Leading rider Michael Rodd is making his mark in Singapore currently sitting third on the premiership behind Manoel Nunes and fellow Australian Corey Brown.
Tonight with both those riders on the side lines, Rodd gets the opportunity to improve on that tally with some excellent mounts - but not many with better prospects than Eatons Gold who takes on the Benchmark 67 field over 1100m on the polytrack.
The sprightly seven-year-old has been in excellent form of late and despite not winning has been getting a cheque for his owners at each of his last four runs.The most recent of those was a close up third in this class and distance on the polytrack 19 days ago. On that occasion he sat outside the leader in a fast run race, taking over momentarily on the home turn before being claimed by the winner Golden Tomahawk.
At his start prior also over the 1100m on the polytrack but in stronger class 3 company he again showed good early speed to lead for home only to be run down again.Tonight’s line up is no stronger but importantly meets Golden Tomahawk a kilo and a half better at the weights – that should be enough to turn the tables and post his fifth career win on the polytrack.
That said Golden Tomahawk still rates as the main danger to Eatons Gold.The lightly raced flyer has always shown plenty of promise with all three career wins coming on the polytrack. In five starts this preparation he has won twice, been placed the remainder and has a consistent ratings profile.
Last start winning rider Corey Brown has been replaced by one kilo claiming apprentice Rizuan Shafiq which is no real negative as Shafiq strikes at 18% with trainer Michael Freedman.Keen Dragon an easy winner here last week is on the quick 7 day back up and is the new horse on the scene, but he has to handle a class rise.
A veteran of just eight starts for three wins, Keen Dragon jumps up from a class 4 which he won in convincing fashion in quick time over 1200m but is back to 1100m tonight.The drop back in trip should not be an issue as he can take his time to come across from barrier eight and take up a position off the tempo.
Manoel Nunes has been replaced by four kilo claimer Ng which will bring Keen Dragon well into the race at the weights.Black Fury could be the knockout in the race. Black Fury is a four timer on the polytrack and caught the eye last time out on the turf in this class over 1200m finishing a close third to Brahma Circus.
All four starts prior, two on the polytrack, were in much stronger class than he meets here – benchmark 83 and class 3 grades.Black Fury is drawn the ace and with Alan Munro staying in the saddle, he does rate as a winning hope again.
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