Improved Makin to make his mark at Kranji

Luke Middlebrook

Singapore racing continues on Saturday with a 10-race turf and dirt fixture at Kranji.

Promising four-year-old Makin is primed to score a fourth straight win when he returns to Kranji in the $85,000 Class 2 Handicap over 1600m on turf.

Makin has shown huge improvement this year, scoring a hat-trick of wins and being placed once from four starts. The Written Tycoon gelding possesses versatility in running and he seems to have relished the step up in distance, when winning his last two outings over 1600m in fine style.

Most recently, Makin defied the rise in class with a facile victory on his Class 2 debut 35 days ago. With champion jockey Manoel Nunes remaining on board, he can continue his winning ways despite drawn wide this week.

Elsewhere, The Richard Lim-trained Jin Sakamoto is poised to secure his first local victory in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m on turf at Kranji.

Despite not yet winning in his short seven-start local career, Jin Sakamoto has been a consistent performer, finishing in the money on four occasions, including a runner-up position to in-form Makin five starts ago. His last-start no-show is one to overlook, as he raced wide and without cover throughout after starting from barrier No 10.

Since then Jin Sakamoto has showcased his potential with a handy trial win, clocking a swift time in a race-like time.

Drawing barrier No 4 for this race and securing the services of a senior jockey for the first time locally, with Nunes in the saddle, are crucial factors that enhance his chances of clinching victory this week. - iRACE magazine

BEST BET

Race 9 No 3 Makin

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 4 Centurion

JACKPOT

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5

Leg 2: 1, 4, 6, 7

Leg 3: 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3

SINGAPORE RACE ANALYSIS – 4 MAY 24


RACE 1 
1st Pick: DIAZ (4)
Makes his class five debut after being a scratching two weeks ago in this grade. He was favored to win there and gets a great draw in barrier two for the inform Curatolo.
2nd Pick: OUR SECRET WEAPON (5)
Gets the advantage of a low draw for Ruan Maia and the blinkers have been applied to spark him up a bit. Loves this course and distance and must be respected.
3rd Pick: SUPER POSH (9)
The old boy caught the eye finishing second last start at a trip where he has a career best record. Is getting on in his career but deserves a top four pick here.
4th Pick: SUPERMAX (10)
Doesn’t win all that often but continues to run consistently at this grade. Champion jockey Nunes knows him well and draws well in five.

RACE 2
1st Pick: TOMMY GUN (1)
Formerly raced in Australia named Canyonlands trained by Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr. Has shown speed in his Australian runs and gets the blinkers on from a wide draw. Half brother to proven Singapore winner Baffert. Watch betting.
2nd Pick: LUCKY WARRIOR (9)
Gets a nice draw in barrier three and will be nice and positive in the run for the in form Curatolo. Looked sharp winning a recent trial.
3rd Pick: CHEVAL PEGASUS (12)
The only two-year-old in the field and gets in very low at the weights for leading jockey Bruno Queiroz. Will need to jump sharply from a wide alley. Related to a one-time winner over 1000m in Australia.
4th Pick: LUCKY GOAL (2)
Boxed on well to finish second to the speedy Blackbuck last start. Nunes sticks aboard and seemed to appreciate having the blinkers on last start.

RACE 3
1st Pick: DIAMOND RING (2)
Wasn’t at his best last start finishing sixth over 1100m. Looks well placed here over 1000m and will be nice and positive in the run for comeback jockey Simon Kok. Expect support.
2nd Pick: BIZAR WINS (9)
Proven winner in this grade and has plenty of positives that include blinkers on and the inside draw for lightweight rider Zyrul. Looks a solid each way play at a price.
3rd Pick: HAPPY FRIDAY (7)
Ran a strong second and well held in his most recent trial. Would have been more confident if he drew a lower barrier but he could be the one to surprise.
4th Pick: GOLDEN WAY (4)
Stable have reapplied the blinkers for this week’s assault. From the low draw expect him to bounce quickly and be present nice and early. One for the quartets.

RACE 4
1st Pick: FREE AND HAPPY (6)
Meets a very open race here and gets in very well at the weights for our leading jockey. Will settle back but watch him sweep over them late like he did two starts back in similar conditions.
2nd Pick: STAR NORTH (4)
Finished 1.50 lengths behind Free And Happy two starts back over this same trip and course. Proven winner having beat a Group 3 winner in Ace Of Diamonds. Can bounce back here.
3rd Pick: MESMERIZING (2)
Hasn’t been in the Le Grange stable for long but loves these middle distance Polytrack races. Expect him to roll forward from the wide draw.
4th Pick: VITTORIA PERFETTA (5)
Looks the value runner in this race. If you go back to his last win he won impressively over this course and distance under Vlad Duric in a brave front running display. He has been ordinary lately but can bounce back here.

RACE 5
1st Pick: STARBOY (4)
Gets back to class five where he recorded his most recent win back in February. Drawn midfield in barrier seven and will need to break cleanly to roll forward. Leading trainer and apprentice combine.
2nd Pick: GUN (2)
Makes his class five debut for the Donna Logan stable and he has been treading towards this grade for a while now. Hard to believe he is at this level after running a strong second to Aniki back in December. Apprentice claim of four kilograms a big plus.
3rd Pick: KICK (6)
Draws well for the Bulldogs racing outfit and caught the eye running on behind the handy galloper Sacred Buddy last start. Should be well fancied in the betting but finds it very hard to win.
4th Pick: THE SHADOW (11)
He is a get back and run on style galloper who will look to snag back from a wide draw. If the speed is hot early in the race this gelding can flash home and finish in the money.

RACE 6
1st Pick: CENTURION (4)
Brings consistent form over mixed distances from his last six outings. His range is huge from placing over 1000m to winning over this trip in the past. Draws well and his best performance puts him in contention.
2nd Pick: TIGAROUS (2)
Jumped and led over 2000m last outing boxing on strongly to finish third. Wasn’t beaten far on this surface two starts back and gets a few kilograms off for our leading and reigning champion apprentice.
3rd Pick: TWO MILLION (3)
Bruno Queiroz takes the steer for Richard Lim and has a way of getting these out of form gallopers to lift. Will need luck from the wide draw but his last four runs he hasn’t been beaten far.
4th Pick: RAGING RABBIT (1)
Finding it hard to break through this USA bred gelding. Nunes gets back in the saddle after he steered him to a third placing two runs back. Better suited here on the Polytrack.


RACE 7
1st Pick: JIN SAKAMOTO (5)
Nunes booked to ride from barrier four. Blinkers go back on and caught the eye winning a trial breaking the 59 second barrier. Should bring his A Game here.
2nd Pick: PACIFIC ATLANTIC (2)
Just his third run in Singapore this week and was well supported in betting coming from well back to finish third behind Stop The Water. Wide draw is a concern.
3rd Pick: COOL SIXTY-ONE (1)
Rises up in the weights after a respectable second placing behind Stop The Water. A repeat performance puts him right into the mix here. The James Peters stable having a good run lately.
4th Pick: LIM'S CRAFT (6)
Has been a while since this talented eight-year-old has scored but connections must think he has something to offer between now and October. Two wins and two minor placings over this course and distance.

RACE 8
1st Pick: FORTUNE STAR (11)
Gets in low at the weights and Bruno Queiroz takes the reins. Expect him to position up nicely on the first corner and make use of the lightweight. Big chance here with great stats.
2nd Pick: ENGINE START (1)
Thrives at this level and proven at the trip with two wins in these conditions. Marc Lerner booked to ride and expect plenty of market support from our leading stable.
3rd Pick: KINABALU LIGHT (4)
Got the win last start from a great ride scoring over 1700m on this surface. He has finished in the money in three of his last six starts. Consistent class five performer.
4th Pick: KHAO MANEE (7)
Struggling to claim another win but is always running on in these middle-distance races at this level. If the speed is hot early, he can be catching the eye at the finish.

RACE 9
1st Pick: MAKIN (3)
Talented four-year-old who is looking to make it four wins on the bounce. Proven at the mile after a dominant win in this grade back in March. Freshened up for this and the four-year-old series is coming up for him.
2nd Pick: CAVALRY (4)
Just his third run for the season but stable have been spacing his runs and a possible G1 Kranji Mile run could be on the cards if he performs well here. Draws well and trialed well behind the likely favorite Makin.
3rd Pick: ROCKET STAR (2)
Multiple group performer who has run behind some of Singapores best for many years. Has found it hard to win but still has plenty to offer. Looked sharp at trackwork during the week.
4th Pick: ISTATABA (6)
Finished third in last years Singapore Gold Cup and with not many staying races on the program she will have to tackle the mile. Looks hard for her to win but can run on into some minor money.

RACE 10
1st Pick: BRANSOM (1)
Joins the James Peters stable after the departure of Stephen Gray last weekend. Doesn’t get any favors in the barrier department drawing ten this week. If he finds the lead easy he can skip away. Sharp sprinter at this grade.
2nd Pick: SURREY HILLS (3)
Nunes and Ong combine on this gelding who was grinding away at the winner Pacific Angel last start but had to settle for second. He’s drawn well to take a sit and pounce on them late.
3rd Pick: BABY TWINS (7)
Drops back to 1000m where he is better suited this former UK trained entire. Shows electric speed out of the gates but can knock up quickly. Needs everything to go right.
4th Pick: PACIFIC ANGEL (8)
Looking to make it three wins on the bounce. Very consistent mare who has had a great career here at Kranji and the low draw boosts her hopes in this.