The feature event on the ten race card tonight at Kranji is a stepping-stone for some towards two major upcoming G1 turf events in Singapore.
Nine days after the S$95K Benchmark 1800m on the turf long course E track this evening will be the G1 S$500K Raffles Cup (1800m) and then three weeks later the S$1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m).
There is a Triple Crown bonus of S$300K for the owner and since Better Than Ever won the first leg of the G1 Kranji Mile, he is the only one eligible to grab that enticing reward.
There is a also a S$50K bonus to any owner winning two of the legs, so anyone wanting to get a start in the Raffles Cup then onto the Singapore Gold Cup will need to fire tonight.
Some may have to actually show some form this evening to warrant going onto or even getting a start in the final two G1 events of the Singapore racing year.
Last year Mark Walker finished second in the Singapore Gold Cup on an unhelpful wet track with the former New Zealand galloper Tell A Tale.
This evening he will be hoping for the gelding to show something second up and try to break his Singapore duck if not here then over the next two assignments.
Tell A Tale after a 3kg claim is well placed at 56kg over 1800m on the turf for one of his record.
He is unfortunately a noted rain-bringer and finds trouble wherever it may be plus being a natural off pacer needs tempo and traffic to go his way.
On his best day the gelding can stomp home and is already a dual winner second up, after striking a yielding track fresh up as if by clockwork!
I do feel he needs to show something tonight as many an in form younger horse already has gone ahead of his current local rating of 93 and some others are nipping at his heels.
His fresh up run was a bit ordinary but on firm footing he can reverse that last placing, if you are looking for one at odds.
Laurie Laxon has three in the race tonight and two can make or force the pace, so the most fancied of the trio in Martial Art does look a worthy favourite.
The off pacer loves the turf with all his four wins in Singapore coming on it and notably from 1800m up to 2200m, so he is on the G1 path after this.
Joao Moreira rides again and he has already won twice on the five-year-old, with the locals glad to see him back this weekend as their favourite way of making money.
Martial Art looks well placed here at 53.5kg and especially since his last start win over 2200m saw him defeat a major rival here in Maurice Utrillo.
He carried 51.5kg (Joao was 1.5kg overweight) and beat Maurice Utrillo by a length and a half and it carried 1kg more.
Tonight we see Maurice Utrillo have to carry 3kg more than Martial Art and that is significant.
Hint is in winning form after a slashing fresh up win over 1600m and he buried Lizarre, which came out last week and blew away a field.
The previous start by Hint saw it win and defeat Martial Art by half a length over 2000m, where that rival again tonight carried 2.5kg more.
We see Hint only get 1kg from Martial Art this evening, which again makes the latter look well weighted in R8 and heading on a Raffles Cup and Singapore Gold Cup route.
Honest Broker jumps dramatically in class here but the way it won over 2200m last start on the turf it will be a force the latter part of the year at a middle distance.
It may have come a year too soon for the gelding but it drops 6.5kg here and looks born to stay, so if in form why not stay in form.
Paulinho beat a good horse last start on the poly and drops 3.5kg here and goes up 200m, with both those suiting the Argentinian entire.
He has however not shown enough on the turf since coming to Singapore to inspire confidence but never doubt a quality type in the Pat Shaw stable.
I am keen on Tell A Tale doing something in this, as long as the rain is somehow abated, and do think Honest Broker has shares worth purchasing now we know he is a middle distance rising force.
Otherwise it looks to be a Martial Art show with a Hint of Maurice Utrillo artwork thrown in for good measure.
Enjoy the race.
