3 minute read
Impressive last start winner Golden Brilliant appears well placed to notch up his fourth straight victory at Singapore on Sunday when set to contest the sixth event.
Not seen at the races in four weeks, Golden Brilliant will step out for just his sixth career start on Sunday having brought up the hat-trick at this track and trip last start.
Having only broken his maiden status in April the son of Mr. Greely has impressively gone on to improve 12 pounds at his last two starts and does appear to have more up his sleeve given the ease of his last start win.
Despite victorious by less than a length, the fact he was able to come from near last off a slowly run race suggests his win had a lot more merit than what it first appears.
Adding to that he has now won his last three starts at a combined margin of almost eight lengths and appears set to take the next step on the weekend.
In what has been a remarkable month for Singapore Derby winning trainer John O'Hara, Golden Brilliant appears poised to continue his recent success as he does rate very well on Timeform weight adjust ratings.
David Flores sticks aboard and has saluted in two of three attempts aboard Golden Brilliant and strikes at 20% for the O'Hara stable.
Flores was aboard Golden Brilliant in his recent trial in which the progressive galloper wasn't knocked around when finishing sixth behind Johnny Guitar.
From the good draw Flores is expected to settle Golden Brilliant down just off midfield with the Michael Freedman trained Chinese Culture and the Stephen Gray trained Strubeli expected to take up the running.
Successful in notching a new career peak last start, Golden Brilliant is expected to take another leap on the weekend and hence should prove very hard to beat.
Sunday's race doesn't appear to be run at that strong a tempo and hence the field is expected to bunch up rounding the turn for home and if within striking distance Golden Brilliant should prove very hard to hold out.
His closing sectionals at his past three starts have proven most impressive and he is clearly a galloper heading in the right direction.
Though rising in the weights he still appear well placed and Golden Brilliant is expected to continue his progression through the grades.
Lightly raced galloper Strubeli showed a sharp return to form here last start and does appear to be Golden Brilliant's biggest danger on the weekend.
The form through the likes of Astrostar does read well for this affair and given he has always been a galloper who has shown plenty of promise he does appear capable of notching up back to back victories.
The evident lack of speed in the race should play into his hands though if Golden Brilliant is able to settle closer, it's hard to see Strubeli beating him for a turn of foot.
Nonetheless his last start performance did have plenty of merit and he does get some weight relief with the aid of the claim.
Has he has saluted in two of five prior attempts at this track and does possess quite the handy record over this trip.
Successful in notching up a new career peak last start, Strubeli is in fact required to raise the bar again on Sunday if he is to defeat Golden Brilliant however if the latter does prove to be below his best, Strubeli should be right there to take full advantage.
The Desmond Koh trained Xin Treasure is racing in a real purple patch of form of late and comes into this off the back of a solid effort behind the handy Appreciation last start.
Having placed in seven of his last 15 starts the son of Flying Pegasus doesn't appear far off a return to the winner's stall though he will need to record a new career peak to deny the top two on Sunday.
Nonetheless in this small field he does look to be one of the stand-outs for the trifecta hopes.
Of the rest the Michael Freedman trained Chinese Culture does appear the next in line following a mixed bag of form of late.
He is definitely capable on best form and with the aid of the claim he is expected to be right around the mark from the rails draw.
Good luck and happy punting.
