3 minute read
Having faced the best Singapore has to offer in recent outings the David Kok trained Cash Luck appears very well placed to return to the winner's stall when he lines up at Singapore on Friday night.
Due to contest the feature race of the night the Kranji Stakes B, Cash Luck has proven to hold his form in Group 1 company of late having finished behind Better Life in the Group 1 Singapore Derby last start before finishing behind Super Easy in the Group 1 Patron's Bowl two back.
Although one can argue he was safely held in both affairs his performances mirrored his prior good form on Timeform ratings and hence was successful in running up to his form.
Dropping back from weight-for-age to set weights on Friday see's him extremely well placed as although allotted the topweight he has a clear distinct class edge on his rivals.
On weight adjusted Timeform ratings he sits 10 pounds clear of his main rivals Shuttle Man and Holy Empire and with Joao Moreira sticking aboard he ticks a lot of boxes.
In seven rides aboard the five-year-old Moreira has saluted the judge on four occasions and his record with the David Kok stable is one of the best in Singapore currently striking at 41%.
The drop back to the mile from 2000m wont post much concern as he has been given ample time to freshen up between runs and possesses quite the handy record over 1600m.
In nine prior attempts at the journey he has saluted the judge twice and most notably finished a narrow second to Super Easy in the Singapore Guineas as a three-year-old, form which should definitely stack up well in this affair.
While able to sit off or on the speed in his races expect Cash Luck to not be far away on Friday night as Moreira won't want to spot them too large a start with the big weight.
The Michael Freedman trained Holy Empire and Musketeer appear the likely front-runners and expect Cash Luck to trail them just off the speed from the favourable draw.
His recent winning strike rate is the only concern heading into Friday's affair as he is yet to salute the judge at his past 13 starts however he is proven to race at his best racing fourth up and is worth sticking with in this event.
If able to replicate his recent run of form it's simple he should prove far too classy for his rivals back in this company as they don't have the capabilities to run up to that level of form.
The Steven Burridge trained Shuttle Man should benefit racing back on the turf and his effort three back behind Mawingo at this track and trip has him right in the mix.
While a question mark still surrounds that piece of form as he has been unable to replicate the performance since, his form around the likes of Super Ninety Seven and Speedy Cat still see him placed as the next best in this event.
A victor of four of his 17 career starts, Shuttle Man is proven to race at his best at the mile and was simply outpaced over the sprinting trip last time out on the polytrack.
Finishing behind Let's See Action his performance had plenty of merit when making up good ground from the back in a race which was dominated by horses racing up on the speed.
In four attempts at the mile he has only missed the money once including one victory which was ahead of Better Life back in February last year.
John Powell jumps aboard for only the second time in his career having ridden him to a minor placing back in November.
From the favourable draw expect Shuttle Man to settle closer to the speed than in recent outings and given he does possess a good turn of foot he should be right around the mark.
The main query runner in the field remains the Michael Freedman trained Holy Empire as he still is only lightly raced and is progressing nicely through the grades.
Successful in notching up a new career peak last start when saluting at this track over 1400m the son of Holy Roman Emperor does appear set to relish the step up to the mile and although he does have plenty to find on Cash Luck he is still clearly open to further improvement and cannot be dismissed.
With not much speed engaged in the race he could pinch a few easy sectionals out in front and if able to sprint quickly his pull in the weights could tell with both Cash Luck and Shuttle Man expected to be spotting him a start at the top of the straight.
Of the rest the Hideyuki Takaoka trained Musketeer has not been far off in tougher Group 1 company and is one for the multiples down in the weights.
Good luck and happy punting.