3 minute read
Inferno could well be the best horse in Singapore and he gets his chance to confirm that claim on Sunday when due to contest the Group 1 Lion City Cup.
Kept fresh since his sit and steer job for Duric, the Cliff Brown trained runner faces another test on Sunday, but still looks well placed.
In what can only be described as a pedestrian tempo (26.28 for the first 400m) last start, they played right into his hands, allowing him to showcase his biggest weapon, his turn of foot.
Beginning well from the inside draw, Inferno travelled strongly early, before dropping his head and settling fifth one off the fence.
Travelling boldly passing the 500m, Duric pulled Inferno to the outside, barely moving a muscle on the four-year-old.
Clicked up approaching the 300m, Inferno swept to the lead and put the race away in a few strides.
If Duric has ridden an easier Group 1 winner I'd like to hear it, he barely breathed on him.
Ridden hands and heels to the line, Duric gave him a love tap at the 100m, but quickly put the whip away, coasting to the line to score by one-and-a-half lengths.
Rated 98 by Timeform prior to the Singapore Guineas, Inferno improved to run a figure of 101+, with a fair bit of confidence he is better than that.
That figure puts him right in line with past winners of the Guineas and notably has him rated marginally the better of his former stablemate, Debt Collector, who was rated 100+.
Not since War Affair have we seen a horse sent out at such short odds ($1.20), further highlighting the margin he had on his rivals.
No doubt he faces a harder test on Sunday against Singapore's best sprinters, but he still looks well placed.
Drawn the extreme outside, it likely sees him get right back in the field, but that should keep him out of trouble and with clear air, he can reel them in.
The John O'Hara trained Fame Star went down first up, but can improve sharply second up and appears well placed under the set-weights conditions.
A winner of eight of his 19 starts, he is a bold front-runner and no doubt this has always been his grand final.
Coming into this with 29 days between runs, he has trialled well in the lead up and Lerner sticks.
When assessing Timeform weight adjusted ratings, he is more than capable and if able to get his own way in front, he should prove hard to run down.
The James Peters trained Grand Koonta only won narrowly first up, but continues to raise the bar and is certainly trending the right way.
A winner of five of eight attempts on the turf track, he comes into this off a new career peak and looks well set up.
Not the best in at the weights, but appears capable of taking that next step.
Of the rest the Lee Freedman trained Excelling appears the next in line.
A winner of four of his last six, he is another trending the right way and has drawn to get a lovely run.
Won his latest trial in good fashion and has to be respected.
Good luck and happy punting.
