Rider and horse combinations are more important than trainer and pilot pairings, as we shall see this evening at Kranji.
Jose Verenzuela is the poly track master in Singapore as nobody gets them out smarter or can get them trucking along happy but he is also a turf tempo titan too.
He can kid his mounts into thinking they have no weight and are coasting when carrying the kitchen sink and low flying throughout.
Verenzuela rides in the feature race tonight the David Hill trained Meteor Mike, which is the seventh event on the card.
The S$95K Open Benchmark 89 over 1200m on the turf long course C track does look an ideal race for Meteor Mike at 57kg.
Hill has his stable going well at the moment and more often than not his runners are glaring tote tips long before race start.
Gate six in a small field suits this gelding that is tough and will put in up to yielding ground but his one miss came when Kranji turned slow three starts ago.
He can do it tough or force the tempo and buckle the opposition into submission but also has led and outclassed line-ups in the past.
Verenzuela has ridden Meteor Mike twice for an easy win at 1400m under 59kg in a Benchmark 83 and also a close second in a Benchmark 97, also at 1400m.
Newbury Stable race Meteor Mike and their colours are regular visitors to the winners enclosure and could well be again this evening.
The last two efforts by their South African bred galloper, that in three starts at home won a race at Kenilworth, have resulted in a huge second in the Luzerne Cup and a gutsy third in a Benchmark 97.
Valevole is Italian for valid or useful and the name is very apt for the Pat Shaw trained and Barend Vorster ridden galloper raced by the Rocketman man Alfred Crabbia.
The four-year-old is Brazilian bred and in eleven starts at Kranji has been remarkably consistent with four wins and three placings to go with three times fourth and once fifth.
His worst finish to date was that last start fifth when wide on the speed for rider Greg Cheyne and attacking the leader.
He only wilted the closing stages but had too after such an overland outing with no breather.
Valevole would have slept well for days after such a trip and reappears tonight but with a trial hitout under the belt.
The gelding goes best fresh or freshened up and can improve on his only turf start so far, which resulted in a third behind the top pick in Meteor Mike.
I liked the effort for two reasons with the first being the actual performance that after leading was game at a first look on the Kranji turf.
The second reason is after the result in what is now form that is known and can be measured up properly so tonight is a good example.
Valevole carried 58.5kg when third to Meteor Mike (59kg) and this evening we find the gap is out to a very enticing 4kg (or a 3.5kg swing).
Vorster being back aboard is another tick and he was in sparkling form on Gold Cup night plus is the best rider for Valevole.
Eight times atop for four wins and two placings says it all and when Barend gets on a roll he is even harder to beat.
Texan Takeover tasted defeat for the first time in Singapore last start but no shame when it was a second behind the absolutely flying Goal Keeper.
It was his first race on the turf and he did well after being wide for most of the race but once again that customary second wind kicked in late.
Tonight he has gate one so will wonder what the heck is that thing on my inner but the running rail could well end up his friend or foe.
He is a rapid beginner so Stephen Baster, deputizing for Joao Moreira riding in a jockey’s series in South Africa, can ping early then reassess what is coming up outside him and how serious they are.
Michael Freedman trains and he is in an epic battle for the training premiership for 2012 with a two win lead at the moment over Laurie Laxon and one further back to Steve Burridge.
Laxon does not have a runner in the feature but Burridge has the turf lover Shaolin Soldier that has come back in good form.
His two seconds since resuming have come on the poly and he is yet to win on the all weather, so third up tonight will get back on the turf he is already an eight-time winner (seven at Kranji and one at Cranbourne in Australia) upon.
Whether he can measure up at this level of field is the query but with Alan Munro going here and on cloud nine after winning the Gold Cup and the final event last Sunday, it is amazing what confidence can do.
Munro has been atop Shaolin Soldier five times for two wins and a placing, so suits the sit then pounce performer plus it is worth pointing out he has been the regular recent rider of Meteor Mike.
He is in a very good headspace at the moment and is marking of the days in a calendar until the 2013 Emirates Singapore Derby with wonder mare Better Life.
The small field for the feature tonight does not really have a no hope runner as even the outsider Éclair Mystic should show something at a second run for his new stable.
Meteor Mike will not let you down and Valevole is a valid chance at the weights with the right rider back atop.
Enjoy the Moreira-free weekend at Kranji as the others riders sense this is feasting time and will dine out accordingly.
