Singapore racing best bets, race analysis looking at the full Singapore card Saturday, 19th February with selections & information on all the contenders.
RACE 1
1st Pick: BOOM SHAKALAKA (2) Two-time winner track and distance. Last start was really nice and he has had a quiet trial in between to keep him on track.
2nd Pick: CHARMING DIAMOND (8) 50% win strike rate track and distance. Two of his three career wins have come from the Long Course 1200m. Last start he was unlucky not to win but showed plenty of promise.
3rd Pick: CAVALLA COURT (7) Only a one-time winner but has been beaten less than half a length at his last two starts. Certainly knocking on the door for a deserved win.
4th Pick: LIM'S PRIDE (5) Despite the form being over 1400m, Lim's Pride is three from five on the 1400m Long Course. Hasn't won a turf 1200m race yet, but if he can get the right run, off his last win he should be a hope here.
RACE 2
1st Pick: LIM'S DREAMWALKER (1) Showed promise early doors but has flattered to deceive since. Can be his own worst enemy but with Manoel Nunes jumping on board, there is hope. Pacifiers back on. Big step-up in distance a query, but if he sees it out and is produced at the right time, he can land a blow here.
2nd Pick: SIR ELTON (4) Lost no marks at last start. Left it late but did cut back the deficit. Will relish extra 300m. Not without claims.
3rd Pick: KING PIN (6) No kingpin but last two starts have been more encouraging. Will get an economical run from marble one. Place claims in this average field.
4th Pick: HARVEST TIME (3) Still unplaced in 10 starts but did run an improved race on Polytrack last time out. Blinker-pacifiers on. Include in calculations.
RACE 3
1st Pick: IN ALL HIS GLORY (2) Caught the eye winning a trial in nice fashion last week and gets our leading jockey for a strong stable. Has good stats over these conditions and looks the one.
2nd Pick: WECANDO (7) Gallant in defeat last start after skipping clear but couldn't hang on at the finish. This course will suit and should apply similar tactics.
3rd Pick: LIM'S BESTBREAKER (1) Has been doing a lot of racing in the past month but stable must think he is up to it. Continues to run well and last start was a solid run beaten just under two lengths.
4th Pick: CONGAREE (3) Had a name change since last start and gets Oscar Chavez back in the saddle after they combined for one win and minor placings towards the end of last season. Could surprise.
RACE 4
1st Pick: FLAMING KIRIN (6) Jockey queried last start. If he lets down at the right time, he should be in the firing line for a long way, albeit he is not exactly a model of consistency. Take on trust.
2nd Pick: GOLDEN DASH (1) Thereabouts of late. Blinkers come off and are replaced with visors. Won't surprise if he bounces back to winning ways.
3rd Pick: ONE WORLD (3) Flew home for third last time. Can mix his form but if he reproduces his last-start turn of foot, he will be hard to hold out here.
4th Pick: TESORO PIRATA (2) Not the worst here. Will be suited by the hard-riding Marc Lerner. Big weight, but is quite powerfully-built and should be able to have a say in this.
RACE 5
1st Pick: ALQANTUR (6) So green and still has plenty to learn but if he can improve even more from his debut win, he'll be the short-priced favourite and the good thing of the day.
2nd Pick: WAR COMMANDER (5) Tough win, form franked by Dancing Tycoon winning last weekend. Manoel Nunes on, big danger.
3rd Pick: SAND BOX (8) Proved that his maiden win was no fluke with a super Class 4 runner-up performance. Another threat to Alqantur with the right run.
4th Pick: BIG TIGER (2) Horror draw but has nice Class 4 form behind Illustrious that should hold him in good stead here. Barrier the only worry, will need a lot of luck.
RACE 6
1st Pick: SEE YAH (8) Not a bad first-up run even if he was outpaced early. Will strip fitter for this. Has drawn an alley. Only worry is he has not obliged again in 30 runs since debut win as Barbeque. Maybe blinkers can fire him up again.
2nd Pick: SUN ELIZABETH (4) Not getting any younger but she can still pop up now and again. In fine fettle on the training tracks. Go close.
3rd Pick: TURF BEAUTY (6) Honest mare in this grade. Will be chiming in late as usual. Worthy candidate for the trifecta.
4th Pick: VOLUNTAD (2) Doesn't win out of turn, but neither does most of his opponents. May try and steal the race from the front like he did at his last run. Place claims.
RACE 7
1st Pick: KING LOUIS (3) Finds himself in a much easier contest than he has in previous runs. Blinkers back on for this and draws the inside. Has not raced on this surface since winning last year.
2nd Pick: IRON RULER (2) Had to tow the rest of the field up when the tearaway leader broke clear last start. Gets in well from barrier two and has good form figures on this surface.
3rd Pick: LEGACY EXCEL (6) Only lightly-raced here in Singapore but must have something to offer with Manoel Nunes sticking with him. Nice trial win leading into this.
4th Pick: AXEL (5) Form has dropped away at his last few but looking to redeem himself. This isn't a very strong race and if he is able to get a position, he could improve.
RACE 8
1st Pick: BEN WADE (4) Bound to be a popular pick following his convincing last-start victory and with jockey Manoel Nunes staying on. Nice low draw. Will take some beating.
2nd Pick: BIZAR WINS (7) Malaysian apprentice jockey Akmazani Mazuki is knocking on the door for his first Kranji win and this could be his breakthrough. Found one better in Arion Success last start. Better chance if he can get his own way in front.
3rd Pick: KONAN (5) Resuming. Barrier trial form has been sound. Looks fit and ready for his comeback. Keep safe.
4th Pick: SUN STEP (6) On the quick back-up. Found the opposition a bit rich last Sunday. Will find this easier and from barrier one, if he elects for the same frontrunning tactics as at his last win two runs back, he'll be a hard nut to crack.
RACE 9
1st Pick: ACE SOVEREIGN (2) Cost himself a win due to poor racing manners late last start. Has had a trial victory in between to keep himself ticking over ahead of this weekend where we should see improvement.
2nd Pick: ETWAS NEUES (3) Same weight as last start and has a 3kg weight swing on Ksatria this time around. Three-time winner at the distance (8:3-1-1), massive chance if he can overcome the poor draw.
3rd Pick: KSATRIA (1) Broke through for a well-deserved maiden win last start. Did earn 3kg last start due to the win but should improve from that performance.
4th Pick: GOLD KINGDOM (4) Never missed the top four in his seven runs track and distance to date, but has also never won (7:0-3-2-2). Top-four player for sure.
RACE 10
1st Pick: LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO (7) Boom galloper who continues to step up to each challenge thrown at him. Super win in Class 1 last start and Danny Beasley is back in the saddle. Can continue his unbeaten streak here.
2nd Pick: FAME STAR (5) Thrives at this course and distance with great stats. In seven starts, goes over this course and distance and he has never finished outside of the top three winning three of them. Speed runner who looks suited.
3rd Pick: ROCKET STAR (3) Returns from a lengthy break but has shown plenty of ability last year. Manoel Nunes takes the ride and stable is flying so far this season.
4th Pick: MAKKEM LAD (4) Wasn't suited to the surface at his previous start. Should run a much better race and will be up on the speed where frontrunners tend to be favoured on this course.
RACE 11
1st Pick: SABAH STAR (1) Strong win last start when coming from behind off a genuine tempo. Should have a strong finish again and loves the distance. Oscar Chavez sticks with this mount.
2nd Pick: PERFECT (9) Jumps up in grade after two wins in Class 5. Gets a massive weight drop from that win and can surprise with the jump in grade. Big watch.
3rd Pick: LAST SAMURAI (4) Jumped and overraced last start after being a tearaway leader by more than twenty lengths. Manoel Nunes takes the ride and if he can get him to settle, we could see a sharp improvement here.
4th Pick: BOOMBA (2) A former Group-winning juvenile whose form has tapered off in recent runs. One positive is he is back to a winning rating and distance that last saw him victorious last June. Could bounce back.
RACE 12
1st Pick: FIRST BOWL (1) Beaten 3.4 lengths in Class 3 company last start and drops back to Class 4 once again. Will be much more suited here, even with the top weight. Looks like the one to beat.
2nd Pick: EXDREAM (10) Third behind Seson and Stenmark and was the clear eye-catcher of the race. Missed out last week as the first emergency but gets run this weekend. Back to the 1200m Polytrack where he has done all of his winning and placing so far in his career.
3rd Pick: LIMITED EDITION (2) First-up win was super tough. Oscar Chavez booked to ride this start. Draws well, looks for him to be running on late.
4th Pick: SIAM ROYAL ORCHID (4) Draws the car park which shouldn't be too much of a concern as he goes back but as long as he gets luck in running, he should be in the finish.
