Clifford Ian Brown is the man today if you want to find the winner in one of the G3 feature events on the Kranji card.
Cliff or Cliffy has two outstanding chances in R10 the G3 S$200K JBBA Moonbeam Vase over 1800m on the long course B turf track in Clint and Tenzing.
Brown has a decent strike rate in Group races and his runners should always be respected when entered, as not many target then take out the trophy or in this case a vase much better than him.
Clint from gate three at 54kg looks the better chance of his dynamic duo with the G1 Singapore Derby winner last year a noted third upper and turf striker.
I felt his last start second up fifth in the G3 Polytrack Mile Championship was a really rugged effort under WFA, as he got used up early and sat outside the pace before applying some heat across the top.
The large son of Casual Lies is a big race performer and apart from his G1 Derby win he has also at G3 finished third an impressive four times from 1600m to 2000m.
He finished eighth in the Moonbeam Vase last year but a yielding track saw many fail to swim well enough from the home turn, so I would forget that as a fair guide.
Stephen Baster takes the mount and not many are riding as confidently and tactically better than he at the moment.
His coming to Singapore has been an astute move and his ability to ride light yet be strong with both whip and hands and heels is achieving good results.
A recent trial by Clint saw him in grand order and bettors should note Danny Beasley rode, as it is he that will partner Tenzing the other Brown runner.
Tenzing is a turf titan through and through and Beasley in three rides atop has won twice, with the G3 Fortune Bowl over 2000m two starts ago under 54kg a good pointer.
The win was narrow and came over a rival again today in Mitre Peak that had 3kg less and in the Moonbeam is down to a 2kg gap.
If the track is yielding or worse then Tenzing comes into his own, so Brown has the feature covered dry or wet with his pair.
I saw the Tenzing fresh up effort for ninth in the G3 Polytrack Mile Championship as best shown by his final 100m and it is also worth noting he had some tote support.
The gelding had trialled up okay prior for fourth behind some sprinters and Baster rode, so Brown is relishing the expertise and experience he is getting from this three B's thoroughbred triumvirate.
Brown, Beasley and Baster are in fact an A Team rather than a boy band!
The rest of the Moonbeam field contains four names to note for the 2013 Singapore Derby so take a good look at the four-year-olds Silveron Wings, Chase Me, Nandowra and Paulinho.
All of those names have strong turf records and the 1800m today is almost ideal as they can see how tackling the older horses at differing handicaps will be handled.
I do like Silveron Wings for value as he can run home hard in a slow or fast run race and prior to that last start poly flop his form is very solid.
The progress of Chase Me this year has been remarkable and last start he put away New Rose Wood with contempt and she has since blown away Flying Fulton in the Marsiling Classic over 1800m.
Brown of course trains New Rose Wood so will know Chase Me is a danger today to his terrific twosome.
Nandowra has been winning of late but seemingly losing the confidence of tipsters and race analysts because the victories are getting narrow and making him look less and less like a middle distance type.
They have come on the poly and he is a strapping sort so does take a sustained ride to keep him going.
He is good on turf too and should not be given up on yet, with even Joao Moreira riding another in the race today in Aserious for Leticia Dragon.
Craig Williams, who is winning worldwide by the week it seems, has the mount on Nandowra and his comments after the Moonbeam Vase will be valuable for the Michael Freedman stable and the owners.
Bettors would like to hear those thoughts too regarding the Singapore Derby.
Paulinho under the conditions weight scale of the Moonbeam Vase is at 56kg and the highest handicapped four-year-old but for a compact type at least he gets some relief from the bigger weights of late.
His last start third in the Marsiling Classic under 58kg behind New Rose Wood and Flying Fulton was a case of getting his second wind halfway up the run home and augurs well for this Argentinian fighter.
He beat home an older rival again today in Mitre Peak that is a chance and gave it 3kg, so with the gap down to 1.5kg here it is a points decision to Paulinho.
Mitre Peak and Maurice Utrillo are hopes for multiples bettors in the Moonbeam Vase and the latter could be some value.
I cannot see past the three B's in the feature and feel Cliff Brown will win the G3 feature but will it be with Baster on Clint or Beasley on Tenzing?
Clint is the one at the weights and from a good draw will gun them down in the long homestraight.
Include as many of the four-year-olds in your multiples as possible because there is a quadruplet of quality to choose from for bettors.
Enjoy the latter of the feature double on the cards.
