A sharp return to form in the QEII Cup leaves the John Moore trained Military Attack well placed to defend his Singapore crown on Sunday night.
The highest ever rated victor of the Singapore International Cup, Military Attack now heads back to Singapore in very similar vein and does appear to have a slight class edge on his rivals on the weekend.
While unable to produce his best in Dubai, his form either side of that performance has been very impressive with two near career peak efforts.
His performance behind stablemate Designs On Rome last start was rated just one pound shy of what he ran when winning the event last year and suggests he is well on track to produce a peak performance on the weekend.
On Timeform ratings he sits four pounds clear of his nearest rival Tokei Halo and if able to return a figure equal to what he produced last year he does appear very hard to beat.
In line to create history on the weekend and become the first horse to notch up back to back victories in the feature event, Military Attack notably comes into this event with one less run in the lead then what he did last year.
The Pascal Barry trained Gloria De Campeao came very close in achieving the elusive double having won the event in 2009 before finishing second in 2010.
The awkward draw appears Military Attack’s biggest obstacles on Sunday as Moreira won’t want to concede too big a start upon straightening, as the Kranji track is renowned to favour those ridden positively.
While not a notorious front runner, still expect Moreira to roll forward on the son of Oratorio as there does appear to be good speed drawn either side of him.
The French trained Smoking Sun, the Japanese trained Tokei Halo and the Doug Watson trained Limario are all expected to press forward from the wide draws and ensure the race is run at a good solid tempo.
With this in mind Moreira should be able to adopt a position just off the likely speed battle and look to roll forward across the field with Tokei Halo.
From here it would appear he would be very hard to beat as his record in Group 1 company over ten furlongs is second to none in this field.
In nine attempts he has saluted the judge on four occasions including a narrow second placing in this year’s QEII Cup.
Surprisingly despite his dominance when riding in Singapore, Joao Moreira has never proven successful in this feature event with his best result coming in 2010 when finishing fourth aboard Waikato.
Striking at 19% for the John Moore stable this season, Moreira has been riding in great form and with a bit of luck in running Military Attack does appear very hard to hold out.
Much like Military Attack, the Japanese trained Tokei Halo was well below his best in Dubai however if able to return to his best form he does appear the biggest threat to Military Attack.
More notably his two performances this time in have been far better than what they first appear as there is no disgrace finishing behind Just A Way, arguably the best galloper in the world.
In what will be just his 12th start on Saturday, he is previously unbeaten third up and did in fact beat Military Attack home in the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup in December when finishing second behind Akeed Mofeed.
Form which if able to replicate on the weekend should see him very hard to get past in the straight, as he does appear the most likely leader in the event.
The step up to 2000m also appears a good push for his claims as three of his four career victories have come up at this trip and he has only missed the money once in five attempts.
Pascal Bary is not a stranger to success in this feature event and does appear to have a live chance this year with Smoking Sun.
Having returned in great order when saluting in the Group 2 Prix D’Harcourt the son of Smart Strike would go on to not be disgraced when finishing fourth behind Cirrus De Aigles and Treve in the Group 1 Prix Ganay.
In seven attempts over 2000m he has saluted the judge twice and has only missed the money once and while he does have a bit to find on Military Attack, he is a galloper heading in the right direction and should appreciate the firmer ground at Kranji on Sunday.
Of the rest Military Attack’s stablemate Dan Excel cannot be taken lightly in this affair as his recent run of form measures right up to these.
He has placed in five of his last nine attempts and while he hasn’t done a lot of winning his form has still been very strong.
From the rails draw he should be able to roll forward and settle just off the speed and is expected to give a bold sight in the straight.
Since 2013 he has placed in seven of the 10 Group 1 events he has contested and has to be respected.
Good luck and happy punting.
