Luke Middlebrook, iRACE magazine
The highlight of Saturday's 12-race fixture at Kranji in Singapore is undoubtedly the Group 1 Kranji Mile where South Africans will be rooting for KATAK (pictured above), formerly trained by Piet Steyn in Cape Town and now under the tutorship of South African trainer Ricardo le Grange.
It is always a treat to see South Africans - of the human and equine species - strut their stuff on the world stage, but KATAK will have his work cut out to taste success in this equal-richest race on the Singapore racing calendar
Top-class four-year-old LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO looks primed to claim the Kranji Mile and hand trainer Daniel Meagher another big-race success.
Before LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO started his racing career in March last year, no one could have guessed he would score eight from nine and become the third highest rated horse in this Group 1 field. Though his winning streak came to an end in a Class 1 over 1400m last start, he was far from disgraced as he sat on speed off a blistering tempo and was only caught inside the final 50m, beaten 0.75 lengths into second.
Stablemate LIM’S LIGHTNING should come on in leaps and bounds from his fair first-up sixth place, which was his first run in over five months after his Gold Cup success in November last year, however – and importantly – regular rider Danny Beasley has jumped ship after his name appeared next to LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO when the race card came out.
KATAK appears ready for sharp improvement off his latest trial and a forgivable last-start failure after he pulled up with lacerated legs.
Last but not least, defending champion MINISTER and last year’s Singapore Derby winner HARD TOO THINK both deserve respect.
Meanwhile, trainer Tim Fitzsimmons (26 wins) continues his good form and leads the premiership with a six-win buffer over Jason Ong and Michael Clements, both on 20 wins. Manoel Nunes looks virtually unstoppable in the jockeys’ premiership, with it seemingly only a question of “how far”? Nunes sits atop the ladder with 48 wins, 29 ahead of Oscar Chavez and Danny Beasley, both on 19 wins.
Selections:
Race 1: 4 Superlative, 3 Summer Wind, 6 Diamond Beauty, 2 Prodigal.
Race 2: 1 Relentless, 3 Lankaran, 6 Gold City, 5 Song Of Nature.
Race 3: 3 Lim’s Pride, 2 See Yah, 5 Leggenda, 10 Auspicious Day.
Race 4: 7 Blazing Kid, 2 Everest, 4 Be You, 3 Stenmark.
Race 5: 7 Tangible, 10 Strong N Best, 2 So Hi Class, 9 Real Efecto.
Race 6: 2 Alqantur, 1 Illustrious, 4 Speedy Missile, 5 Win Win.
Race 7: 1 Kharisma, 2 Grand Koonta, 5 Starlight, 3 Makkem Lad.
Race 8: 2 On Line, 6 Boomba, 8 Shang Chi, 1 Sacred Judgement.
Race 9: 6 Surrey Hills, 9 Istataba, 3 Golden Monkey, 2 War Commander.
Race 10: 3 Lim’s Kosciuszko, 1 Lim’s Lightning, 9 Minister, 2 Katak.
Race 11: 2 Savvy Command, 5 Sabah Star, 1 Red Ocean, 7 Ironchamp.
Race 12: 2 Super Impact, 5 Amazing Breeze, 6 In All His Glory, 7 Harry Dream.
BEST BET: Race 2: 1 Relentless
VALUE BET: Race 12: 6 In All His Glory
JACKPOT (R144):
Leg 1: Field
Leg 2: 1,3
Leg 3: 2,5
Leg 4: 2,5,6