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Singapore Racing - Weekend Review - 23rd February

3 minute read

There was just the one meeting in Singapore over the weekend which saw Distinctive Darci take out the feature Kranji Stakes A (1100m) on the polytrack.

Distinctive Darci Picture: Singapore Turf Club

Settling off the leaders in fourth for much of the race, the Mark Walker-trained runner found a gap at the top of the straight was able to wear down his challengers over the concluding stages for a one length win over Nova Missile in second with Nowyousee third.

Distinctive Darci, who has now won seven of his 19 career starts, placing on a further six occasions, returned a new career peak Timeform figure of 96, one pound above his second placing to The General last year.

The decision by Walker to fit Distinctive Darci with blinker-pacifiers proved to be the key for the four-year-old who had not won since July of last year.

Connections indicated they will remain on the Polytrack going forward and with Distinctive Darci now looking to settle much closer to the speed than he has in recent times is certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Of the beaten runner, Nova Missile in second returned a Timeform figure of 85, the same rating he ran to when runner up in a Kranji Stakes B three starts back.

Nowyousee who was taking on the older horses also produced a solid effort in third and also ran to a Timeform figure of 85, equal to his previous start win in the Rda Cup Class 4.

With a big margin then back to fourth these look the clear standout runners of the race going forward.

The following race saw Black Swan prove too strong for his rivals in the Kranji Stakes B (1600m), running on well in the straight to narrowly edge out Maximus in second with Darshini third.

Black Swan ran to a new career peak Timeform rating of 82, two pounds higher than his win in the Class 3 over 1700m the start prior.

The Steven Burridge-trained runner has come back in very good order this campaign, following up a second placing with two wins and certainly looks to be racing in career best form.

Maximus in second almost led from barrier to box again only to be collared over the final stages but with the 57kg was able to run to a new career peak of 86, three poinds above his previous start win over Black Swan in the Kranji Stakes C.