Luke Middlebrook
Singapore racing continues on Saturday with an 11-race turf and dirt fixture at Kranji Racecourse.
Highly promising four-year-old Super Salute is a standout on the card as he chases a fifth straight win in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1400m.
Super Salute, who arrived to Kranji a one-time winner from 15 starts in Australia, has been unstoppable since finishing a luckless fourth on debut in September last year, winning his last four starts in emphatic fashion. Despite rising to Class 2 for the first time in his last start, the I Am Invincible gelding utilised his strong turn-of-foot to score by 0.50 lengths comfortably over 1200m.
Trainer Jason Lim has this year’s Four-Year-Old series in mind for Super Salute and as the up-and-comer matures, stepping up to 1400m shouldn’t be a problem for him now and he looks on track to continue his winning ways.
Elsewhere, promising three-year-old Arya Pakuan looks ready to shed his maiden tag when he contests the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on turf.
Arya Pakuan caught the eye with a fast-finishing third in a slowly run race on debut in late February before going one place better last time out. Jumping awkwardly and losing considerable ground early, the Sebring gelding had to be hard ridden to get in touch with the field before charging home strongly to check 1.25 lengths into second over this track and distance.
Getting the services of champion jockey Manoel Nunes is a big plus for Arya Pakuan this week and from a decent draw, he should endure an ideal trip and can prove hard to hold out third-up. - iRACE magazine
BEST BET
Race 2 No 1 Arya Pakuan
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 3 Sun Rectitude
JACKPOT
R270
Leg 1: 2, 4, 7
Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg 3: 1, 6, 9
Leg 4: 3, 4, 8
SINGAPORE RACE ANALYSIS – 1 APRIL 2023
RACE 1
1st Pick: TAX FREE (5)
Impressive last start winner over the track and distance. Can go close again carrying less weight than he did in that last win.
2nd Pick: SUN STEP (10)
Gets a very light weight for this contest. Should lead and take some catching, knocking on the door for a win off his current rating.
3rd Pick: OUR SECRET WEAPON (2)
Back to 1000m which has looked this horse’s bread and butter lately. Got no luck last run and still went on to only get beat 1.4 lengths. Respect.
4th Pick: HYDE PARK (1)
Proven to carry weight at this grade and over this trip. Boasts a great record at class 5 and over 1000m and should not be overlooked here.
RACE 2
1st Pick: ARYA PAKUAN (1)
Slow away last start and it cost him the race. Hoping to see him jumping with them this time around, certainly a horse with enough ability to win this.
2nd Pick: FIGHT ON (3)
Slow away and finished incredibly well in behind Takanini. This looks a race with less winning hopes, he can win this second up.
3rd Pick: STAR NORTH (4)
Close is last couple running a place on both occasions. Screaming for more ground but stays at 1200m this weekend, top three lock.
4th Pick: TANTHEMAN (6)
Never got on the track last start. More luck in running will see him threaten and be amongst the top few, each way contender.
RACE 3
1st Pick: LUCKY BABY (2)
Ran a strong 4th on debut in behind Mimosas. This form should stack up well along with the race day experience in Singapore, can go close.
2nd Pick: FLYING NEMO (1)
Undefeated run came to an end last start. Carries 57kg which is enough to be a burden for a small horse like him, but he has an ounce of class and that will take him a long way here.
3rd Pick: COSMIC DANCER (4)
Trial between runs was solid enough to consider him as a top three hope. Recent runs have been a tad disappointing since his maiden win, hopefully he has appreciated the freshen up.
4th Pick: BIG GREEN HAT (3)
Capable of putting a field of this quality away on his day. 1200m division two race looks a good race for him, each way all day.
RACE 4
1st Pick: TE AKAU BEN (1)
Returns here off an extended break. Showed plenty of promise in his two starts to date include a 2nd at novice grade, horse to beat on paper.
2nd Pick: BRIGGS (2)
Class 4 was a little too far out of his depth last start, back to suitable company and can go close here.
3rd Pick: SIRIUS (5)
Narrowly beaten last start by The Jun and goes around in maiden company this start, each way chance.
4th Pick: GROOVY (9)
Being slow away last start cost him a chance of running a place. Hopefully an improved jump this weekend can see him picking up some prizemoney, keep safe.
RACE 5
1st Pick: MASTER OF COIN (5)
Sat closer to the speed last start and was only beaten just over a length, expecting a similar race plan here. One of the multiple hopes in an open affair.
2nd Pick: ACE SOVEREIGN (3)
On his day, he wins here. Performances can vary but if he’s on song, a top three finish isn’t out of the question.
3rd Pick: WINNING STRIDE (9)
Narrowly defeated his last two in races that have held up. Jumps to 1600m but is racing is good form.
4th Pick: STAR LEGEND (6)
Performance was questionable following the maiden win the start before. Jump to 1600m could be a plus, happy to put a line through the last start and consider again here for the multiples.
RACE 6
1st Pick: SCHNEIDER (2)
Still yet to win a race but last start was too bad to be true. Heavily supported and raced keen the whole way. Can bounce back here even though he doesn’t face maiden company here.
2nd Pick: SUN RECTITUDE (3)
Recent trial between runs was solid. Looks a horse who should be at the bottom of class 4, respect amongst this company.
3rd Pick: MR BIG BROTHER (1)
Heads to class 5. Should find himself in the first couple from a great gate. Each way.
4th Pick: LIM'S SHOT (7)
Keeps finding himself in the frame in this class without winning. Getting on in his career and deserves a win soon.
RACE 7
1st Pick: FIRST BOWL (3)
Getting back to a very attractive rating and strikes his pet track and distance at the right time. Horse to follow over the next couple of start because a win is imminent.
2nd Pick: FIGHTING HERO (7)
Racing consistently without winning at this grade and looks well weighted to go close here again. Top three player.
3rd Pick: DR KARDO (6)
Slow away but made back good ground late to be beaten just over two lengths. Another horse who isn’t far away from winning another race, keep safe.
4th Pick: GREAT COMMAND (4)
Looks the likely leader in this field. He will be the horse they are chasing at the turn and if he gets a soft lead, he may have something left in the tank.
RACE 8
1st Pick: FORTUNE STAR (4)
Gets the services of Manoel Nunes this week and has been a model of consistency his last few starts. Gets a great chance to win this weekend, respect big time.
2nd Pick: SAYONARA (2)
Confident winner last start who strikes a winnable event once again this weekend. May have to work a little from the gate but presents here as one of the winning hopes.
3rd Pick: RUSSIAN TWIST (1)
Trackwork under Benny Woodworth who rides this weekend was solid. Draws the perfect gate and it wouldn’t shock to see him sit a little closer to the speed this weekend from that draw.
4th Pick: ANYWAY (7)
Blitzed his competition last start to win by over 3 lengths. Drops to a mile and faces a tougher field but that winning form should take him a long way in this.
RACE 9
1st Pick: SOUSUI (9)
Laid in at the top of the straight losing all momentum last start. Only went down by 1.5 lengths in first run at class 4. Carries a light weight here again, this race looks a winnable for him.
2nd Pick: PACIFIC STAR (8)
His performances before last start were questionable as he didn’t really match the opinion that he was labelled with early in his Singapore career. Last start he improved dramatically even with the saddle slipping backwards. Hopefully this form continues.
3rd Pick: GRAND AVANTE (1)
Comes out of the same race as Pacific Star. He was met with a lot of late market support last start, only to over race terribly in the back straight and make it harder for himself. To finish a length off the winner was enormous all this considered so he must be entertained again.
4th Pick: SAVVY COMMAND (2)
Capable of winning a race of this caliber. Wins are few and far between lately for him but he is much better than a class 4 horse on his day.
RACE 10
1st Pick: SUPER SALUTE (6)
Winner of his last four. This race looks well within his grasp, expecting him to be hard to beat again with 53kg.
2nd Pick: SILENT IS GOLD (9)
Meets Super Salute again who got the better of him two starts ago. Has won a race since so should be full of confidence heading into this with a feather weight. Only query is that he loses his regular rider this weekend. Nevertheless, worth respect.
3rd Pick: PROSPEROUS RETURN (1)
G1 winner returning here. Trials have been solid enough but how forward he will be for this first up run is the big question, each way hope.
4th Pick: OCEAN CROSSING (5)
Weighted well in this event. Plenty of speed on so it should set up for a horse like him to run on late. Had a grass gallop during the week to prepare for this race.
RACE 11
1st Pick: MIMOSAS (8)
Strong and dominant winner last start breaking through from a wide draw. Steps up in grade here but looks very capable.
2nd Pick: CITY GOLD FORWARD (10)
Copped early collision in running but still managed to make up a stack of ground late. Big chance this weekend.
3rd Pick: GENERAL COMMAND (3)
Nunes sticks and rides him over Mimosas this weekend. Backed as if unbeatable last start but was beaten fair and square with nothing to offer late. Had won every start leading up to that run, worth another chance.
4th Pick: GOLD TEN SIXTY-ONE (4)
A big speed influence into this race, should roll forward and be among the chances if he gets a soft enough lead.