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Historical Analysis of the Singapore Airlines International Cup
Singapore’s signature international race is the mile and a quarter WFA contest at Kranji. Having been first run in 2000 and given G1 status in 2002, it has been won by many top global travellers including a subsequent Dubai World Cup winner, a Hong Kong champ, Japanese stars and an Aussie warrior. Who wins the Cup in 2014?
PROFILING THE RACE
o It is not a long run to the first turn so finding a position is important.
o Been a race mainly for those 5yo and above.o 2003 edition was cancelled due to the SARS outbreak in Asia.
o Cosmopolitan race with winners from Singapore, England, Dubai, Germany, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, France and Hong Kong.o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner - $8.50
o Breakdown of winners - 3 geldings & 7 entireso Races that the winner ran in prior - QEII Cup (4), Dubai World Cup (1), Dubai Duty Free (1), Sankei Osaka Hai (1), Nikkei Sho (1), Open Hcp Caul (1), Buchmacher Efroni Trophy (1)
RECENT WINNERS
2013 - MILITARY ATTACK 5g (Oratorio x Almaaseh) ($3.40 fav)
Jockey: Zac Purton, Trainer: John MooreBarrier: 4, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 1:59.58
Margin: 3.5L, Track: Good, Starters: 132nd: Dan Excel (57.0kg), 3rd: Mawingo (57.0kg)
Review: A dominant run of form in Hong Kong was enough for John Moore to give the gelding his chance in Singapore. The QEII Cup has always been a strong lead up here and having beaten California Memory over 2000m at Sha Tin where that horse thrives, you knew he was in the right form. Purton put him right there from the jump sitting third out of the straight. Several swept around him and he was shuffled back to midfield. When it was the critical time, Purton needed luck but he got a beautiful split near the fence and simply outsprinted them giving Hong Kong the big double.
Barrier: 7, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 2:04.43
Margin: 3L, Track: Slow, Starters: 112nd: Zaidan (57.0kg), 3rd: Flax (57.0kg)
Review: The French stallion had been everywhere. From home to Sha Tin, from Belmont to Woodbine and throw in Meydan. He had been to the lot for major international races. He even contested last year’s running of this very race and ran an unlucky fifth. Forced to come from last in the QEII Cup, he couldn’t impact in Hong Kong but things went much better at Kranji. There were dramas in the race with City Style scratched at the barrier. Midfield on the fence was a position where he needed luck and he was following one of the favourites California Memory. He just kept railing then got a split three out and surged through to draw clear.
2011 - GITANO HERNANDO 5h (Hernando x Gino’s Spirits) ($14.60)
Jockey: Glyn Schofield, Trainer: Herman BrownBarrier: 4, Weight: 57.0kg, Gross Time: 2:03.93
Margin: 0.5L, Track: Good, Starters: 122nd: River Jetez (55.5kg), 3rd: Irian (57.0kg)
Review: Herman Brown had long been regarded as a top trainer. With Gitano Hernando, he had to take over a good horse who had been with another leading mentor in Marco Botti. Botti had campaigned Gitano through the Dubai festival without a win but Brown got him for the QEII Cup and wasn’t able to much ground. The stallion was ridden differently in Singapore. With Glyn Schofield up, he was able to get going early and found the front in a slowly run race. California Memory whipped around him so he got the sit. He popped off 800m out and controlled the race. Striking the front early in the straight, he was able to hold off the challengers left and right.
