3 minute read

Bettors have made Deep Pockets very short in the betting at his last four outings and he is yet to salute so the wagering arm into the pocket to reload again is having to dig ever deeper and deeper.

The gelding has won five races so strikes respectably enough but the last time he scored came in June of 2012 when taking out a Benchmark 74 on the turf.

He won five of his first twenty starts but has not come back to scale first in the meantime.

Seven starts since have returned four placings and a fourth so the pockets of punters are either down to the coins, empty or where did that hole at the bottom come from!

To be fair Deep Pockets at his last seven starts has raced in G1 four times and G3 twice plus an Open Handicap once, so he has been rumbling with the big players.

Joao Moreira rides the Cliff Brown trained five-year-old today and he is almost on a mission as very few gallopers have had the master Brazillian atop five times and are still yet to prevail.

The outside gate in the tenth race on the card, the S$125K Kranji Stakes A over a mile on the long course E turf track, will not alter the Deep Pockets racing pattern of sit cold then get detonated the run home.

Last start Deep Pockets was an unlucky third as copping interference early saw him end up in the rear duo rather than midfield and to be beaten just over a length says it all.

The extra 200m today is a plus having won at the mile before but weight wise he is poorly off versus Always Certain for example that won the race with 3kg more and here after a claim will carry just 1kg more.

Moreira will ensure the support is rampant and should the weather intervene then a wet track does not hamper Deep Pockets at all.

A long run home will help his strong finish but this field may not see a genuine tempo looking at the combatants so getting as near as possible once they turn in will be imperative.

The handicaps in this feature event were ten and a half kilos between the top and bottom runner however some apprentice claims have really bolstered the prospects of the number one and two saddlecloths.

Always Certain was powerful in his fresh up win for Manoel Nunes and the extra 200m today is a plus while a 2kg claim from Tengku Rehaizat means at 57.5kg the Michael Freedman prepared runner looks well situated again.

The fact that makes Always Certain seem even more attractive is a devastating second up record of four wins and two placings from eight times in such a state.

He needs decent footing to let go fully so the weather does have a bearing on his chances.

Flying Fulton kept grinding on last start down the outer at 57.5kg over 1400m behind all the way winner Captain Obvious and is too rugged to leave out here at a mile.

A 2kg claim from Rizuan Shafiq makes the big horse from the in form Mark Walker stable a must include being an already three-time winner over the mile plus a rain-affected track does not eliminate his chances.

I like the booking of Alan Munro atop Black Ice for Team Burridge as he should suit the eight-race winner that needs to be piloted a specific way and loves coming through closer in up the home straight.

Last start when snagged back to the rear in the G3 Woodlands Classic he never looked likely but prior at the same level raced handy and finished second albeit on the all weather.

As he has got older and with his health issues it does seem the poly is the track the horse trusts more but at 55kg you need to include him as a trifecta hope.

I do think the handicapper has this race right and the top four are where you will score your winner, quinella and trifecta at least.

Deep Pockets has munched more money than a currency shredder of late but Moreira does not like to have never won on a runner he has been atop many times.

He knows it could bury them and give the Brown stable another feature event this year so is hellbent on repaying the faith his wagering army of followers have in him.

Moreira has been ‘last go Joao’ for bettors quite regularly of late winning the final event on the card as it is important to fill up the pockets of punters and send them home happy.

Today he wants those pockets brimming a couple of races earlier.

Flying Fulton and Always Certain are the next best pair to fear with a 2kg claim on each six-year-old making these durable warriors must include in the multiples.

Enjoy the feature mile today.