3 minute read
Red Dawn will look to continue his good recent form when lining up in the Open Benchmark 67 (1200m) at Kranji on Friday night.
The Shane Baertschiger-trained runner has finished runner up in his last two outings in similar company and staying over the 1200m looks very hard to go past.
Last start over this course and distance, Red Dawn showed good speed to settle outside the leader and was not far away on the turn but unable to muster enough to get past Hermano Menor who led all the way.
The three-year-old gelding has a good career record, having missed the placings just once in eight career starts and John Powell who has ridden in all but one outing remains on board.
From barrier 7, would expect Red Dawn to cross and settle up on the speed as he has done in recent starts but won’t get things all his way with The General also likely to go forward.
The son of Align has been very consistent of late, running similar figures in his last three outings and on what he has produced in recent times that should be good enough to win a race like this.
Only lightly raced, Red Dawn is open to further improvement here on his recent form and should prove hard to hold out.
Chase returns having last been seen when well held behind Affleck in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas and he will appreciate the drop in grade for this.
The Mark Walker-trained runner was completely out of his depth on that occasion, beating just the one runner home but showed good form prior to that for a race like this.
Returned with a win in Novice over this trip last campaign and on best form is right up to featuring in the finish here.
Would expect him to be looking for a bit more ground than what is on offer today but should run well fresh and finished fourth in a recent trial over 1000m.
Expect the son of Nicconi to get back in the run from barrier 9 but will be running on strongly over the concluding stages and looms as the danger.
Was clearly thrown in the deep end when lining up in the Guineas but will find this company more to his liking and is certainly one to keep safe.
Golden Mission also comes into consideration for Desmon Koh despite a disappointing effort over 1400m in a Class 3 last start.
Led before dropping well out of contention on that occasion but if he can rediscover some of his form from last campaign is right up to running into the finish today.
Both career wins have come over the 1200m and he has had just the two runs for the new yard and will need to improve on his last two efforts.
Leading local jockey Manoel Nunes goes back on board having won on him previously and he has a very good record for the stable.
Nunes strikes at 21% for the Koh stable and would expect him to not lead as he did last start but settle further back in the field.
Black Fury is building an impressive career record and finds himself back in class after running a close up fifth in a Benchmark 83 race last start.
The Theo Kieser-trained runner measures up well on the back of that effort and his recent form rates well for a race like this.
Last two efforts having come on the all weather and he tends to do his best racing on that track.
Coming back onto the turf today he isn’t as well suited, having placed in just one of five outings and will need to improve on that record to be any chance in this.
Hard to see him turning his turf form around to win, but would not be surprised to see him somewhere in the placings.
Felarof rounds out the main chances for Steven Burridge having been consistent enough without winning races in recent times.
Rarely too far away but has not won since December of last year and drops back to the 1200m where he has won previously but not run over in some time.
Hard to see him winning this, but has only been 2.5L away in his last two outings and is worth including in the multiples.
Good luck and happy punting.