3 minute read
Recent history shows the G3 Three Rings Trophy to be a producer of award winners and win streaks so take heed of the stakes source today that gives you a glimpse ahead.
The last three winners of this S$200K over 1400m for three and four-year-olds only have been Better Than Ever (2010 and 2011) and Super Easy last year.
Both those horses won twelve races in a row and share the record for a Singapore streak plus the Horse of the Year award and age group trophies and sprinter and/or miler silverware abound.
A key link today is Joao Moreira rode Better Than Ever in 2010 for Laurie Laxon and Super Easy last year for Michael Freedman.
Moreira has elected to stay with the Freedman runner Savannah Dancer and will ride the mare at 1kg over but at 51.5kg you take the Kranji idol every time.
The lone mare in the field has it all ahead of her to beat such a smart line up and is yet to score at 1400m but one cannot argue how dominant her last two wins have been with Moreira atop.
She has put away albeit far inferior fields with 56kg and 56.5kg so will not know herself today and should have a surge to offer the run home.
I think it is significant no three-year-old is running in the 2013 Three Rings Trophy as it tells you at least one camp is keeping the powder dry for a likely shot at G1 glory versus the big boys and girls.
Laxon has won this race four times (Better Than Ever twice plus Top Spin in 2008 and Big Easy in 2005) so Mr Premiership lining up just Natural Nice says a thousand words and some.
The four-year-old is a last start winner and underrated being a very consistent performer that rarely gets beaten too far and has never finished further back than sixth.
However the whopper bopper three-year-old in the Laxon yard that would have been perfect for this race called Huka Falls is not here so it looks like taking on the older sprinters is now a play set in stone.
The field for the feature today is a good one as all of these will win a lot more races and some should ensure the Open class and Group ranks are plentifully stocked over the next couple of years at least.
When I first looked at the field the thing that jumps out at me is Speedy Cat on 55kg, as it seems this is his race to lose.
His last start fourth was the first time he has not paid a dividend but the effort down the outside from the back was meritorious considering the race pattern was all on the speed and/or the inside to the home turn.
Consider he carried 57.5kg and the winner was the big fast up and comer Huka Falls over the proven El Padrino and the speedy Makkura.
Speedy Cat is meeting a more beatable line up here for mine clearly and drops 2.5kg so those big bettors that wait for the ultimate weight specials will be locked and loaded on this runner.
Already G3 placed three times Speedy Cat as a six-race winner is the most winningest runner in the feature so the ticks are starting to become huge swooshes of confidence.
Gate four today will ensure he races closer than last start when snagged back from a deep barrier.
I feel this is a target race for trainer Alvin Tan and John Powell should ride him like he is the best horse in the race because he is.
Running Tall can carry big weights and the way Pat Shaw has this son of Stratum racing he will be a big chance on a dry or wet track because turf and 1400m is his favourite combination.
He can race in or near the lead and is a much stronger horse this year over the closing stages.
Cliff Brown has been snaring feature events nicely this year and the fact he is running Hot Gold first up in this G3 event tells you the son of Iffraj is fired up and ready to go.
Steven King gave a glowing report on the horse for natural ability after a recent trial second to Rocket Man (yes that same superstar) and it looks a precious metal punters will buy every time.
I see a solid clip in this race and it will make for an enthralling finish as when one moves forward near the home turn it should cause a major flushing out reaction.
Michael Clements has two runners in the race with the underrated Totality resuming and this is a proven turfy and can cope on a wet track if the rains arrive.
Totality is G2 placed so at 52kg you would have to agree he gets in nicely.
Secret Mission won all his trials before debuting in Singapore and the former Argentinean ran a good third under 59kg after an average start with the support for him immense.
The 1400m here and down to 57.5kg looks ideal for this G1 placed entire in Argentina.
I cannot see past Speedy Cat at the weights as 55kg for a galloper that has finished second to Better Life under 58kg and also Super Easy under 57kg is phenomenal.
You are talking about the top two gallopers last year in Singapore.
Belling the cat is a saying that means taking a risk but for bettors I see Speedy Cat as a wager without worry.
Hot Gold is in for a big year while Secret Mission has that look of a plan coming together today for all to see.
Super race and the names involved will all make a contribution to the pocket of punters at some stage this year and I am sure several more than once.
Enjoy a gaze into your gambling future.