3 minute read

A Group 1 winner from Argentina was one of the stand-out performances at Singapore over the weekend and while unable to salute, a victory doesn't appear far away.

Trained by Michael Clements, Ride Of Valkyries really impressed, when finishing second behind the ever-consistent Fraajilistic.

Ride Of Valkyries

In what was clearly the best race of the evening, the daughter of Orpen hit the line strongly, over what was an unsuitable trip [1400m].

A Group 1 winner over 2011m at three, Ride Of Valkyries came over to Singapore with some very handy form in the book and remains open to sharp improvement.

In finishing second in the seventh event, Ride Of Valkyries was notably marked well below her best on Timeform ratings, and has plenty of scope moving forward.

When raced in Argentina, under the old name Hendaia, Ride Of Valkyries never competed in Group company short of a mile.

Stepping out over seven furlongs, she will no doubt take plenty of benefit from the performance and is a big watch when she steps out over further.

On her best form, she is a galloper who could measure up in the Group 1 Singapore Derby later in the year.

Friday's race was merely a stepping stone towards this likely goal and while she will have to improve considerably, she has already displayed the ability to do so.

Whether these international imports can reach their prior best form, always remains a query, however she has given the right early indications and must be followed closely.

Lizaz

Debut victor Lizaz remained one of the strongest performances on Sunday, when proving too good for his rivals in the second event.

Trained by Stephen Gray, the son of Alamosa displayed above average ability, when coming from off the speed to salute in sharp time.

Ridden by the in-form Corey Brown, Lizaz tracked the speed in fourth, with the well supported favourite, Aguila Azteca taking up the running.

Enjoying a good run along the rails, Brown pulled Lizaz to the centre passing the 300m, before displaying a sharp turn of foot, to pick up the leaders inside the 100m.

Drawing away to score by a length and a half over the concluding stages, Lizaz was marked well above an average maiden winner, with the clock backing up the strength of his performance.

On raw times, only Magical Talent recorded a quicker overall time, albeit marginally — 0.01 seconds.

Moving forward, Lizaz should derive plenty of benefit from the raceday experience and is expected to improve between three and five pounds at his next start.

He remains an above average maiden winner and the form is expected to hold up through the second and third placegetters.

The race held significant beaten margins and hence it does appear a good piece of form — both Aguila Azteca and Razzostella are two horses who should also be followed out of the race.

Snitzel Spirit

The Michael Freedman trained Snitzel Spirit was very unfortunate not to salute in the tenth event and should be right at his peak for his next start.

Beaten narrowly, Snitzel Spirit was clearly a hard luck story when squeezed out of it inside the 200m.

Losing a lot of momentum, Snitzel Spirit did a great job to pick himself back up and hit the line gamely, to only by narrowly beaten.

Improving marginally on his first up performance, Snitzel Spirit remains open to sharp improvement third up and should prove very hard to beat in similar company at his next start.

In eight career starts, he is yet to miss the money and is a galloper heading in the right direction.

From the same event, the Laurie Laxon trained Ideal Guide also remains under strong notice.

Hitting the line gamely to finish a close fourth, the son of Red Ransom was unsuited over the shorter trip [1200m] and has good improvement up his sleeve on best form.

Last preparation, he achieved his peak rating over 1400m and is expected to display sharp improvement at his next start.