam Sapphire with a third place toSun Spear at his last start. Has made further headway since. Wide alley is not a major concern as he drops back. Maps well for this race.
2nd Pick: SUPER TALENT (5) Had excuses at his last start when he returned lame. Previous run was pretty smart. In his element in this and can fight out the finish.
3rd Pick: SMILING PROUD (1) Moderate sort who rolled forward at his comeback run. Will derive plenty of benefit from that race. Place claims.
4th Pick: TUSCAN ARTIST (7) Doesn't win out of turn and is a hard horse to have, but his last couple of runs before the break were notable. Might snatch a place with some luck.
RACE 4
1st Pick: JACKSA (1) Ran above expectations on debut. Flew home for third to The Brotherhood. Drawn out but he seems to be a get-back sort of horse. Has made further headway since and can take this.
2nd Pick: MARDOONA (2) Ran super on debut when second to Ronaldo's Dream. Will strip fitter for this. Can go one better and give Michael Clements a quinella.
3rd Pick: TAKE A CHANCE (11) Has been trialling in good fashion. Looks like he has adjusted quickly to new surroundings. Can take a hand in this.
4th Pick: SPLIT SECOND (8) Given quiet trials. Looks like a nice sort. Has done nothing wrong in his workouts. Can inject some value.
RACE 5
1st Pick: SPORTSCASTER (1) Unlucky at his last run when badly checked in home straight. Prefers more ground but he can still finish over the top of those if the speed is on.
2nd Pick: NINGALOO (5) Knocking on the door. Has been running on strongly at his last few races. Tongue-tie on. Include in calculations.
3rd Pick: TAVITO (9) Never a factor last time out when caught deep throughout. Can do a lot better and from a slightly better draw here, can bounce back.
4th Pick: SILVER WAY (3) In-and-out performer who is not beyond this if back in the mood. Nice low draw. Runs best races when in the lead.
RACE 6
1st Pick: WATER ROCKET (2) Had the race under control last time out but My Big Boss was too good inside the last 200m. Marble one. Can go one better here.
2nd Pick: GENTLEMEN AGREEMENT (4) Resuming. Previous form before Circuit Breaker was consistent. Handy barrier. Has been trialling well and can go well fresh.
3rd Pick: ROYAL PAVILION (7) First-up. Drops back in his races and has a good turn of foot. Can finish in the money.
4th Pick: PROOF PERFECT (1) Crowded at the start at last outing. Stayed rather one-paced at business end. Worth better than that. Can atone even if he has drawn a horror gate.
RACE 7
1st Pick: KHARISMA (7) Lightly-raced four-year-old who is stepping up in trip here. That should suit him well and the connections have always thought highly of this son of Mossman. Leading chance on the back of a nice Restricted Maiden win.
2nd Pick: GOLD CITY (2) Smart mare on her day. This Cliff Brown-trained runner can race well fresh and although would prefer a little further, she isn't out of this at all and is a leading player.
3rd Pick: SUN FORMATION (9) Now up five points for a win last time and has trialled well leading into this.
4th Pick: AFALONHRO (4) A return to turf and 1400m can suit and should be included in the number here.
RACE 8
1st Pick: HEADHUNTER (2) Ex-Godolphin galloper who made a pleasing local debut when third to Lim's Passion (who has since run close up in better company), he now tries the turf which will suit and his trackwork looked very pleasing to the eye this week. Strong hope.
2nd Pick: RISE OF EMPIRE (6) On-pace runner who will be suited by conditions here and should give a bold show from an early stage.
3rd Pick: ADMIRAL WINSTON (8) An easy Class 5 winner last time and has always shown to be slightly better than that grade, if not slightly unpredictable at times. He is well drawn and returning to the turf is no issue to him.
4th Pick: ATLAS (4) Held up in his run when last seen in action. He is a talented type of horse who is still lightly-raced and looks open to plenty more improvement still going forward.
RACE 9
1st Pick: PAX ANIMI (6) Very good when scoring last time over the 1400m and connections have designs on the Singapore Derby with this hugely talented five-year-old. He should strip fitter for that win last time and with no weight on his back, he will be hard to peg back.
2nd Pick: MINISTER (3) Has smart form from the UK and brought that decent race form with him to Singapore and has now won two from only three starts. A win on the same day as the selection reads well and it should be between these two.
3rd Pick: SACRED CROIX (4) Very good on his day and has gone close in Group 2 company last year. His run last time was eye-catching and represents a stable in red hot form right now. A must for the multiples.
4th Pick: OCEAN CROSSING (10) Up to another level here and racing out of his grade but stays well and with other having to answer plenty of questions, he is a solid place hope.
RACE 10
1st Pick: LIM'S SPIN (6) Restricted Maiden winner last time out and looks very progressive. This son of Stratum from the Stephen Gray barn was good last time and has trialled well prior to this first run in a handicap. One to beat.
2nd Pick: MR ALEJANDRO (3) Runner-up a fortnight ago and now up a further two points here. Conditions suit him well in this and bold show is on the cards.
3rd Pick: CENTENARY DIAMOND (1) Has a touch of class in this heat and would be no shock under a good apprentice to see him run into the money.
4th Pick: CIRCUIT STAR (9) Latest couple of starts have been good in decent little races. One for the multiples and can run a nice race here.
RACE 11
1st Pick: KNIGHT LOVE (11) Has run two very nice races so far in his short career to-date and came up against a smart filly last time out in Sweet Angeline. Back on the turf is a big plus, having broken his maiden on the grass and looks incredibly hard to beat in this.
2nd Pick: MIGHTY GENERAL (5) Ran well last week in defeat and can give the selection most to think about.
3rd Pick: EXDREAM (1) Another who ran well recently and the apprentice Hakim Kamaruddin remains on board to offset the big weight. Can improve on that performance.
4th Pick: FIRST CHIEF (3) Not seen since late March when second to Celavi on the Polytrack and ranks as one of the better chances here for Jerome Tan and Marc Lerner. A must-include.
RACE 12
1st Pick: COUNTOFMONTECRISTO (1) A real superstar of Singapore racing. This will be a third try at this great race, having been runner-up to Infantry in 2017 and fifth last year behind Southern Legend. He has looked as good as ever, if not better this year and recent trials have been out of the top draw. Yet to land a prize at the highest level in 12 attempts, this looks his best chance with no runners from Hong Kong. He will take a power of beating here.
2nd Pick: KING LOUIS (9) Another to have gone very close at this level and last time out ran a lovely prep for this under new rider Benny Woodworth. That partnership looked to have gelled well and another bold show can be expected in this Group 1 feature. Strong claims.
3rd Pick: TOP KNIGHT (10) The Singapore Guineas winner from last year for the same stable as Countofmontecristo. Behind King Louis last time out and could probably have finished a lot closer if not for meeting trouble on more than one occasion in the home straight. A classy, if laid-back type who will strip fitter for that run and is more than able to put up a
bold showing in this feature event.
4th Pick: MR CLINT (2) Disappointing when last seen in the race won by Passport To Rome, but it is worth remembering that he is a two-time Group 1 winner and, on his day, he is one of the very
best here on the little red dot. He can put that below-par effort last time out behind him and he can make his presence felt for sure in this.
RACE 13
1st Pick: CHURCHILL (4) Impressive in victory last time when having no entitlement to hold on after a wide trip throughout but did so and proved what a smart horse he is. The connections have designs on bigger prizes and this looks a nice stepping stone going forward. The one to beat.
2nd Pick: LOYALTY MAN (1) Ran a nice race last time out and looked to stay the mile okay, though is slightly better at a little shorter. Should give his running again in this.
3rd Pick: SO HI CLASS (13) Continues to progress nicely for the Michael Clements team and although this is another step-up, he should be able to cope well and isn't one to rule out too quickly. Loves a battle.
4th Pick: GLASGOW (9) Recent form not the best, but can offer some value here and certainly has the talent to be right in the mix. Each-way play.
RACE 14
1st Pick: HEARTENING FLYER (6) Won as expected on debut on July 26. Looks like a promising type who was not 100% ready then. Should be in the firing line for a long way.
2nd Pick: I AM SACRED (3) Lived up to his brilliant barrier trial form with an all-the-way debut win on August 2. Faces stiffer opposition in this Novice, but may well double the dose here.
3rd Pick: SAVVY COMMAND (4) Sprang a mini upset on debut. Led and absorbed plenty of pressure from outside before raising another gear in the straight, even pulling away from the pack. Will be thereabouts when the whips are cracking.
4th Pick: HEAVENLY DANCER (1) Everything went against him at his debut, but he still overcame a slow start and a check to win. First test on turf. Not without claims.
