3 minute read
The feature polytrack event tonight sees Michael Freedman have the ace in hand but also a picture card too, so all in looks the call.
Nandowra is his odds on chance and Joao Moreira will once again ride the strong son of Savabeel.
Freedman also has in the sixth race of the meeting, which is a S$95K Open Benchmark 89 on the poly over 1700m, the nine-year-old Parfumier and it can form the quinella.
The field lacks a bit of depth and the likely Singapore Derby contender later this year in Nandowra does stand out at 56.5kg.
His poly record is two wins and two seconds from as many goes on the all weather and importantly he has won twice in a second up state.
I felt his fresh up win on the poly under 58kg in a Benchmark 83 was a sedate affair and he and Moreira psyched out the opposition.
It is unlikely to be as easier a race this time with a natural poly leader in South Easter sure to either keep the tempo up or force it at some point.
Parfumier has never won on the poly in five attempts at Kranji but the evergreen has placed four times.
He has finished second at G3 to Better Than Ever over a mile under 58kg and third at G3 over 1900m under 56kg to Zac Influence.
Also there is a fourth at G3 over 1900m under 56kg to Flying Fulton, so Parfumier can rumble with better than anything he meets tonight.
The 59kg may look a stopper for the oldtimer but he is meeting his weakest overall opposition since coming to Singapore and his swansong is getting nearer.
Alan Munro the globetrotting rider has been around for many years himself and his handling of Parfumier seems apt as he does get horses to relax and then unleash at the opportune time.
South Easter is a different horse when he gets on the poly and five starts ago his close second in the same class as tonight is a good form reference.
He carried 57kg from gate ten and was outside the pace before taking over turning for home only to get bombed on the line by the talented Joyful Heart Man that had 6kg less.
At 53kg tonight and Barend Vorster atop the Pat Shaw prepared son of Galileo looks a serious tempo player and likely to make an appearance in the photo over the line for the dividend payers.
In that narrow defeat he beat into fourth by over half a length Superczar, which carried 5kg less.
So this evening with just 3kg less the chances of Superczar are definitely diminished and he will need a strong clip to get over the top of them.
A solid tempo up front would also help Parfumier find the line too.
Silveron Wings is another good closer from the back but his poly record consists of just two runs for a debut third and an eighth at his fifth start, so he is more than a query.
Samurai Phoenix went an eyecatcher of a race fresh up and has a good second up record although is rising 500m here.
His only poly start resulted in a second beaten a head over 1800m to none other than South Easter, which carried 1kg more and here will have 2.5kg extra.
Third in that same race was Parfumier less than half a length away at 55kg, so he gave South Easter 4.5kg and Samurai Phoenix 5.5kg.
This evening he will give those two rivals 6kg and 8.5kg respectively.
The class of the bottom three runners is the doubtful thing for mine, with Glownight Racer also suspect to get the 1700m and Tarankali yet to win on the poly.
My Race likes the poly however and will stay the 1700m having won at the trip.
I think Glownight Racer has enough upside and Stephen Baster aboard for trainer Bruce Marsh looks like an inspired lightweight choice.
Moreira will be eager to nail a plethora of winners for punters this weekend before his enforced holiday through suspension received in Sydney last week starts.
Nandowra should be one of many Moreira money-makers for his legion of fans on course this weekend and I do think Parfumier is the quinella/forecast value.
South Easter is the weight special and a proven poly performer while Samurai Phoenix went too good fresh up to not be a factor here in his best striking state of second up.
Enjoy the race.
