Sky Eye the one to beat in G3 Kranji Sprint

Luke Middlebrook

Singapore racing continues on Saturday for an 11-race fixture and the running of the inaugural Singapore Turf Club Super Sprint Series with the first leg, the $110,000 Group 3 Kranji Sprint (first leg) over 1200m, comprising a small but quality field of eight.

Jason Lim-trained Sky Eye has scored a double in Class 1 recently and is undoubtedly racing in career-best form. It’s worth noting four of the eight runners in this week’s field finished behind him in their last start, so he has to be rated a big winning chance.

Trained by Stephen Gray, talented sprinter Silent Is Gold looks the other highly competitive contender based on his eye-catching form lines around this year’s stand out four-year-old, Super Salute.

The son of Star Turn confirmed the form with a narrow but impressive last start win in Class 3, despite laying out in the concluding stages. With only 53kg on his back and a positive rider change, it presents a golden chance for him to break through at Group level.

Elsewhere, promising sprinter General Command can keep his perfect record on the Polytrack intact in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1100m.

General Command has done little thing wrong since starting his local racing career in January this year, scoring three times and being placed once from four starts. Two starts ago, the son of Shalaa finished a close second on turf before wasting no time bouncing back to the winner’s list last start when scoring a tenacious win over 1200m on the Polytrack despite travelling wide throughout.

In a recent interview, trainer Lim described General Command as a nice horse that we have not seen the best of yet. So, with more upside to come most likely, he looks on track to extend his formidable form on the alternative racing surface this week despite rising to Class 2 for the first time. - iRACE Magazine

BEST BET

Race 8 No 3 General Command

VALUE BET

Race 2 No 12 Lim's Jinba

JACKPOT

R18

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3

Leg 3: 1, 8

Leg 4: 1, 5, 7

SINGAPORE RACE ANALYSIS – 3 JUN 2023


RACE 1 
1st Pick: MALIBU BEACH (1)

Failed to fire after jumping slowly away last start and never looked a chance after blowing the start. His best is good enough to score here. Pinheiro booked to steer.

2nd Pick: SEE YAH (9)

Drops slightly in the weights this weekend after a strong second last start coming off three good runs which have resulted in two wins. Loves this distance.

3rd Pick: MO ALMIGHTY (2)

Just struggling to find that winning line first at his last few starts but hasn’t been too far away from the winners. Should sit nice and handy and form is strong here.

4th Pick: SUN PALACE (6)

Holding his own down at this level in recent runs. Scored a handy win two runs ago and consistent form will see him play a big part in this division.


RACE 2

1st Pick: SILO (6)

Brings race experience which will hold him in high regard. Gets the inside draw and Pinheiro should give him a positive ride from there.

2nd Pick: BIG MAX (2)

Nunes has been doing a fair bit of work including two recent trials where he been satisfactory for his debut. Perfect draw in barrier three should see him settle well.

3rd Pick: ARTILLERY (1)

Hasn’t been seen at the trials since his win back on the 18th of April where he came out and beat stablemate Rhett Butler who has since gone on to score on debut.

4th Pick: LIM'S SHAVANO (4)

Well bred son of So You Think who comes here for the powerful Meagher & Lim’s stable. Just a few quiet trials but stable aren’t known for testing them too hard in trials.



RACE 3

1st Pick: LIM'S STRAIGHT (4)

Terribly unlucky last start over the track and distance to go down to Invincible Tycoon. Draws a little bit wide here but the last start was too good to not respect him big time here.

2nd Pick: THUNDER STAR (2)

Has been around the mark of late. Gets the booking of Manoel Nunes who has been with this horse the whole journey, working his way towards a win.

3rd Pick: KICK (1)

Draws a great gate for his return run since going down to Bestseller in January. Strong form lines heading into this race and the trials have also been quite promising, each way.

4th Pick: CHARMINTON (3)

Has run second his last two starts and a win doesn’t look too far off. Apprentice Fadzli Yusoff claims two kg’s this weekend who has won on him in the past and arguably draws the best gate in the race, don’t overlook.


RACE 4

1st Pick: RICH FORTUNE (3)

Brings the best form out of any of these runners in his most recent starts so simply for that fact he will hold firm as one of the top three prospects here. Just has to repeat his last two performances to figure.

2nd Pick: SUPERIOR COAT (1)

Trialed up in very nice style to win his heat back on the 25th May. He now sits just one rating point higher than his last win back in April of last year. Watch any betting moves.

3rd Pick: WEDNESDAY (8)

Finds a very open contest this weekend. Comes into this off a fourth placing behind Rich Fortune who he faces again. His only career win has come at this course and distance. Each way play.

4th Pick: WINNING POWER (4)

If he breaks cleanly from the gates, he can set a genuine tempo to suit him if he gets left alone in front. Doesn’t win all that often but this type of race is well within reach.



RACE 5
1st Pick: TONY'S LOVE (8)

This horse loves 2000m and was terribly unlucky last time out to go down a short margin. Rarely runs out of the top two and he is weighted to run a big race.

2nd Pick: MARIANA TRENCH (4)

Won at the distance and grade last time he contested it. The more ground the better for this Tivic stable runner and a top two finish wouldn’t be out of the question.

3rd Pick: REAL EFECTO (1)

Back to class 4 this weekend and is up to a distance where he is undefeated. He is the seasoned horse in this race and experience could take him a long way.

4th Pick: PRIORITIZE (7)

Super consistent runner who was beaten a half-length his last time at the distance. Proven to get the trip, don’t leave out of the exotics.


RACE 6

1st Pick: EIGHT BALL (1)

Gets back to class five where he scored in the past off a rating of 53 on that occasion. Should get plenty of support in the market and has great stats at this course and distance.

2nd Pick: LIM'S ZOOM (2)

Gets back to his winning class where he last scored in this grade back in March. Class four runs have been ticking material and he will look a live chance here.

3rd Pick: TAKHI (3)

Form hasn’t been his best in recent starts, but they have been in tougher grades. Gets back to class five and has trialed well under Nunes in preparation for this.

4th Pick: SMOKE AND MIRRORS (5)

Scored well last start coming off the back of two strong minor placings. Good form lines from his recent runs and will be around the finish.



RACE 7

1st Pick: CHOSEN ONE (2)

Both career wins have been at this distance. He sits two rating points higher than his last victory and finds himself in a very open division of this race.

2nd Pick: GAMELY (9)

Should show the early speed to dictate the race and his last win was very brave to finish in second place. Finds it very hard to win but he is as consistent as they come.

3rd Pick: TWO MILLION (8)

Sat nice and handy in the run back a few weeks ago to finish third behind God’s Gift. That was his best performance in his career and maybe that tactic is the key to improve.

4th Pick: RODA ROBOT (1)

If he can replicate that run two starts ago behind Sun Palace that will hold him in good stead coming into this weekend. Lightly raced and has plenty of room for improvement.


RACE 8

1st Pick: GENERAL COMMAND (3)

Only missed the winners spot on one occasion. This doesn’t look as deep of a race as the last time he contested class 2 going down to Silent Is Gold. Will need a tad of luck from the gate but he will be the short priced favourite.

2nd Pick: ILLUSTRIOUS (2)

Up to class 2 after a super dominant class 3 win. Faces a slightly tougher field but draw well enough to lead.

3rd Pick: GOLD STAR (1)

Caught the eye big time up in class 1 last start going down by just under 2 lengths. Carries more weight here and is arguably a better horse on the turf, but one must respect his performances so far this year.

4th Pick: RED OCEAN (4)

App N.Rozlan takes 4kg off again to get this horse under 50kg. Draws a great gate to sit closer to the fence, can lightning strike twice over 1100m in class 2 for this horse?





RACE 9

1st Pick: LION SPIRIT (1)

Strong win last start after being held up for a good chunk of the straight. Strikes a similar race with a little more weight and a tougher gate. Confidence from that last win should be high, good chance to do it all again.

2nd Pick: TIGAROUS (4)

Still looking for that class 5 win since returning to the grade. The wide draw is a slight concern but he is started to be weighted so well that leaving him out is just not an option.

3rd Pick: SAYONARA (2)

Great win last start over a shorter trip and now heads back to a longer trip on poly. Top three contender on recent form.

4th Pick: GOLD KINGDOM (3)

Never got on the track last start and has returned to the trials on multiple occasions since. Prefer over 1600m but he should have enough early speed to sit off and flash home late in this race.


RACE 10

1st Pick: KING ARTHUR (2)

Weighted incredibly well for this. Carries 53.5kg with the claiming rider on who has ridden him to multiple wins already. Poorly away last start but with his record, its hard to not give him another chance.

2nd Pick: MR MALEK (3)

Never missed the top 4 in his 7 appearances over the track and distance with three of those being wins. His run in the Kranj Mile was enormous and despite dropping I distance, comes into this with plenty of added fitness, big chance.

3rd Pick: SKY EYE (1)

Carries top weight in this weekend’s feature but comes in with plenty of winning form. Indications from the stable were that this race was the plan so you can expect he will be peaking for this run.

4th Pick: SILENT IS GOLD (8)

Racing well enough of late to make an impression here. At the weights its fair to say he is at a slight disadvantage carrying only 0.5kg less than King Arthur, but he draws a nice gate and looks a top three prospect.



RACE 11 

1st Pick: GREATHAM GIRL (2)

Draws the ace this weekend for her third up run this preparation. Weighted very well with the stable apprentice going on board and looks set to run a race.

2nd Pick: COSMIC DANCER (1)

Draws a horrible gate this weekend for a horse who likes to lead but it didn’t stop him last start from being able to win well. Winning form should take him a long way.

3rd Pick: METAL WORLD (8)

Caught the eye big time last start and should improve off that. Drawn a great gate to find a nice spot in running, each way claims here.

4th Pick: MAJOR KING (7)

Last start win has plenty of merit. Drawn a little awkward which could lead to some issues in the run. This horse could have a slight class edge on most of these but will need a lot to go right for him to take this out.