Lim’s Saltoro chases Triple Crown success

He Jiong

Singapore racing continues on Sunday with an exciting 10-race card featuring the $400,000 Group 1 Singapore Derby over 1800m.

Star four-year-old Lim’s Saltoro has a golden chance to achieve a rare feat—sweeping the Triple Crown— when he lines up in the $400,000 Group 1 Singapore Derby over 1800m this Sunday.

In Kranji history, the superb mare Jolie’s Shinju is the only horse to have won all three legs of the Four-Year- Old series in 2009.

Lim’s Saltoro, having already claimed the Grade 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) and the Grade 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m), now stands just one race away from the ultimate glory of becoming a Triple Crown winner.

The Daniel Meagher-trained gelding faces a field similar to those in the first two legs, where many of his rivals should likely be racing in Class 4 based on their ratings.

While Lim’s Saltoro is the clear standout in this year’s Derby, his main danger appears to be the multiple Grade 3 winner Ricardo le Grange-trained Bestseller, who finished a close second to Lim’s Saltoro last time out. Additionally, Makin, Flying Nemo, and Lightning Strike could contend for minor placings.

Three-year-old gelding Talkingtalkingguru looks on track to break his maiden in Race 2. Despite being poorly weighted in an Open Maiden race last time out, he was far from disgraced with a fast-finishing fourth, when clocking the second best final 400m (23.67 seconds) to close off strongly.

Returning to Class 5, where he is ideally weighted, should see him finally break through.

In Race 7, Pacific Beauty is better than her last two starts suggest, where she travelled wide without cover throughout and understandably weakened in the straight. Before those efforts, she finished a solid second to Galaxy Bar, who went on to secure a double in Class 4.

Being a lightly framed horse, the significant drop in weight from 59kg to 53.5kg works in her favour, and she is expected to deliver an improved performance. - iRACE magazine

BEST BET

Race 2 No 10 Talkingtalkingguru

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 7 Pacific Beauty

JACKPOT

R96

Leg 1: 4, 5, 7, 8

Leg 2: 2, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 9

SINGAPORE RACE ANALYSIS – 21 July 2024

RACE 1

1st Pick: LUCKY GOAL (1)

Deserved to break through last start, he’s been an honest horse for connections and will be the one to beat. Will carry top weight but should roll forward and sit up on pace. Apprentice Seow now takes the ride and claims two.

2nd Pick: JULY (2)

He is still a very immature horse, wobbled around in the straight last start and just fell short finishing second to Lover Boy. Should take natural improvement out of that run and will be a threat now that Nunes takes the ride from barrier four. Key player.

3rd Pick: LIM'S DREAMWALKER (3)

Had excuses last start when up on speed. Might need more ground but can still be very completive in this grade. Conditions should suit but draws out.

4th Pick: AFTERMATH (8)

Been in class 5 for a little while now and hasn’t found his best form as of late. Could see betting support and will be well weighted against the younger horses. Okay.

RACE 2

1st Pick: GOLDEN SENTIENCE (1)

Racing well, loves to get out and run. Had every chance last start behind the progressive Lover Boy. Should be right in the market and will be the likely leader. Key player with Daniel Moor riding.

2nd Pick: THUNDER STAR (6)

After a long period, he finally got back into the winners’ circle last start thanks to a great ride from Nunes. He has matured and improved in recent past and could produce a similar performance this week now on the turf.

3rd Pick: OPPA (9)

Gave a great sight last time out behind Big Day. That was his best performance of his short career in Singapore. He will need to hold his form but comes back to 1200m which should suit.

4th Pick: VGOR (4)

He’s been falling short on a few occasions but continues to get into the minor placings. He will need everything to go his way from an outside barrier. Should be a danger. Watch betting.

RACE 3

1st Pick: ENERGY BABY (4)

Caught the eye flying home two weeks ago behind the talented Ejaz on the Polytrack over 1000m at huge odds. This is more to his liking with three of his four wins coming at the distance.

2nd Pick: KING OF SIXTY-ONE (1)

Looks the main leader in this small field and gets the services of Queiroz in barrier one. The big concern is he has never won below 1600m in his career. Does he have the sprint at the end?

3rd Pick: KNIPPENBERG (5)

On speed maps he looks like he may try to take a sit from his draw and his best is good enough to figure here. Just his second career start beyond 1200m and one for the multiples.

4th Pick: SO HI CLASS (2)

Has done plenty of racing in recent weeks and is one of Kranjis tough old campaigners. Will appreciate the switch back to turf and a longer trip than last start.

RACE 4

1st Pick: SACRED BUDDY (6)

Continuing his rich vein of form, had every chance last time out when up on speed on the Poly track. He now comes back onto the turf which is no disadvantage and should look to push forward from an ideal draw.

2nd Pick: HASTEN (5)

A frustrating horse of connections, was narrowly beaten last start and had been scratched before that. Had a recent trial in moderate time but should be ready to peak on Sunday with fly-in Australian jockey Tyler Schiller riding.

3rd Pick: PACIFIC MASTER (4)

A nice placing last start when beaten by Big Union. Should strip fitter from that run and continues to hold his form. Must be respected with Duric onboard. Watch betting.

4th Pick: CHARMINTON (9)

Was flying home last start behind King Of Sixty-One in a busy finish. Should be right in the mix for this race. Draws perfectly in three.

RACE 5

1st Pick: LIM'S SMYTHE (6)

Looking to turn the tables on Great Warrior after he struggled to pick him up as a short-priced favorite. Draws well and will look to be finishing strong again.

2nd Pick: GREAT WARRIOR (3)

Elected to bypass the Group 1 Derby and contest an easier race which looks the smart play from the stable. Nunes retains the ride and although it has taken him a while to breakthrough, he can go on with it here.

3rd Pick: AMAZING BREEZE (4)

Continues to tease that a win is not too far away with his custom strong turn of foot late. Not a whole lot of early speed which means he could over race in the early stages.

4th Pick: JUNE (7)

Gets in with a low draw and although he has struggled to get a win since earlier this year, he has been placed in some good form races to say he could be an each way play.

RACE 6

1st Pick: DREAM ALLIANCE (1)

Hugh Bowman has been booked to ride this galloper looking for his first win since October 2023 and doesn’t run into a champion like he has been lately. Gets his chance here.

2nd Pick: SMART STAR (7)

Looks a real threat to Dream Alliance especially on the weights spread. The luck finally went his way last start for a well-earned win and expect some late betting support especially with a leading rider boked.

3rd Pick: CAVALRY (2)

Twelve months ago he finished second in the G1 Derby and although he has had his issues he is proven at this grade and distance winning back in May. Well placed here from the camp.

4th Pick: MR BLACK BACK (3)

Should take up the running and bowl along in slick sectionals as he likes to do. This distance is to his liking and just needs a steady gallop early to be there late.

RACE 7

1st Pick: FRENETIC (2)

He’s been very consistent in recent past when racing as Prioritize. Should be right in the market and get Curatolo in the saddle. Average barrier draw.

2nd Pick: NAVY SEALS (4)

Was very strong last start leading all the way over 2000m. He is a progressive 3yo stayer with plenty of upside. He had a recent trial which was okay.

3rd Pick: KINABALU LIGHT (3)

Solid win last start on the Poly surface, stormed home last in the piece and won with authority. Now comes back onto the turf and should be prepped up for this race, could be a danger. Daniel Moor now takes the ride.

4th Pick: TONY'S LOVE (5)

One of the more experienced gallopers in the field, he won’t be far off the main dangers in this race, obtains a middle draw. He had a solid hit out in a recent trial behind Stop The Water.

RACE 8

1st Pick: STOP THE WATER (4)

A very consistent galloper with plenty of ability in this grade. He was narrowly beaten by the impressive 3yo Ravalli last start. He had a solid hit out in a recent trial. Australian rider Tyler Schiller will take the ride form barrier four.

2nd Pick: DANCING SUPREMO (2)

Things didn’t go to plan last time out, got into a lovely position and faded early in the straight. Has been impressive in class 4 over 1200m and should be right in this race.

3rd Pick: PACIFIC ATLANTIC (5)

Hasn’t been beaten far off in his last couple of performances. Now comes onto the turf and gets an ideal draw in draw. Dnaiel Moor rides.

4th Pick: SURREY HILLS (3)

Wasn’t flash out of the gates last start when finishing behind Pacific Commander but had excuses. He will be on the quick-back up and could bounce back.

RACE 9

1st Pick: LIM'S SALTORO (2)

Draws out in barrier eleven looking to take a clean sweep of the four-year-old series. He wasn’t entitled to win that last start after the trouble he was in but rose to the occasion like good horses do. Stable have him going well and they know how to win these big races. He is an ever-improving racehorse with every start.

2nd Pick: BESTSELLER (1)

Finished alongside Lim’s Saltoro in the Stewards’ Cup and was very tough to the line. He has a tremendous record having beaten older horses at group level and expect Vlad Duric to press forward from the wide draw.

3rd Pick: LIGHTNING STRIKE (6)

Last year’s Derby winning combination of Fitzsimmons and Bowman team up again with this four-time winner who has already ticked off a win at the trip. He held his own last start and wasn’t beaten far but needs to dig deep against some highly rated four-year-olds.

4th Pick: HOLE IN ONE (9)

He was massive in the second leg coming from well back and flying home to be beaten 1.7 lengths to the winner. Rises up to 1800m for the first time and looks to be the each way value pick of the race.

RACE 10

1st Pick: TE AKAU BEN (2)

Although he has drawn wide and carries joint topweight the connections have done well to secure the booking of Hugh Bowman for this last start winner. If he gets a back to follow and his travelling coming to the turn he will take some beating.

2nd Pick: SOUSUI (9)

Strong win two starts back and backed it up with another strong performance running second. Connections fired in a protest albeit unsuccessfully, but he is in a great space at the moment. Stick with him.

3rd Pick: BIG UNION (5)

A winner of two consecutive races going from a Restricted Maiden to class four which only decent gallopers can do up here. He will be thrown into testing material here but stable are striking well recently.

4th Pick: PACIFIC PADRINO (1)

Shares the honors of topweight and was narrowly edged out by Cool Sixty-One in that tight photo last start. Daniel Moor takes the steer and looks a quartet filler.