3 minute read
It would be fair to say Stepitup was colossal in defeat last start and in fact should still be unbeaten so no surprise he is the all the rage in the eighth event on the card tonight.
Stepitup is a three-year-old with immense promise and for trainer Sonny Yeoh he has a big stable earner on his hands.
The gelded son of Hussonet won his debut at massive odds but has been well backed every start since and scored three wins in a row including once on the turf.
However last start mid January when odds on everything that could go wrong did as after he dwelt at the start copped a squeeze and ended up back and wide.
His regular rider Ivaldo Santana then sent him forward sharply in lane five across the top to use up plenty of energy midrace when others were waiting and not spending a penny.
You would think the tank had been emptied turning for home being the widest runner, as he had done all that work in the middle sector of the race but Stepitup actually loomed to win at the 200m.
The fact he fought well to hold second was enormous as the winner Man Of Substance, which was back with him early, picked a path through closer in near and on the home turn.
Make no mistake that Stepitup should have won for fun and be four-from-four, so tonight he can at least end up four-from-five.
He is drawn gate three in the S$75K Canada Cup over 1400m on the long course D turf track and at 54kg whatever beats him will be winning the feature event on the card.
A hot speed suits as evidenced two runs ago when absolutely shellacking Man Of Substance and Mr Mani and breaking 1:11 for the 1200m on the poly.
Stepitup with the longer run home and extra 200m should show this evening he is a stakes horse and that a mile will not be beyond him too, so note him down now as a Triple Crown player for three-year-olds.
Encosta Diablo is a solid second selection and Joao Moreira getting atop is a licence to open the wallet wider on the Mark Walker prepared runner.
Walker leads the training premiership on fourteen wins starting this evening and is running large numbers to hold onto that buffer plus getting Moreira on your entrants often helps a lot too.
It is a surprise a horse of Encosta Diablo’s ability is yet to win in Singapore having scored four times in New Zealand including once at Listed level.
He won fresh up as a three-year-old at Riccarton and significantly beat narrowly that day Final Touch (fifteen more wins since), which is now shooting for a fourth G1 win this season tomorrow at Otaki.
A fourth behind King’s Rose (a multiple Group performer since for Peter Moody in Australia) was followed a by a not far away fifth at G1 too Jimmy Choux.
How he has not won them in a row at Kranji is hard to explain but Moreira gets on this evening for the first time and if anyone can get the best out of him then it is the Brazilian master.
The now five-year-old is out of a Sir Tristram dam so longevity is built in and having won before third up is a plus.
After being crowded in both starts since resuming you can say a clean getaway will make the difference between winning and placing tonight and 1400m is ideal.
I do not see a wide draw as a negative as he needs room to relax and then when turning for home clear air is the only target to aim for before the pulling the trigger.
Several cases can be made for runners that you need to include in your multiples with Shaolin Soldier third up on turf over 1400m and claiming down to 54kg the first cab of the rank.
Fresh up he was an eyecatcher between runners late and last start in a Benchmark 83 was ridden too close for mine, as he is best when saved for one surge.
Lamborghini Flame after two runs back from a spell on the poly is ready to show he is worthy of having his first name being that of a very fast car.
The gelding is a turfy and adores the 1400m plus has a G3 third behind Ntini so the class factor is not in doubt and at 53.5kg after a claim this is a vehicle bettors can get aboard.
Farrand with a 3kg claim and handy draw could rediscover some form here as he has won six races including a 1400m in Malaysia over September of 2011.
Troy See rides and six starts ago he finished third on the gelding at 55.5kg in a solidly run Kranji Stakes C event over 1400m on the turf beaten a length behind Benji’s Empire.
The likes of Martin ran second and he since has in five starts won three times including at G3 last start and placed once plus finished a close up fourth behind Always Certain.
We also saw City Lad finish fifth behind Farrand and in six races since he has won twice (beat Shuttle Man in one of them) and placed once plus finished fourth and fifth at G3.
I rate Stepitup as untapped and expect the baby of the field to take big strides tonight towards being set for the three-year-old Triple Crown series starting at the end of March.
The other high rating runner is Encosta Diablo and his best efforts are clearly good enough to win plus Moreira getting atop for the first time is a huge tick.
Shaolin Soldier looks well situated here for Team Burridge and an in form apprentice Kasim A’Isisuhairi, who is third on the table with six wins versus his rival rookie riders.
Enjoy watching a young gun step up tonight and hit a slap shot to score in the Canada Cup.