3 minute read

There are three runners out of a field of ten in the S$75K Class Three over 1000m on the polytrack today that are three-year-olds either resuming or freshened up.

They hold the key to deciding the outcome of the feature dash for cash on the card and interestingly only one of them is claiming against a majority of older opposition.

Aradea resumes here and is drawn ideally in barrier three and this proven poly sprinter significantly drops to 53kg after a claim.

This strongly built gelded son of Johannesburg is a natural leader or on pacer and the winner of four races so far in Singapore has most importantly for race analysis today already beaten Class Three twice before.

He has won in the grade he meets here on both the turf and the poly, with that narrow win under 54kg three starts back over a tough nut in Williams a good indication for today.

Aradea amazingly has raced fifteen times since debuting in July last year and has not had a break in all that time, so his resumption today is a technical first.

He finished second on debut, which is considered a fresh up outing by some, but there is still an element of trepidation as to how he will get back into the swing of racing again.

His last race was late April but trainer John O'Hara did trial him three days ago and the placing showed a bright and ready to rumble Aradea on the poly.

Big Gallant looked an untapped three-year-old in two small campaigns since coming to Singapore, with the gelded son of the in form sire Savabeel having already chalked up three wins and a second from five outings.

He has won on both the poly and the turf and has won and placed fresh up, so the Mark Walker trained is already showing some impressive versatility.

I like the natural leader speed he has shown so far, as it means he can avoid trouble early and negate a barrier in a few strides or as might be the case today, enhance it being drawn perfectly in four.

No trials have been required to fit Big Gallant for this and Saimee Jumaat rides, which is a factor in that no claim is taken and 54.5kg is as much as the three-year-old would want at Class Three at this stage.

He failed last time he raced but that was on the turf at G3 behind the Triple Crown winner Gingerbread Man, so no shame there at all.

Form students will note that Aradea beat him home by one spot in that particular race at set weights and by a length and a half at the line.

Aradea, which after a claim will carry 1kg less than Big Gallant today, disputed the pace in that G3 race and wilted, while Big Gallant sat poised behind and worked out early in the run home.

Saimee rode Big Gallant into second at his Kranji debut on the poly and last start in the G3, so does know how the horse feels and races.

The 1000m today may in fact slightly favour Big Gallant over Aradea, as he two starts back when fresh bolted in at the trip and ran good enough time to win here.

Aradea in four runs at the 1000m has won once and placed twice but has never run better than 59.63 at the post, while Big Gallant in his sole attempt won and recorded a slick 59.22.

Moonlite Shower is a lightly framed three-year-old and comes in here having last started on May 5, when fresh up for six weeks at the time and his effort to finish third was super.

He smoked to the lead and flew along in front in the Class Three over 1100m under 54kg but faded in the closing 200m to finish a distant third.

The time he set up was serious and the winner Dictator has placed then won again since to confirm that the form worth from a poly perspective is more than sound.

The 55kg today and barrier seven are not helpful for Moonlite Shower, as he is the worst drawn of the three-year-olds that all have good leader speed, so it will come down to riding tactics.

John Powell rides Moonlite Shower and will be looking to right a wrong here, as he is the only rider to have failed on the Don Baertschiger trained runner and it was his only time on the horse too up until today.

Moonlite Shower in seven starts has won and placed three times and the miss came two runs ago, after dipping at the start then over-racing upon recovery in and then near the lead.

It may be just a case of which of the three-year-olds today that can get the front and hold it without working too hard or in fact gassing themselves and anything in or around them to the home turn.

Should the three youngest runners have a teenage tempo tantrum to the turn then the likes of Primera Espada could return to form and capitalize on his ace barrier.

The four-year-old has not raced since failing in that very fast run 1100m on May 6, where Moonlite Shower hung on for a distant third.

He had 2.5kg less than Moonlite Shower then and today will carry 3kg less but that is not the leading edge of the sword of success that could allow him to cut them to ribbons here.

Primera Espada had also failed at his prior run albeit on the turf and over 1400m, so was in fast coming back 300m last time and he looked almost listless.

His record on the poly fresh up or freshened up is an impressive win and two seconds from as many runs in such a state, so forgive him the last couple of outings and go his previous form.

I can see him getting a soft run on the inner to the turn then scything through and over the top of them the closing stages.

Mark Walker will likely have the favourite in the race in Big Gallant but do not overlook a new stable runner in Power And Glory from the good gate of two.

The former Michael Freedman trained galloper in Singapore does not lack for size or barrel-length in fact and has good early speed plus likes the poly of Kranji.

He has not lived up to his reputation since arriving from Australia but the former Gai Waterhouse prepared galloper being a four-year-old has plenty of time yet to shine in Singapore.

It is not inconceivable to see the Walker runners racing in or near the lead to the home turn today and the rougher of the two does once in a blue moon win much to the annoyance of bettors!

One other name to note in the race today is the durable Pacino, as he can sit deep but still keep coming in Class Three and with the magic of Moreira atop anything is possible.

The 57kg for the far from big sprinter is a slight concern but in terms of toughness and trip and track suitability there is no doubt about him whatsoever.

His last three runs may show an eighth, sixth and fifth but each one of those efforts had some merit considering the overland trip and/or amount of work he had to do in the running.

Four starts back in Class Three over 1000m he won in 59.23 under 53.5kg, after sitting wide in the midfield with cover, and a horse called Dictator finished an unlucky third for proven poly form comparison.

You can never dismiss a Laurie Laxon prepared and Joao Moreira ridden runner, as both are leading their respective training and riding premierships this season.

Enjoy what is the tenth and feature race on the card at the meeting.