The money-maker missing in Joao Moreira this weekend will have some Kranji bettors wandering around aimlessly and wondering what do they put their hard earned on.
Tonight the polytrack card of nine races has three S$75K events in row over races six to eight and all are good wagering contests.
It is Race Eight that has a runner fittingly called My Friend Jo that after a 2kg claim can overcome a wide draw and take out the Kranji Stakes C over a mile.
The five-year-old gelding is built to carry weight and has good turn of foot when asked to lengthen plus he rarely goes a bad race.
His record of four wins and five placings in seventeen starts also contains three fourths for those multiples bettors.
Now trained by Shane Baertschiger, the son of Johar will be ridden by the apprentice S H Low and he has been aboard twice before for a fourth and a sixth.
It may not quite be Joao but Jo is close enough and I do see him winning easily if given even half a decent trip.
Three of his four wins have come at a mile and his one poly track win came in a Kranji Stakes C under 58kg and was clear-cut victory.
It did come at 1200m and senior rider John Powell was atop but when you consider he demolished into third place none other than IP Man that had 3kg less then the effort is noteworthy.
The last start fourth of My Friend Jo on the poly behind the talented Nandowra in a Benchmark 83 was commendable, as he was sent forward deep across the top with the leader walking them and about to sprint home.
The letter D provides the next best two chances in namely Dejayal and Damo, with the former claiming down 2kg to 54.5kg and drawn well.
I liked his Kranji Stakes C win on poly over 1700m last August, where he was ridden by Moreira incidentally and carried 55kg.
He was ridden cold and weaved through the field to end up bolting in plus clocked good time, so he was strong in a serious run race.
Damo is like many Argentinean gallopers in that he is not big but all muscle and fight plus he has won at a mile, with a G1 success as a juvenile in the Gran Criterium in 1:35.24 on good footing.
Grey Cheyne rides, as Barend Vorster will go with the other Pat Shaw runner in the race in Always Happy, and while that is slight concern I do think it is more a case of reward.
The form of Cheyne has been solid of late and he did ride Damo last start for a courageous sixth after dipping at the start in a Class Three over 1200m.
I do see Damo as having a say in some feature three-year-old races this year in Singapore and if he can perform here under 58kg then all will seem easier from now on.
South Gate is a logical chance for your multiples and Powell aboard will help as he rode it to win at its first Singapore start.
The concern I have for the strongly built four-year-old is he is yet to win at a mile but has at least scored on the poly.
A former stablemate of the Shaw pair in Iluminado is now with the Steve Burridge team and this Argentinian four-year-old has gone three good races since his move.
He is a proven poly performer and miler and has placed in all three starts in a Kranji Stakes C events with one of the thirds being behind Dejayal.
Illuminado was three lengths behind at the line and carried 1.5kg more, so tonight after both claim the gap will be down to a kilo.
Maybe not enough to flip the result but at least will keep things interesting.
The combination of winning at a mile and on the poly gets harder to find in the field after the names above and while some may lack enough dash these days others will be more sprinters than milers.
The surprise if there is one could be Video Call, which last start found G3 on the turf is not for the faint hearted.
I like how he runs on the poly and a mile win three starts back while in Class Four was an absolute romp and Ismail Saifudin was the rider, as he is this evening.
It must be tough for bettors without their 'cup of Joao' at Kranji every weekend times two but maybe My Friend Jo can fill the void, as the record-breaking Brazilian will be back next week.
Dejayal appeals and for longer odds Video Call.
Enjoy the race.
