Maxima to continue good run at Kranji
Luke Middlebrook
Singapore racing returns from a short break at Kranji Racecourse on Saturday with a 12-race turf and Polytrack fixture.
Impressive debut winner Maxima looks a great chance to go back-to-back when he contests the $50,000 Class 4 Handicap over 1400m on turf.
Maxima had formerly scored four wins from four starts in the UK and France before encountering a winless campaign from 13 starts in Hong Kong. However, he did pick up some placings at Class 2 and Class 3 level before his form tapered off. The Ivawood gelding seems to have relished relocating to Kranji early this year after he scored a facile debut win over 1200m on the Polytrack 20 days ago.
Given he left Hong Kong on a handicap rating of 72, the six-year-old was well placed on a rating of 59 upon kick-starting his Kranji campaign, while he remains well-rated on 65 after his easy 1.30-length first-up win. Trainer Ricardo le Grange should be extracting a few more wins out of him.
This week, Maxima is highly suited by rising to 1400m where he is two from four, while remaining in Class 4 stands him in good stead to score a double.
In the $70,000 Class 3 Handicap over 1200m on the Polytrack, keep an eye on five-year-old Major King from leading trainer Jason Ong’s yard.
Major King had no luck last start contesting the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint, punching the breeze three-wide and without cover in an on-pace position throughout the 1200m journey. To his credit, he tried hard in the straight but was left without a finishing effort, fading late into seventh and beaten 3.75 lengths.
He has since been back to the trials and took out his heat in a normal fashion. This week’s race is an easier assignment dropping back into Class 3 company, where he was an easy winner two starts ago. – iRACE magazine
BEST BET
Race 10 No 3 Maxima
VALUE BET
Race 9 No 2 Khao Manee
JACKPOT
R36
Leg 1: 1, 2, 5
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 1, 3, 5, 12
Leg 4: 1, 2, 4
SINGAPORE RACE ANALYSIS – 9 SEP 2023
RACE 1
1st Pick: THE WILD PRINCE (3)
Caught the eye running home last start into second place behind Sun Rectitude. He put himself in a positive position and from barrier seven should do the same this weekend.
2nd Pick: GALAXY STAR (12)
Gets the good draw in barrier two for Kellady who will look to put him in a firing position. Three of his four wins have come at this course and distance and is more than able to add another here.
3rd Pick: SOUTHERN MASTER (5)
Continues to be consistent but struggling to find that winner’s position. Nunes continues to take the booking so that shows he is edging ever closer to that next win.
4th Pick: TANTHEMAN (6)
Still a maiden after ten career starts and was supported in betting for his class five debut last start. Has shown ability in the past and can finish in the money.
RACE 2
1st Pick: EMPOWERING (6)
Coming off a nice debut run where he finished behind the impressive winner Last Supper. Was beaten four lengths on that day and will take natural improvement second up.
2nd Pick: GEOBELS GLORY (8)
Last seen finishing fifth back in July and has had two trials since then. Both of those trials have been pleasing and gets the blinkers added for the first time. Big watch.
3rd Pick: ROYAL COMMISSION (10)
Switches to the turf after a nice run behind May nearly a month ago. Looked sharp in a trial where they added a cross over noseband. Just needs luck from the wide barrier.
4th Pick: COMMANDER (4)
Comes into this at his second career start. Breeding suggests that he is looking for further on the mare’s side and will appreciate the step up in distance.
RACE 3
1st Pick: LIM'S SALTORO (7)
The son of Shamexpress trialed very sharply clocking 60.53 for the strong Meagher stable. Betting moves will be the best guide to his chances.
2nd Pick: RIVER DRAGON (2)
Nunes takes the steer for a stable that is absolutely flying at the moment. Brings some nice form lines including a few minor placings. Will have to overcome the wide barrier.
3rd Pick: HEALTHY BABY (1)
Last seen back in May where he finished second to Imperial Parade over 1400m. Has had three trials since then and brings some race experience.
4th Pick: OTAHUHU (8)
Stepped out on Tuesday morning for his official race trial and showed good gate speed on that morning. Can surprise on debut at decent odds.
RACE 4
1st Pick: RAISING SIXTY-ONE (4)
Brings the hot from into this race and shooting for four in a row. Duric retains the ride, and this gelding has an impressive course and distance stat with three wins from five starts.
2nd Pick: REAL EFECTO (2)
Nunes takes the ride on this six-time winner. His last win came back in July and has performed well since then going down by two lengths at his most recent start. Looks a key player.
3rd Pick: IN ALL HIS GLORY (6)
Very lightly raced on this surface but when he has in two starts, he has never finished worse than second and gets his chance in this small field. Stable have a strong hand in this.
4th Pick: SAINT TROPEZ (5)
Ran well last start behind Istataba on the turf. This is his first start on the synthetic surface so that is the big query for this gelding who ran super in the Group 1 Derby two starts back.
RACE 5
1st Pick: RETALLICA (3)
Gets back to a more suitable distance after finishing fifth over 1400m. All four of his career wins have come on the Polytrack but the D Course can tend to favor the front runners.
2nd Pick: CROWN DANCING (6)
Finds his way into a very lightly rated race searching for his first win. Draws nicely in barrier two and will look to be up on the speed from that good draw.
3rd Pick: GAMELY (9)
Sits off a low rating of 22 but has been consistent in his career against similar rated fields. Bruno Queiroz takes the steer for the strong Ong stable. Watch the betting.
4th Pick: GRAVITON (1)
Won his maiden over 1600m and since then has been just fair being well beaten those three starts. Watch for him to be running on strongly.
RACE 6
1st Pick: ACE SOVEREIGN (2)
Was not a good watch last start for those who supported him. Rode for luck and found none of it the whole way down the straight. His course and distance record shows he is the one they must beat.
2nd Pick: ENGINE START (7)
Sits four points higher than his last victory over this course and distance back in June. Nunes has a great record on the gelding never finishing out of the top three placings from four rides.
3rd Pick: SAVVY COMMAND (6)
Has strong stats on the turf over these distances but has run some strong placings over the mile on this surface. Can be thereabouts at the business end.
4th Pick: IMA (3)
Will have no option but to get back from his wide barrier. Gets his favourite course and distance where has never missed a top four placing from four starts.
RACE 7
1st Pick: MAZE (3)
Lightly raced runner who gets the double advantage of a top jockey and strong barrier (4). The winner was far too good breaking away, but this guy had to tow the field up and boxed on well.
2nd Pick: GOLDEN SENTIENCE (2)
Not the most ideal barrier draw but can show strong early gate speed. If he can reproduce his performance that saw him break his maiden two starts back, he could give them something to chase.
3rd Pick: FABU (1)
Has risen sharply in weights coming off his back-to-back wins in June and July. Not too much weight relief with Shafrizal taking one kilogram off but has been racing well this season.
4th Pick: KISS YOUR SONG (11)
Another strong placing last start over 1100m beaten 0.5 lengths to Sirius. He is getting older now but there is another win coming soon.
RACE 8
1st Pick: WEALTH ELITE (2)
Gets into this race one point higher than his last win back in September of last year. Since then, he has been placed at class three level and holds two wins at this course and distance.
2nd Pick: RENZO (1)
Dominant win last start over this same course and distance. Has since trialed in good style but Duric will have to be at his best from the horror barrier draw.
3rd Pick: MOONGATE STAR (4)
Caught the eye running on from midfield carrying 58kgs. The winner carried no weight and has a way of popping up at big odds. One for the exotics.
4th Pick: COLONEL SON (6)
Former Harron Bloodstock owned runner who won at Moonee Valley as a two-year-old before having a fair three-year-old season. Very curious to see how he performs here.
RACE 9
1st Pick: KHAO MANEE (2)
Drops back in distance after a lack luster performance at 2000m on the turf. He is yet to win on the Polytrack but his run two starts ago in similar conditions was strong and should get plenty of market support.
2nd Pick: ENDLESS (5)
Made up plenty of ground to finish in the minor placings over this same distance a few weeks ago. Performs very well around this circuit and looks a key chance.
3rd Pick: FORTUNE STAR (6)
Sits two rating points lower than his last victory back in April over this course and distance.
4th Pick: GLOBAL KID (1)
Makes his class five debut and gets a solid draw in barrier five for Saifudin. His career here has been hit and miss but will appreciate the drop-in class.
RACE 10
1st Pick: FIGHT ON (4)
Wasn’t able to make up the ground last start over 1200m behind January. Steps up to 1400m and Duric gets back in the saddle. Will appreciate good early speed and look for him to charge late.
2nd Pick: MAXIMA (3)
He was very sharp on debut the former Hong Kong trained galloper. That was on the all-weather track and must transfer that form to the turf this weekend. Nunes on is a big plus and he looks set for a good career at Kranji.
3rd Pick: MONTANA FLASH (8)
He was brave running second last start to Lim’s Craft and had every chance that afternoon. Will look to settle in midfield but recent runs are pointing to a win very soon.
4th Pick: AXEL (10)
Absolutely thrives at this distance. For a horse who has won nearly $500,000 in prize money five of his eight wins have come at this distance. Queiroz is a good booking for this gelding.
RACE 11
1st Pick: MAJOR KING (1)
Ever improving sprinter from the strong Jason Ong stable. Drops back from Group 3 level where he was only beaten four lengths to Kharisma. Plenty to like about his trial where he broke 59.68 in that heat.
2nd Pick: GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE (3)
Consistent sprinter on the Polytrack surface who faces Major King yet again after the latter beat him by 3.3 lengths. Holding fitness with a narrow trial win last week.
3rd Pick: LEGEND OF THE SUN (8)
He has only finished out of the top four on one occasion at this course and distance from five starts. Sits three points lower than his last victory and getting close to another win.
4th Pick: AKHTAR (12)
Lines up for his third Singapore start. Held his own in this grade last start but the stablemate Major King was far too strong for them, and this gelding will carry 51.5kgs.
RACE 12
1st Pick: REIGNITE (2)
Stable apprentice will take 3kgs off and look to give him a good run early from barrier five. Three of his four career wins have come at this course and distance and gets back to class four. Big watch on him
2nd Pick: GRAND AVANTE (4)
Finished behind Maxima which will look to be strong form moving forward and that run indicates that his first win here isn’t far away.
3rd Pick: FLYING NEMO (1)
Gets back to to the Polytrack where he has recorded all three of his career victories. Very tough little horse who has a great turn of foot and will be aided by a 3kg claim for Seow.
4th Pick: ELITE LEGEND (3)
Makes his Polytrack debut after some strong performances on the turf since arriving. Stuck on well last start and looks better suited to this class. Can figure in the exotics.