Progressive sprinter Chopin’s Fantaisie will be striving to maintain an unbeaten record in one of the more intriguing contests at Kranji on Sunday evening.
Chopin's Fantaisie steps out in the eighth race on the 11-event program, the Open Benchmark 67 over 1400m.
Chopin’s Fantaisie has already established himself as a horse of promise in winning all three of his starts to date.The son of Pins commenced his career by winning his maiden on the all weather over 1100m before adding back-to-back victories at this track and distance.
He had to fight hard to score by a narrow margin on June 4 when laying outwards on the turn but showed the benefit of experience with a more polished effort last start.On that occasion he camped just behind the pacesetters but struck trouble when unable to gain clear running early in the straight.
Angled into the clear he showed the determination of a good horse and came away to win by the best part of a length.The three-year-old returned an improved Timeform rating on that occasion and while this is a tougher assignment, further progress can be expected so early in his career.
Glen Boss takes the ride and the hoop should be able to give Chopin’s Fantaisie the run of the race from gate three.The capable Life Is Gamble is drawn on Chopin’s Fantaisie’s outside and can offer resistance.
The four-year-old has improved with each of three outings this campaign, culminating in a win at this course and distance last start.Life Is Gamble was dominant on that occasion when rolling straight to the front and kicking away on the home turn to easily hold his rivals at bay by a length.
That performance rated alongside Chopin’s Fantaisie’s last win on weight adjusted Timeform ratings and he should be race fit now so could take some catching if allowed to dictate again.Oxbow Sun could be one to add some value to multiple bets if he can produce his best.
His form may not appeal at first glance but he will find this much easier than his last attempt in the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup and he had been forced to race wide throughout at his previous outing.Before that he ran third in today’s grade and had a class 3 win, both at this course and distance, so he has the talent on his day and his Timeform ratings suggest he can be in the finish of a race like this.
Paltrow too is a contender and while he can mix his form he showed what he was capable of when scoring over 1200m at this course last start.All four of his career wins have come on the turf and he has a win and two placings from five attempts at 1400m so if he is able to string two good performances together he rates as a danger.
Good luck and good punting.
