3 minute read
The field for the S$200K G3 Garden City Trophy (1200m) on the short course turf track is a titanic clash and the tenth event on the card is must see material today.
Bettors are actually treated to back-to-back bottler sprint fields at Kranji, with the following event an absolute barnburner of a Benchmark 83 that has more wannabe leaders than a burgeoning democracy.
However it is the terrific tenth that is the feature event and we get to see a couple of gifted four-year-olds from the Pat Shaw stable see if they can topple Better Be The One.
That trio also has to repel a proven big race performer in Ghozi and a race track returning rising star from two seasons ago in Ace Aliado.
Despite gate nine I see Better Be The One as still likely to win this and the Michael Freedman trained sprinter is weighted superbly at 54.5kg with an in form Vlad Duric to ride.
Better Be The One is rated the number two sprinter in Singapore behind Rocket Man (yes that same superstar), so the fact he has the number six saddlecloth in a G3 immediately should draw your attention.
He is lethal fresh up and his trial win earlier this month in good time, with Duric atop, was simply sensational and he gapped several he will meet here.
Sure it was a trial but it was a real statement of intent to tell rival trainers that when Rocket Man is out of the country I am the numero uno and don't you forget it.
Overall when fresh including his Australian record the sprinter has won twice and placed twice in five starts in such a state, with a fifth at Listed level his only non-dividend paying effort.
Here at Kranji he won impressively and finished second at his other resumption run, with both coming on the poly.
The now five-year-old gelding has looked more dominant on the poly since coming to Singapore but his turf efforts have contained his highest rating Kranji performance so far.
Better Be The One finished second in G1 Lion City Cup (1200m) at the start of May to Rocket Man (yes him again) beaten five lengths to record his best local rating figure.
That career high local rating came after he had returned from Dubai, where he recorded his career high figure anywhere to date.
Better Be The One finished a very close up third in the G2 Al Quoz (1009m) at magnificent Meydan behind J J The Jet Plane to record his pinnacle performance so far.
It does all point to a Better Be The One victory today, as bar the barrier everything else says he will be the one at the finish.
Ato and Argy Bargy have done the Shaw stable proud this year, with the pair of four-year-olds each having won through to deserve a shot at the big time in Singapore.
The better ability I believe is found with Ato and his six wins from just nine starts shows it, with a G3 win already against the older sprinter in the Woodlands Handicap (1200m) last start his career high rating to date.
He was good enough to place at G1 behind Gingerbread Man in the Singapore Guineas (1600m) in May and adores the turf.
Shaw has trialled the entire three times in preparation for today and a second to Better Than Ever has since been followed by two tremendous wins, so he will strip rock hard fit.
Barrier eight is tricky but considering his gate speed it should not prove a spoiler but it could inadvertently help Better Be The One come over early with him and position up.
No one likes to help out your main rival.
Barend Vorster as usual will ride and bettors should note too the last start win saw Ato hold the lead and lock out a big grey horse called Captain Obvious, which came out next start and won the G3 Jumbo Jet (1400m).
The formline is strong but Ato is up 5kg for that win such has been his rapid rise in the already strong sprinting ranks in Singapore.
Argy Bargy has won four of six starts in Singapore and is unbeaten on the turf plus he too has won at G3 and defeated the older sprinters.
He won the Paititi Trophy (1200m) by a length to defeat the evergreen Waikato, with the smart Merchant and Excavator third and fourth respectively.
Like his stablemate Ato we find today he has risen 5kg for that win, so the pair having to give away half a kilo to Better Be The One is the legitimate concern.
Olivier Placais, the number two rider for the Shaw stable these days, will pilot Argy Bargy for the first time because Vorster had ridden it in every race and trial prior.
Vorster is often spoilt for choice in Singapore and has to make big calls on what to stay with or get off a lot more than bettors may realize but he is in a win-win situation regardless.
Ghozi has such a withering deep stretch finish on him that he can never be left out over almost any distance, as he is that good.
It is hard not like him here even if his fresh up record is winless because at 56kg from gate two he is thrown in for an already G2 and G3 winner that also has finished third at G1 three times.
A good marker is his third in the G1 Lion City Cup two starts back, where he finished two and a half lengths behind runner up Better Be The One.
Last start saw the gelding finish fourth to Rocket Man in the G1 Krisflyer and the finishing burst was his usual ripper but he unfortunately bled and has served the mandatory three month stand down period.
The first up run back from a bleeding attack is often outstanding and Argy Bargy proved that in June this year.
Another good guide for Ghozi is his win three starts back at G3 in the Kranji Sprint and it saw him carry 58kg and bury his rivals.
Ace Aliado returns to the track after being away for seventeen months and has had just one trial in readiness, with Joao Moreira to ride today and that means the money will come by the bucketful regardless.
The record of Ace Aliado is incredible with seven wins and a nose defeat second, with all coming on the turf.
The last start second actually came fresh up for fourth months, so the gelding has had one race in the last year and three quarters.
He is unbeaten at 1200m and Moreira actually has ridden him once before with the win coming this same month but two years ago.
Laurie Laxon had a real sprinting find on his hands with Ace Aliado and it has come full circle to be back with him and humming again, with the already G2 winner a highlight in itself in reappearance.
Do not miss this race and take in the following drag race too, as the sprinting depth on display is breathtaking and it will be for many of the beaten brigade in each event too.
Enjoy the awesome sprinting entertainment.