Although lining up over a trip short of his best, you can never ignore class and expect Quechua to be very hard to beat in the ninth event at Singapore this evening.
The Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup winner makes his return having not been seen since his New Year’s triumph, when saluting narrowly in the Group 3 event.
Proving too strong for his stablemate In Fact, Quechua stretched his winning streak to four and further displayed his versatility.
Trained by Patrick Shaw, the son of Pure Prize has continued to make impressive ratings spikes and is clearly one of the more promising types in Singapore.
Under the weight-for-age conditions of the event, Quechua is well-placed using Timeform ratings.
His performance to win the Gold Cup sees him rated highly, with class galloper Flax also well placed against their less performed rivals.
Quechua is proven fresh, placing in all three starts and is unbeaten at his only prior attempt on the polytrack.
Leading rider Corey Brown sticks aboard and remains unbeaten aboard the four-year-old.
Enjoying a good run of form this season, Brown’s strike rate with the Patrick Shaw stable is also worth highlighting.
From thirteen attempts, Brown has saluted the judge on six occasions, placing on a further two.
Overall he strikes at just shy of 50 per cent, and it is easily one of the highest trainer/jockey strike rates in Singapore.
Given just the sole trial in the lead up, Quechua is likely to be in need of the run, however he is still expected to sprint well fresh.
From the middle draw, Quechua is likely to adopt a fairly prominent position, as there doesn’t appear a great deal of speed engaged.
The Shaw stable won this event last year with Johnny Guitar and expect Quechua to be fighting out the finish this season.
The David Hill trained Flax remains under strong notice, as he is extremely well placed, if able to return to his best form.
A winner of eight of his 24 starts, the son of Silvano boasts form well clear of his rivals and did return in good order last start.
Finishing second behind the Hideyuki Takaoka trained Thumping, Flax was clearly not suited by the slow tempo and hit the line gamely in the straight.
He should derive plenty of benefit from that performance and is expected to enjoy a charmed run, from the inside draw.
Although yet to fire previously over the trip, his form is a lot better than what it first appears as two of his attempts were against Group 1 company.
Flax is a multiple winner over 1800m and shapes as one of the main dangers, in surprisingly his first attempt on the polytrack.
The Patrick Shaw trained Davide returned in great order last start and appears the next in line.
Finishing second behind Zac Spirit, the son of Orpen proved game in defeat, though clearly no match for his talented rival.
Davide has placed in two of three attempts, when racing second up and has placed in 10 of 13 attempts on the polytrack.
He is unbeaten at his only prior attempt at a mile and although drawn a touch awkwardly, he is still expected to make his presence felt.
Of the rest the Shane Baertschiger trained One Rar remains the next in line as while unable to feature last start, he did have notable excuses.
Clearly unsuited by the slow tempo, One Rar was simply out sprinted and he should now be right at his peak racing third up.
His performance to salute first up, sees him right in the mix and a return to his best form should see right around the mark.
Good luck and happy punting.
