A sprinter and natural leader that was deliberately ridden cold last start to try and get back that winning feeling is expected to score today.
Al’s Knight won his first four starts with sheer pace and power that included a Class Three romp at 1200m on the polytrack.
He won two races each on the turf and all weather so underfoot does not hamper the large framed flyer but the tempo and tactics of others do.
Since that opening unbeaten fourpeat the gelding has not saluted the judge since in five more outings.
He is yet to finish outside the top four with three placings and two fourths in that period but being an almost constant favourite on the tote it does not help the cause of bettors.
Ironically last start when drawn gate twelve and stewards were told, who passed on the information to bettors on course, he would be ridden cold for once the big sprinter was at his longest price lifetime.
Al’s Knight went out at S$54 or more than twice as much ever and he ran a good race for second, so restraining him early is now a viable option.
I liked the way he boomed late for second behind the smart El Padrino and that is form that should see Al’s Knight deliver today.
Barend Vorster gets aboard for the first time and from gate five it would seem he is atop to go to the lead, as not many bounce them out better early.
Vorster has got windburn aboard Rocket Man and Ato so knows what real speed feels like.
Al’s Knight in the five races since winning his first four starts has run into some names that would demolish what he meets here in Race Eight, the feature S$75K Class Three over 1200m.
The likes of Finderskeepers, One More Minute, Good Louken, Cash Dot Com and El Padrino would be even money or odds on against the line up.
I do think Vorster has the backup plan of grabbing hold should some of his rivals decide they are on the dragstrip quarter mile and put the foot to the floor from the outset.
Shane Baertschiger also has apart from Al’s Knight in the race another big horse in No Respite and he could benefit if too many go too hard for too long in the sprint.
The form however points to Al’s Knight winning his fifth race and take for example that last start second, as the third finisher Makkura (with 4kg less) came out and won under 58.5kg last week against her own sex.
Vorster is also an intriguing yet inspired choice to get the job done.
There is a Pat Shaw runner in the race called Damo and while Jaimee Sumaat has been the regular recent rider on raceday/night and at the trials, it was Vorster that rode at the first two outings.
In fact Vorster is the only person to win on Damo and was placed the other time too for good measure.
The fear of rival runners gassing each other and therefore eliminating their chances and those of others is always a concern in fields where several like to lead.
A clear example of this was Californian Star last start, which absolutely savaged the hotpot Totality in front and cost it the win and himself a place.
Californian Star with 7kg less than Totality just kept the hammer down and finished fourth with the favourite a brave third.
The riding change on Californian Star here is important as the 2kg claiming Zuriman won on it two starts ago with a much more measured ride.
Every start for Californian Star has been on the poly and when you consider he has placed second to the likes of Dragon Spirit and Speedy Cat plus third to Birthday Gift, then you must include him here.
Gate two and 51.5kg after the claim plus the gear addition of a visor and the Bruce Marsh prepared sprinter is the likely quinella with Al’s Knight.
The likely trifecta therefore will be the well-drawn and consistent BM Win, which has placed third at his last two starts in Class Three fields of similar or more depth than this.
Three runs ago he was a distant fourth but it came in a Progressive over 1000m run and won by the unbeaten burner Emerald Hill that clocked 58.83.
Last start saw BM Win place behind the vastly improved Squall Line that has since won again and in a Kranji Stakes C from the outside barrier.
Sam Chua trains BM Win and he also has Model Citizen drawn the ace so he has a big role in the first-four too let alone the quinella and trifecta.
Model Citizen has finished fifth at his last two starts and in races that Al’s Knight ended up fourth and second, with the weight relief being 4.5kg and 4kg.
He will get 5kg from Al’s Knight today and while it may not be enough to finish ahead you couple it up with the inside barrier and paying a dividend becomes a reality.
No Respite as mentioned earlier could reap some reward if the race is run rampant throughout with a 2kg claimer atop the big son of Bel Esprit.
His poly record demands he be included and a recent trial second in fast time behind Rapido Star showed the gelding is ready.
Three runs ago he was a distant third on the poly but it came in a Progressive field behind the likes of Valevole and Hard Stuff.
When you consider Masthead finished fourth and Irish Coffee sixth it showed the field had some oomph.
I see Al’s Knight regaining that winning mantra today and the Vorster booking is a real plus, while the barrier draw helps Californian Star and BM Win get into the finish.
Enjoy the Pan Malaysian Pools Trophy feature event on the card.
