The final feature event for the year at Kranji will be at G3 over 1700m on the polytrack and less than half the field have won on the all weather.
The eleven runners in Race Eight, the S$175K Proinn Construct Stakes, sees just five names able to claim poly-winning performance.
The surest thing this year is that Pat Shaw will win a first Singapore training premiership and it is a thoroughly deserved one, so no surprise to see he has two of the five poly performers.
Jamal Malik (two wins) and South Easter (three wins) are very all weather adept, with both names being chances this evening.
Flying Fulton (two wins) and Tenzing (one win) plus Gordon Roberts (one win) make up the quintet that have delivered before on the poly.
I do see Jamal Malik as able to carry the topweight of 58kg and win at the 1700m here as he is a quality galloper at peak and found his form again last start.
It was his first show of form since winning the G2 Steward's Cup on turf under 57kg over 1400m in June and defeating Better Than Ever in the process.
Also of note in the race finishing sixth and seventh were Flying Fulton (beaten four lengths) and Tenzing (beat almost five lengths).
The gelding in the five outings between that win and his current success ran at G1 three times and G3 twice, so has been running in the big time.
He finished sixth beaten three lengths in this same race last year under 55kg behind Escamonda, which was also trained by Pat Shaw.
The form of Jamal Malik does suggest he is a miler that can stretch to a middle distance, so the 1700m here is ideal.
The two wins on the poly in his record have come at 1600m and 1800m and his two placings both came at G3 over 1600m and 1900m.
South Easter from the inside gate and at 53kg will be a chance for your multiples and he is the winningest runner in the field on the polytyrack so warrants respect.
It is fair to say the son of Galileo has not shown his true potential yet, as he came to Singapore with tremendous form, but he will be a big race contender next year.
The other Shaw runner in the field tonight is Thundering Jet, which has placed just once on the poly in four outings but be wary as this seven-year-old is second up here and is lethal in that state.
His only win in Singapore came at G2 over 1800m and after a fresh up fifth and a trial since, it would be worth including him at longer odds and Olivier Placais will ride.
Flying Fulton will get 2kg from Jamal Malik here and that is crucial, while the hardy five-year-old has stood up to a very busy schedule this year so far.
The poly record of Flying Fulton sees his wins coming at Class Three and Four over 1200m, so not much to glean there, while his lone placing also came in a sprint but was a second to Rocket Man.
He is a G3 winner and G1 placed in Singapore so has the ability plus I feel he is best when put in the race from the outset and makes it a war from a long way out.
Tenzing has the ability but will be second up here after a bleeding attack suffered in the G1 Singapore Derby, and he went average fresh up albeit over 1400m.
He won on the poly in a lower grade three runs ago over 1700m and beat a rival and stablemate here in Steadfast Warrior, which he gave 2.5kg too and this evening both will carry the same minimum of 52kg.
Gordon Roberts has had three runs on the poly for a win over 1900m and two last placings, so it is night and day for this natural on pacer.
His win did come over a rival again in Steadfast Warrior at the same weight but I do feel he lacks the class and ability to quicken like several he will meet here.
If the winner does not come out of the poly proven winners then maybe an older horse with three placings from as many starts on the all weather can win his second race at Kranji.
Parfumier may be a nine-year-old but the off pacer and natural closer has placed at a mile twice (once at G2) and over 1800m once on the poly.
He does look thrown in here at 56kg and trainer Michael Freedman needs to be included whenever the Group races are run with this being the final one for 2011.
I thought an interesting statistic for Parfumier is the only names in the field tonight to have beaten him home at the finish since being in Singapore are the three Pat Shaw runners.
Martial Art was unlucky last start in the G1 Singapore Gold Cup and found the line hard for third so normally you would think he is an automatic first choice in but some key factors need to be overcome.
He has only run on the poly twice for a fourth over 1800m in March this year in an open handicap and then a sixth in Class Three over 1700m.
Also with regular rider and record breaker Joao Moreira not aboard owing to suspension and going home with the family to Brazil for a well-earned rest, the ride has gone to Saimee Jumaat.
Laurie Laxon may have conceded the premiership for 2011 but he never leaves anything to chance at Group level and Saimee has ridden Martial Art nine times before.
He has recorded two wins and three placings aboard, which is about half his total dividend paying record at Kranji.
Desert Links has the ability but has not shown it for a few years and is fourth up here.
The now eight-year-old is a G1 winner in 2008 over 3200m at Greyville in South Africa and was third in the 2009 G1 Singapore Gold Cup.
That leaves us one more name to discuss in the feature tonight and on untapped ability this is one I would suggest you consider a win proposition as he has it all ahead.
Zac Influence has not run on the poly yet under raceday/racenight conditions but will have trialled on it and trainer Cliff Brown has a nice type here in the four-year-old.
His fresh up run for second was massive under 58kg behind the gifted Mr Big, which he have 5.5kg.
I then thought last start second up in the G3 E W Barker Trophy behind the unbeaten in Singapore rising star Super Easy he went okay for seventh from the outside barrier in a slow run race and sprint home.
All in all the feature does look Jamal Malik versus Flying Fulton but one can make a case for Parfumier and also if Martial Art can come back 500m and cope on the poly at this level.
Zac Influence is the one that can pay for those Christmas presents in one swoop.
Enjoy the race.
