Bruce Marsh has his eye firmly set on gaining the first feature of the new Singapore racing season this afternoon when he saddles up Street Legal in the Group 3 New Year Cup over 1900m on the poly.
The former kiwi now established as one of Singapore’s leading trainers, Marsh has done a great job with Street Legal since joining his stable at the start of the 2012 racing season winning six races, four of those on the poly.
The gelding’s recent form has been first class and he looks attractively weighted on 54kgs in today’s feature.
At each of his last three starts, Street Legal has been racing some of the best horses in Singapore at group level on both turf and poly surfaces.
Three back he was close up in fifth place behind Super Ninetyseven in G1 Raffles Cup under weight for age conditions, running on solidly in the straight after a slow start.
Next up he found the G1 Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m beyond him but still finished four lengths astern the winner Tropaios after running on from near last on the home turn.
Last start he again took time to balance up early in the G3 Colonial Chief Stakes over 1700m on the poly behind Stepitup but caught the eye with a big finish coming from tenth on the home turn to get within two lengths of the winner.
Marsh has given Street Legal a barrier trial last week which he won impressively indicating all is in place for a big run today.
On Timeform weight adjusted ratings Street Legal holds an edge over his rivals headed by Goliath and Nandowra.
Alan Munro will again be atop the gelding and he will have learned plenty from his first ride on the gelding last time out. Riding backmarkers is never an easy assignment so Munro will need to be right on his game to time his finishing run to perfection.
The lightly raced Goliath showed plenty of promise at the back end of last season and came through his toughest assignment last start when fourth in the G3 Colonial Chief Stakes over 1700m behind Stepitup.
At his two runs prior he had recorded impressive wins in Kranji Stakes C and Kranji Stakes B company both times over 1700m on the poly improving his Timeform rating on each occasion.
Leading rider Corey Brown who has won four races atop Goliath will retain the ride and he does look attractively placed dropping down to 50kgs.
One advantage Goliath does have is his ability to race handy and Brown might just try and capitalise on that advantage at some stage during the race.
Goliath meets Street Legal a half a kilo worse at the weights from their last meeting in the Colonial Chief Stakes when half a length adrift the latter but in race tactics could easily nullify that edge.
The class runner is the top weight Nandowra who has done almost all his racing in the last 12 months in group type races.
Formerly prepared by Michael Freedman and now with Sammy Chua after the horse changed hands, Nandowra has raced just once for his new stable finishing sixth in the Colonial Chief Stakes but I am certain Chua would have learned plenty from that effort.
Nandowra has an impressive record on both turf and poly surfaces winning the G3 Poly Mile Championship last March and the G3 Yew Tee Classic over 1800m on the turf in July.
A return to that level today would see him take a power of beating even with the 59kgs he has been asked to shoulder, giving weight all round to some handy types on the way through.
Last start poly winner The Rude Warrior can also lay claim as a winning prospect, especially through his last match up with Street Legal in September.
On that occasion the pair met over 1800m on the poly with Street Legal gaining a head decision, but the weight turn around today is quite substantial at five and a half kilos in The Rude Warrior’s favour.
That alone keeps The Rude Warrior well in contention and looking at his recent form soon reveals he is in career best form.
Last time out he tracked the speed early before taking out a benchmark 83 class race from Great Light.
Brazilian rider Vagner Leal will take the mount again and he is another who looks nicely placed with just 50kgs on his back.
A runner down in the weights who loves the poly is Iluminado and he is certainly one to consider at odds for the multiple bettors.
Iluminado is a five time poly winner and although this class of race would normally be considered against him, he does have some form lines and a ratings profile that keep him under consideration.
Enjoy the start to another great Season in Singapore.
