The Korea Racing Authority Trophy Open shapes up as an intriguing race at Kranji on Sunday with the local horses taking on some South Korean raiders.
Rafaello has continued to race well this preparation and comes off a strong run for second in a Kranji Stakes A (1200m) behind Mr Luck last start following a fourth placing in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m).
Rafaello who’s most recent win came three starts back over this trip has since finished runner up in a barrier trial over 1000m and should be forward enough for this race today.
From barrier 3 with Nooresh Juglall on board, the Ricardo Le Grange should get a very nice run just off the leaders and getting more luck than he did last start could well prove the difference.
Rafaello has been terrific this campaign in Stakes and group races and all eight career wins to this point have come over the 1200m trip.
The five-year-old Oratorio gelding certainly looks the best of the local runners and has shown enough to suggest he is right up to winning a race like this.
South Korean galloper Today comes to Singapore boasting a very impressive record of 10 wins from just the 13 career runs, placing on a further two occasions.
The four-year-old gelding returned with a third placing in Group 3 company over 1200m at Seoul last start and is undefeated from three previous second up efforts.
Whilst Korean runners have not quite measured up when coming to Kranji previously, this horse is certainly a talented galloper and drawn a middle barrier should get a nice run throughout.
If Today can run up to his best form in Korea he is certainly a very strong chance in this although travelling and racing on a foreign surface will pose plenty of obstacles for the four-year-old gelding.
Autumn Rush is an interesting runner who is a lightly raced five-year-old and racing in terrific form of late.
The Steven Burridge-trained runner finished third to Jupiter Gold two starts back with Jupiter Gold then going on to win the Group 1 Charity Bowl and Autumn Rush winning a Kranji Stakes B over 1000m last start.
Autumn Rush is yet to claim a win over the 1200m journey but did place over the trip two starts back and from barrier 5 should find himself in a fairly nice spot throughout.
This is no doubt a step up in grade today however he does come into the race in form and could well feature somewhere in the finish.
Other chances include Skywalk who has been freshened since his effort in the Lion City Cup but has since trialled pretty well over 1000m and did win a Kranji Stakes B two runs back.
Another Korean runner Approach also brings strong form with him but over a bit more ground and may well find the 1200m a bit too sharp.
Good luck!
