Friday evening’s nine race card on the polytrack was highlighted by some excellent performances from lightly raced types who should progress in coming weeks.
Easy Man was comfortably the most impressive performance on both performance ratings and the clock taking out the Kranji Stakes C contest over 1100m. A winner of five of his only six race starts, Easy Man is unbeaten on the polytrack winning all five runs over 1100m.
On Friday he was resuming from a 84 day break and rider Tengku Rehaizat quickly had him on the move going straight to the front. Understandably getting tired near the line, Easy Man had just under a length in hand at the finish running the fastest race time relative to standard on the night.
The Initiation over 1200m could be a good form race. Run in very fast time relative to the standard for this class of race, Eagle Storm led throughout to post a narrow win, his first in just three race starts.
The runner up Ami, a lovely four-year-old from the Shane Baertschiger stable was an impressive debutante, not having a lot of luck from his wide barrier. He will take great benefit from the run.
In the benchmark 67 Handicap over 1200m, the third placed Golden Lark from the Bruce Marsh stable caught the eye with a fast finishing third behind Seligi coming from eleventh place on the home turn beaten two and a half lengths. For a horse better suited over longer it was a sign that another win is not far away, especially as he was only second up from a spell. Significantly he has won at his third run back after a spell at each of his last two preparations.
Sunday’s action packed 12 race card was split between the polytrack and turf, rain during the card forcing a downgrade on the turf from good to yielding after race four.
That did not stop a rampant My Brother’s Keeper decimating a 1400m Initiation field by over five lengths on the turf, his first win in three starts after two second placings prior.
My Brother’s Keeper appreciated the step up to 1400m for the first time and travelled sweetly on the speed throughout under Lisa Allpress until given his head soon after entering the straight where he quickly put the race away. A most promising type who should handle Class 4 company.
Stablemate Strubeli was game in dead heating for a win in the Graduation Stakes over 1200m. Giving away six and a half kilos to fellow dead heater Gato Negro, Strubeli ran home very strongly in the closing stages to post his third win in five starts. There are more successes in store.
The third placed Euro Zone in the same race resumed from a spell and will take plenty of improvement from the race. He loomed up to win but tired slightly near the line. This former kiwi trained by Laurie Laxon was a second up winner last campaign and can be placed to advantage in class 3 company or a benchmark 67.
The last race was a Class 4 over 1400m won by Cool Customer, a horse going the right way for trainer Bruce Marsh. Coming off a 49 day break, Manoel Nunes gave this fellow a great ride, sitting back off a solid tempo early and then producing him at the 300m before recording an easy victory.
Cool Customer has raced just six times, all over 1400m for two wins and three placings and should continue to work through the grades.
The Trials
Proven performer Let’s See Action is not far off resuming. Prepared by Pat Shaw, the now five-year-old has not raced since Gold Cup day when unplaced behind Boundless Glory over 1200m in open company but showed in a barrier trial last week he is coming to hand nicely.
Ridden by Corey Brown, Let’s See Action contested a 1000m trial on the polytrack. Settling just off the pace throughout, Brown gave the gelding some leather close to home where he took the lead then ambled to the line winning the trial under a good hold.
Let’s See Action has a solid record fresh and Shaw is certain to place him to advantage.
Singapore Run Of The Week – Golden Lark
