The feature event on the penultimate meeting for Singapore in 2011 is an open class contest over 1800m and the polytrack factor looms large.
The ninth race on the card for S$95K sees a good mixture of proven performers and some on the cusp of making the step up plus a lone four-year-old with the most stamina of them all.
Joyful Heart Man just keeps on keeping on in his races and is a name that could be a staying star next season, with the versatility on both poly and turf another weapon in his growing arsenal.
He has won from 1800m to 2200m and on the poly is three starts for a win, a close third over a mile to Takis and an unplaced effort over 1100m, which was way too short and meaningless in the context of tonight.
This gelding can do it tough and find more plus if they go too hard he will just gobble them up in the run home, as his second wind kicking in is better than the first wind of many.
I see Joyful Heart Man as the perfect horse for a jockey, as it will make you look good no matter how badly he is ridden.
The step up to open class tonight is not an issue, as he will cope just fine and the closer to 50kg that Saimee Jumaat can get the better but for this stayer it is not a game changer.
His last start win on the turf over 2200m in good time was impressive and it is the strathayr where he will win a big race next year but he can still perform on the poly.
The month roughly between races suits him too, as he leaves it all out on the track.
There are several older and well tried gallopers in the field and many are either poly-intolerant or have barely tried it if at all, so it should make for a good battle as some stamina issues are found on a few too,
Smoking Joe will carry topweight of 58kg even after a claim and the farthest he has tried in his twenty-one start Singapore career is a mile twice for a second under 59kg and a reasonable eighth at G3.
He has raced just once at Kranji on the poly for a fresh up G3 fifth behind Ato over 1200m in the Woodlands Handicap, where he ran a ripper to be beaten less than two lengths.
The fact he beat home the super grey Captain Obvious is staggering in itself but shows you he has a decent motor.
Since that resumption run in August this year, his first outing in nine months, the seven-year-old gelding has raced in G2 and G3 since.
The open class tonight looks primed to be knocked out by him with a crunching display of power and relentless closing.
He started of as Morning Time and raced twenty-nine times in New South Wales for five wins and ten placings to go with his trio of each in Kranji.
The mile was the longest trip he attempted in Australia too.
Can he get the 1800m tonight?
I think he can down in class but couple that with the poly factor and it makes things harder.
Smoking Joe when he has trialled on the poly since coming to Singapore has won by big margins and/or clocked good time plus has placed behind some noted types.
His two most recent trials have been behind Al's Knight (unbeaten and won fresh up recently) and Goal Keeper (which should win R10 tonight).
He looks in good order and ready to pay tribute to his pugilistic namesake.
Hint was a super fourth at his last start in the G1 Singapore Gold Cup (2200m), after getting back and surrounded by traffic.
No doubt he has the quality to win this and after a 3kg claim looks very well in at 54.5kg but, and this is a big one, his record on the poly is pathetic to put it mildly.
Five starts for two fifths, a sixth, a seventh and a ninth is nothing to write home about and in fact save yourself a stamp.
It is the elephant in the room for Hint, as otherwise he would be even money here.
South Easter is one of three runners for the Pat Shaw stable and loves the poly, so if he can get over early from an awkward draw will give a sight here.
His other two runners are Power Blitz and Thundering Jet, with the former never having raced on the poly and the latter having recorded just one placing in five outings on it.
Power Blitz has the ability and tenacity to win but there is a poly track risk though the long striding gelding has trialled on it well many times since coming to Singapore.
I have no concerns on the track or trip for the oldest runner in the field in Superczar but he is a rather hard horse to follow, as the gap between his best and worst is like night and day.
Joyluck is a poly specialist and as such needs to be included in your multiples even if not proven at open class, as he is fit and racing soundly.
Maraetai has won twice on the poly and no worries at the 1800m, as he has scored up to 2400m.
Whether he can rumble in jungle against this opposition tonight is debatable.
Alacarte has never won on the poly and has only been victorious up to a mile, although he placed at his only 1800m attempt on the turf albeit in a far weaker field than this.
So it comes down to the young untapped contender Joyful Heart Man and the big power and heart of Smoking Joe.
There will be no Thrilla in Manilla this evening but a KO at Kranji is certainly on the cards.
Enjoy the bout.
