3 minute read
The untapped One More Minute takes on his biggest Kranji mission to date as topweight and drawn the outside gate bar one.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
He is one of two runners in the S$75K Class Three over a mile on the turf aged four but will have to overcome 57kg and barrier eleven in the ninth event on the card.
One More Minute can carry the weight no worries, as the Steve Burridge trained gelding is a barely tried (it will be just his fifth start tonight) but rather big horse with a stride that never seems to end.
The fact he is sired by the now defunct but former very fast sprinter Iglesia, which still holds a Flemington track record at 1200m, is one of those breeding anomalies that thoroughbred racing throws up.
Iglesia finished fourth in a G1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and clocked a phenomenal 1:07.16 on New Years Day 2001, when winning the G3 Standish (1200m) at Flemington
It is one of the few records that the champion sprinter Black Caviar has not broken, yet, but she did come within 0.2 seconds of it under 58kg in winning the G1 Newmarket Handicap in March this year.
One More Minute has a long almost lazy stride but his cruising speed over a mile is just better than almost all he has met so far and bettors like the fact he does not know when he is beaten.
Joao Moreira has been atop for the last two outings and both wins came at the mile plus we all know how much local bettors consider the Brazillian a gift that keeps giving.
He is turf proven and can race in the lead or near the lead, so Moreira can make a statement early and put the likely odds on pop right in the race from the outset.
Should he get trapped wide and be unable to get in then One More Minute is still not without a win hope, as he is tough too and finds the line no matter how overland the outing is.
The least experienced and highest weighted runner tonight will from a betting standpoint be way unders, as the Moreira factor tightens the quote further but bettors really like a classy galloper with a class act atop.
Burridge, who is causing Pat Shaw and Laurie Laxon to look over their shoulder in the training premiership race, also has two other runners in the mile this evening with Alacarte his next best hope by far.
Alacarte has been rumbling in strong fields for quite a while and has already beaten Class Three albeit over 1400m last October.
The gelding by Umatilla has won all his races on turf and has scored up to a mile, with in fact his last success coming at that trip in a Benchmark 83 in February under 54.5kg.
Ron Stewart rides again tonight and he has won on the horse before plus take note Burridge is backing it up quickly, after an eighth last Sunday.
Alacarte last Sunday was having his first outing in five weeks, so is sure to improve and Burridge has backed it up a week or so later to some success before but a five day turnaround is new territory.
The other runner Burridge has is Asgoodasitgets, which may find a few here a bit much but he is a turf winner and has drawn the ace this evening with a 3kg claim.
Aspen Heights looks a massive quinella and trifecta chance now back to the texture he adores in turf plus the riding change is quite pivotal.
The gelding at his last two starts has run on the poly with an apprentice rider aboard each time and it has been a victim of a sprint home and before that taking the wrong path plus too far back on settling.
This is not an easy horse to ride but it can finish like a train, so is one for the senior riders only for mine and in Vlad Duric nobody can wake them up quicker than his persuasive whip action.
Bettors will be pleased to know that Duric rode Aspen Heights at his first and second starts for a win and a second beaten a head.
Utrillo is capable of being in the finish and from a good draw and 53kg, he has to be considered coming from the current premiership leading stable of Pat Shaw.
In fact this is the sole runner for Shaw tonight, so you can take that as a lead in it is here to win or at least be very competitive.
It is the other four-year-old in the field along with the hotpot and is raced by Fred Crabbia, the Rocket Man man.
Both his wins in Singapore have come on the poly but he has gone some rather good races on the turf and in particular three starts back, when second in a Benchmark 83 mile under 54kg.
After racing close up behind the pace he tried hard to run down the winning leader and of note is that Aspen Heights and Alacarte finished fourth and fifth respectively.
It should also be added that both Aspen Heights and Alacarte are meeting Utrillo tonight 1.5kg better off to try and turn around a two and a half length margin of defeat.
If you are looking for a form reverser then consider Agent Of Speed, as he is a deadest turfy but the mile is the query with him though he will have nothing on his back after a claim.
Magic Haul is best on the turf but is only a one-race winner, so victory does seem to elude him often but he has placed in some strong Class Three races a few times.
One More Minute could demolish this field if given full rein and Moreira asks it to show him what he has got but the odds will be rather short.
Aspen Heights is a major threat and Alacarte and Utrillo warrant inclusion too.
Enjoy the race.