Salute a super Lim at Kranji Racecourse

Luke Middlebrook

Singapore racing continues on Sunday with a 12-race fixture and the running of the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Challenge, the $110,000 Group 3 Silver Bowl over 1400m on turf.

Talented four-year-old Super Salute will be favoured to continue his red-hot form and dominate the Four-Year-Old Challenge as the highest-rated horse against his own age group.

Boasting an impressive record of six wins from seven local starts, Super Salute has confirmed his stellar status by taking out the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy in emphatic fashion last start.

Despite meeting a top-class field featuring some regular Group-race contenders, the I Am Invincible gelding offset a tough three-wide run by his huge talent, sprinting sharply in the straight to beat Golden Monkey - whom he will meet again this week - by 1.80 lengths over this track and distance.

Super Salute has since trialled well as usual and standing out as the highest rated horse under this week’s Set-Weights conditions, he can prove extremely hard to beat facing a field which is by far weaker. Manoel Nunes takes the ride for trainer Jason Lim.

Elsewhere, keep an eye out four-year-old Elite Legend in the $50,000 Class 4 Handicap over 1600m on turf. Elite Legend turned in a promising debut run over 1400m 22 days ago, but he also had no luck on that occasion so there was plenty of merit to the performance.

He raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event, but still let down with purpose in the straight, only feeling the pinch late in the piece and going down by a long neck into third. He should strip much fitter now second-up and has drawn ideally low in barrier No 2 to be hard to beat. – iRACE Magazine

BEST BET

Race 11 No 1 Super Salute

VALUE BET

Race 12 No 2 Flying Hero

JACKPOT

R112

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 5

SINGAPORE RACE ANALYSIS – 11 JUN 2023

RACE 1

1st Pick: SUPERMAX (4)

Narrowly defeated by Our Secret Weapon last start but clearly defeated the rest of the field. Strikes a similar race here but has a wide gate to overcome, respect.

2nd Pick: OUTFIT (3)

Comes out of a stronger 1000m event last start where he was far from disgraced only being beaten 2.2 lengths. A similar performance would see him going close again, each way.

3rd Pick: SACRED ORDER (1)

Raced wide the trip last start and through a plate in the same race as Supermax. Finished third all things considered, a little more luck from the ace draw would see him running a decent race here.

4th Pick: LONHRO GOLD (11)

Last start was a head scratcher, maybe you could put it down to the horse racing keenly early. Should lead from gate 3, but the big question is pressure. If he is left alone early, he should be hard to catch.

RACE 2

1st Pick: CITYGOLDGENERATION (3)

Well bred son of Maurice stepping out for his Singapore debut. Won a recent trial in 61.85 and wasn’t asked at any stage. Classy horse for the future.

2nd Pick: ROMAN CHIEF (10)

Drawn off the track but comes into this event off two nice trial victories. Daniel Moor in the saddle for the in form Gandharvi stable. Don’t overlook.

3rd Pick: CREATIVE DREAMS (4)

Runner up in his last two attempts. Draws a nice gate again to get e very possible chance in the run, top three contender.

4th Pick: LIGHTNING STRIKE (8)

Recent trial winner who gets Mark Zahra in the saddle for his first start in Singapore. Draws off the track and like Roman Chief, will need luck early. Could surprise.

RACE 3

1st Pick: KING ZOUSTAR (2)

Hasn’t won since February when he beat Vgor under Nunes in this grade. Very tough galloper who has recorded nine wins in his career so far. Stuck it out well behind Sacred Command a few weeks ago and puts his hand up here.

2nd Pick: FIGHT ON (10)

Steps up to class four which is always tough coming off a Restricted Maiden win. He brings strong form from his maiden races and looks to be a horse who will measure up in this grade.

3rd Pick: IT'S COMPLEX (5)

This South African bred six-year-old has been here since 2021 and has had eleven trials in that time frame. Very intriguing runner and watch any market moves from a strong stable.

4th Pick: AFTERMATH (1)

Saddle shifted in the run and he wasn’t able to respond under pressure. He is much better than that performance and go off his run two starts ago where he was three lengths off Invincible Tycoon.

RACE 4

1st Pick: ON LINE (3)

Made up a stack of ground in his class 5 debut and caught the eye. Shouldn’t be down in class 5 for too long and looks a chance to win here back to a mile with a claim.

2nd Pick: FORT MUSTANG (2)

Back to class 5 where he has been ultra-competitive in recent times. Should lead and try to command the race from the front, each way.

3rd Pick: BLUE IDOL (1)

Rarely out of the quartet at this grade and strikes a nice race this weekend. Recent form over a mile has been solid enough to figure here again.

4th Pick: SHIHAB (4)

Has been looking for a mile and gets it this weekend. He has been an expensive horse for punters but looks a must include for exotic plays out to a preferred distance.

RACE 5

1st Pick: CHEVAL MAGNIFIQUE (1)

Carries more weight than anything in the race but is afforded the weight as he is the horse to beat. Draws a little sticky here but get the in-form Bernardo Pinheiro in the saddle, respect.

2nd Pick: RAWENO (5)

Never got on the track and only went down a length to Diaz last start. A similar performance would see him going very close in this race.

3rd Pick: BUSINESS CLASS (7)

Trial winner on Tuesday who gets in very well at the weights here. Draws a great gate, a must include for the exotics.

4th Pick: TOP CONFIDENCE (2)

Draws off the track but has a 4kg claim to aid his chances. Will need luck early in the race but he is weighted to run well.

RACE 6

1st Pick: TE AKAU BEN (3)

Smart ride won the race last start and beat a very handy field that day. He rises three kilograms in weight from that win and although lightly raced has shown us plenty of ability. Draws one and gets the same barrier as his last win.

2nd Pick: WINNING STRIDE (11)

Just beaten behind Sacred Command for his first run under the Burridge stable. He has been placed in all three attempts at this course and distance and can only improve from that run.

3rd Pick: PREDITOR (1)

Gets back to class four for the first time since July of last year where he scored under Duric. Since then, he has won at class three but if the old Preditor steps out he can surprise here.

4th Pick: SUMMER WIND (7)

Likes to get out and get running early in races. Although finished fifth last start he was only beaten one length to an up-and-coming type in Sousui. Good form for this.

RACE 7

1st Pick: FATE TO WIN (1)

Drops in distance after last start where he was beaten 2.5 lengths. Didn’t get the best of beginnings either so with a little more luck early, a win over a preferred trip wouldn’t be totally out of question.

2nd Pick: SACRED SUITE (3)

Yet to prove himself over 1600m but is deep into the preparation and should see out the trip, place hope.

3rd Pick: GRAVITON (2)

Despite being beaten 3.6 lengths last start, the amount of ground he made up from the top of the straight was impressive. He strikes a similar race here strength wise and there looks to be enough pace in the event to see him running on.

4th Pick: MAXIMILIAN (6)

Polytrack would be a preferred, but he has placed once in his two attempts track and distance and has been racing well enough to run in the quartet here.

RACE 8

1st Pick: SOUSUI (7)

Lightly raced gelding who really turned it on in this class over 1400m By a Japanese sire who has proven winners over a mile and this guy looks a progressive customer.

2nd Pick: SHANGHAI STAR (1)

Holds one win from two attempts at the mile in his fifteen-start career. If he can replicate his form from two starts ago, he can look a big player in this lineup.

3rd Pick: ELITE LEGEND (4)

Should strip fitter second up after his minor placing behind Sacred Command. Had excuses that day where he was forced to race wide and still went down by a short margin. Can improve here.

4th Pick: SONG OF NATURE (10)

Two wins in succession for this Ong trained galloper. Will have to improve a bit to measure up against these proven class four runners but if he gets a genuine tempo early can run into the money.

RACE 9

1st Pick: WECANDO (4)

Gets in well at the weights here but has been costly since returning to class 5. Still capable of a win at this grade late in his career and finds a nice race here.

2nd Pick: BINGO MASTER (1)

Never got on the track last time and did well to only be beaten a tad over three lengths. Back to 1200m shouldn’t be too much of a concern but draws a wide gate yet again.

3rd Pick: GALAXY STAR (2)

Led them up over 1200m last start and was run down by a horse who should cut it in class 4, Song Of Nature. That form should take him a long way here, respect.

4th Pick: STAR EMPIRE (5)

Backed heavily late last start and got the money. Should take plenty of confidence out of that win and be a chance to run in the top three again.

RACE 10
1st Pick: SATURNO SPRING (2)

Stellar training effort from Daniel Meagher to do what he has with this horse. Form is solid against some very capable gallopers and was a minor place getter two starts ago in this grade. Gets in very well on the weights.

2nd Pick: SACRED CROIX (1)

Drops back sharply in class after going under to Lim’s Kosciuszko in the Group 1 Kranji Mile. He has been running well in those feature races and will appreciate easier company this weekend.

3rd Pick: MR BLACK BACK (5)

Finished well down the track at set weights level in Group 1 company last start. He is much better suited to handicap conditions. Should be up there in the early stages.

4th Pick: SO HI CLASS (3)

This gelding has recorded three of his seven wins over this course and distance. Caught the eye running home strongly back in April and will strip fitter from a trial in between.

RACE 11

1st Pick: SUPER SALUTE (1)

He comes into this off fresh off six wins in a row including the Group 2 EW Barker trophy in a very fine display. Has since trialed in very nice style and will be the one they have to catch. Barrier four is very ideal.

2nd Pick: GOLDEN MONKEY (2)

Had his chance to beat Super Salute against older horses last start but still got a pass mark from that performance. His target is the Derby, and this is a good steppingstone. M.Zahra is a strong rider and knows the horse well.

3rd Pick: DREAM ALLIANCE (5)

Looked to be a real derby favourite earlier this year but just hasn’t been able to put the results on the board. Has plenty of ability this guy just needs to do everything right to figure.

4th Pick: INVINCIBLE TYCOON (3)

Two wins in a row before this weekend beating older horses and proving that he just isn’t a wet tracker. 1400m is as far as he has gone in Singapore but shows promise over distance.

RACE 12

1st Pick: WAR PRIDE (1)

Back in grade which last saw him victorious back in January where he scored a convincing win by three lengths in good time. Strong contender here. Nunes takes the ride and will be very well supported.

2nd Pick: FLYING NEMO (2)

Contested a hot Three-Year-Old Classic last start coming off his polytrack win the start before. He was brave in defeat only beaten 3.8 to Coin Toss on that occasion. Still yet to win on turf though.

3rd Pick: GREAT COMMAND (3)

Should be a big speed influence in this race after he led throughout to score for the stable back in August. Has been freshened up here and not spotted at the trials. Very interesting runner.

4th Pick: LUCKY HERO (5)

Comes into class four off the back of his second placing at Novice level behind Knippenberg where he had a soft run and toughed it out to the line.