The two best men at their craft last year in Singapore and a big fast baby in the feature race on the Kranji card this evening hold the wagering key for bettors.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The ninth race at the meeting has drawn a cracking field for the S$125K Open sprint over 1200m on the long course E turf track.
There is pace and power galore in the line up but the top rider Joao Moreira and top trainer Laurie Laxon of last year in Singapore combine with the whopper almost unbeaten baby of the field in Huka Falls.
He may be as big as most full grown adults and in fact at nearly 550kg is a huge youngster but Huka Falls is very promising with six wins from seven outings.
His lone defeat was last September on the turf when a wet track saw him all at sea and Moreira rode that night too.
Six rides for five wins tells you Moreira knows that Huka Falls is very good and Laxon makes no secret of how bonny he thinks the big baby is and will be.
The turf tonight is a query for some still but more so if rain arrives as Huka Falls bolted in at his only other turf outing when leading all the way.
When he is dry he can fly.
He is a fast mover for such a strapping three-year-old and even though weighted on the minimum of 50kg this evening it is 51.5kg that Moreira will ride at.
Gate six is no concern as Huka Falls has the speed to go wherever his rider chooses and a trial win earlier last week saw a clear cut victory in decent time so all is on schedule to make it seven wins from eight starts.
Make no mistake this is his biggest test to date as meeting the best group of sprinters he has seen so far and the amount of natural early speed in the field is staggering.
A quiet ride then detonation would not surprise me atop Huka Falls as Laxon will want Moreira to teach the youngest runner in the race that as the opposition gets harder leading is not always an option.
The fact there are options with Huka Falls should stand him in good stead as he attempts to take a first winning step against the big boys and girls in Open class.
Speedy Cat has pace but can also be ridden quieter and I feel he is a more complete performer when allowed to relax early then get wound up like a spring before pouncing over the top of his rivals.
He may have 57.5kg and be drawn the outside stall but how can you possibly ignore his wonderful record of never having missed the top three in 13 starts?
A fresh up win on the poly in a Kranji Stakes A saw a dominant Speedy Cat and he won his only second up outing so far plus is a dual turf winner at this point.
Speedy Cat is three times placed at G3 and the only person to have won on him John Powell is in form and once again takes the ride.
The proven sprinter Yin Xin is ready to resume with good trial wins over the last two months.
He too is a triple G3 placed performer and a 3kg claim from Muhammad Firdaus makes him at 56kg a chance but legitimate queries remain on the speedster.
Yin Xin is yet to win on the turf and in fact from five starts has placed just twice, with two of the misses seeing him finish last.
The field tonight has many conflicting cases with an example being Red Beard resuming that is devastating fresh up plus all his wins have come on the turf.
Contrast him with a very much in form Valevole that is yet to score on the turf and so far is a poly performer only when it comes to saluting.
Two speedy types are Foxtrot Hotel and the mare Makkura with the former winning a trial last week well and beating Mr Epic and Rocket Man (yes that same superstar who is back on the tarmac and a launch date for 2013 awaits).
Moreira rode Foxtrot Hotel to win the trial so knows how good the Cliff Brown prepared sprinter has come back and will most likely be on next time, as this test tonight is a steep one for the all turf winner since being in Singapore.
Makkura is a fleet of foot mare and will come out smartly from the ace but is just a single turf winner and five times successful on the poly plus she meets a likely too strong line up here.
The one I do see as the each-way chance and very much underrated is El Padrino that is turf proven and lethal fresh up plus won a trial earlier last month to show he was coming along a treat.
Gate four on the minimum with regular pilot Oscar Chavez atop makes this Team Burridge prepared sprinter appeal greatly too me.
I am not sure out of Moreira and Laxon which one would be Steve Guttenberg or Tom Selleck but maybe their age is a clue and Laurie was Magnum PI fan apparently though what I am sure of is that Huka Falls is the baby to deny this evening.
The turf test tonight is not a teething one but is certainly a first look at solid foods and some monster races are ahead so turf suitability is very important.
Speedy Cat has not missed paying a dividend yet so why stop now though the outside gate and 57.5kg does make for a tinge of tenseness in the Alvin Tan stable.
Very keen on El Padrino as the each-way play at overs as this field has so much form and pace plus power that one not spending a penny to the home turn with no weight can ping for punters.
Enjoy the babysitter betting exercise this evening.
