Vlad Duric has regained the plum ride on Lion City Cup winner Lim’s Cruiser.

Former gun three-year-old Jupiter Gold is three weeks away from his racing comeback, but Japanese trainer Hideyuki Takaoka said the prep for his new campaign has panned out with more encouraging omens this time.

Champion trainer Laurie Laxon may have already decided to leave Singapore, but he has now requested for an extension of time.

Promising galloper Webster makes his racing comeback at this Friday’s standalone meeting with trainer Daniel Meagher happy to take that first-up run as a guide to future endeavours.

The Singapore Turf Club has granted jockey Ryan Curatolo a one-day licence to ride at the Friday meeting on 1 September 2017.

Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon’s farewell meeting did not meet with the dream conclusion he would have wished with his last runner Lim’s Shot in Sunday’s penultimate race, but take nothing away from the horse’s nemesis Caorunn.

The losing run was starting to stretch a fair bit for Group 3 winner Perfect P, but the bold chestnut gave a timely reminder of his ability as he again rose to the occasion for his sixth Singapore win on Sunday.
 

The losing run was starting to stretch a fair bit for Group 3 winner Perfect P, but the bold chestnut gave a timely reminder of his ability as he again rose to the occasion for his sixth Singapore win on Sunday.

Sonny Yeoh bowed out on a winning note as he called time on five years of training career in Singapore on Sunday.

Comeback jockey Pregasam Dellorto went a long way in erasing the memory of that horror trackwork fall from Bhaskara in 2015 after he rode his first winner since that mishap on Sunday.

A five-month spell certainly worked wonders on Argentinian-bred Al Green as could be seen from the way he returned to racing a gutsy winner on Sunday.

The withdrawal of the two top picks in Sunday’s $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m might have enhanced the winning chances of Metallocene but trainer Shane Baertschiger was still impressed with his ward’s superlative performance.

Promising stayer Mr Fatkid overcame a slight traffic scare at the top of the straight to burst away to a terrific comeback win on Friday night.

It was a scenario not many would have predicted, but Eclipse Splash turned giant-killer in the $80,000 Class 3 Division 1 race over 1400m on Friday night.

Trainer Mark Walker is sending First Light to the paddocks after he lost his maiden status at only his third start on Friday night.

Captain Jamie lived up to his ultra-short odds as he ran rings around his rivals in the $65,000 Initiation Division 1 race over 1400m on Friday night.

The Singapore Turf Club’s Racing Committee has on 24 August 2017 decided to allocate stabling facilities to Australian Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman effective from 1 September 2017.

Derreck David is not so sure last-start beaten favourite Makanani can bounce back to form this Sunday, but advises not to write her off given her postage-stamp weight.

Handy stayer Arhat takes another step on the road to Gold this Sunday as he lines up in the $100,000 Open Benchmark 97 race over 2000m.

The Singapore racing industry is on the cusp of a major paradigm shift as it moves into a bold new direction come the 2018 racing season.

To keep the industry sustainable well into the future, Singapore Turf Club is introducing initiatives which will inject much excitement and drive key changes to the local racing scene.

The cornerstone of the initiatives behind this major overhaul will be centred on quality over quantity, and hinged around three major endeavours:

Right-size the number of races

Adjust prizemoney to encourage quality

Reintroduce international races

Right-size Number of Races

To ensure good field sizes and competitive races, 800 races are mapped out for the 2018 season, down from the current season’s 900.

This optimal number of races was derived after weighing up the median number of runners per race versus a projected horse pool of 1,250 horses.

One significant measure which will be implemented from next season is a one-off increase of five rating points for all horses across the board. This one-off increase in rating points will increase the horse numbers in the higher Classes and lower the numbers in Class 5, thus providing sufficient number of horses to enable more higher classes of races to be programmed.

Horses, however, will not be disadvantaged by the five points increase as they will all still be racing against the same horses, carrying the same weight differentials.

The aim is to achieve bigger field sizes (10 to 12 starters) in higher classes coupled with an increase in the number of Class 3 and 4 races and a reduction of Class 5 races.

Over time, this will encourage the influx of better quality horses as there will be more higher class races being staged.

The one-off increase in ratings of horses will be carried out at the end of the 2017 racing season.

Another significant measure to give the racing programme a ‘racier’ edge is to cap race distances at 2000m as Singapore-based horses are more competitive over shorter distances.

With the capping of race distances to 2000m, significant changes to the distances of the feature races will include reducing the distance of the Singapore Gold Cup from 2200m to 2000m, the Emirates Singapore Derby from 2000m to 1800m, and the Raffles Cup and the Chairman’s Trophy from 1800m to 1600m respectively. (Please refer to the attached table)

Adjust Prizemoney to Encourage Quality

Prizemoney for Singapore races will be adjusted to favour and encourage quality. At the top end, Group 1 and Group 2 (with the exception of the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe) races will carry minimum prizemoney of $1 million and $500,000 respectively.

The two richest feature races, the $1.35 million Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup and the $1.15 million Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby will remain at that level while the other Group 1 races will be carrying prizemoney of $1 million each. They are the Kranji Mile, Raffles Cup, Singapore Guineas, Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Lion City Cup and Patron’s Bowl while Group 2 races that will be worth $500,000 each are the Merlion Trophy, Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic, EW Barker Trophy, Stewards’ Cup and Chairman’s Trophy.

At the other end of the spectrum, prizemoney for Class 5 races will be adjusted, again to emphasise on quality. Prizemoney for Class 5 races will drop from $35,000 to $20,000. This drop in prizemoney for Class 5 races however would only affect a small number of horses as about half of the horses presently in Class 5 will be eligible to race in the Class 4 Non-Premier races.

Class 4 races will be divided into Premier and Non-Premier divisions with Class 4 Premier races carrying the present prizemoney of $60,000 and Class 4 Non-Premier races (catering to low-rated Class 4 horses) will carry prizemoney of $45,000.

Restricted Maiden and Novice races will see their prizemoney increase from $75,000 to $85,000 to encourage owners to invest more in young quality horses. 

The prizemoney changes will take effect from 1 January 2018.

Reintroduce International Races

The Club will reintroduce two international races over the distances of 1200m and 1600m in 2019 and will carry purses of $1.35 million and $3 million respectively.

The two races will be staged on the third Sunday of May, the same time slot occupied by the previous International races, the Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint. The international races will only be reintroduced in 2019 to allow time for owners to invest in horses that will be competitive in those races.

The Group 1 Kranji Mile race will be brought forward to May and will be held on the same day as the Group 1 Lion City Cup to create an exciting day of racing catering to the top horses in Singapore. The Chairman’s Trophy with a new distance of 1600m will also be brought forward in the first week of May to serve as a lead up race to the Kranji Mile.

Consequently, the races for the Singapore Triple Crown series will be changed with the Raffles Cup (new distance of 1600m) becoming the first leg instead of the Kranji Mile. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800) will become the second Leg while the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) remains as the final Leg.

Mr Chong Boo Ching, President & Chief Executive, Singapore Turf Club said: “We are delighted to present the new racing initiatives that will commence from the 2018 racing season. We are optimistic that with these new initiatives, we will not only improve the quality of local racing but at the same time, increase international following for Singapore racing.”



Kranji Racecourse, picture ThoroughbredNEWS


 

In an announcement that will send a few shock waves, including all the way to Australia, jockey Danny Beasley has called time on his stellar 25-year-long riding career.

Super Fortune counts one win in Australia and it was over 1400m, but jockey Olivier Placais has advised trainer Alwin Tan to take full advantage if his natural speed for now and concentrate on 1200m in Singapore for now.

Julius Caesar may have scored an imposing win at his last start, but trainer James Peters remained cautious about his chances of going back-to-back in the tougher $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m on turf on Sunday.

Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray is deploring the lack of staying races at Kranji as he is left with no other alternative than to drop El Don back to a distance not made to suit on Sunday.

The Malayan Racing Association advised on Tuesday that Victorian trainer Lee Freedman, along with former Kranji trainer Brian Dean

The buzz at Kranji was cranked right up when the news came through this year’s gun three-year-old Countofmontecristo had got a berth in the last race on Sunday.

Malaysian apprentice jockey Krisna Kumar Thangamani recorded his first win at Kranji thanks to a hard-ridden performance aboard outsider Mighty Emperor on Sunday.

Trainer David Hill said the colder riding tactics suited Gold Faith after the Irish-bred grey stayer finally opened his account at his eighth run on Sunday.

For a change, it was a groom, your usual unsung hero, who earned the most credit for a win on Sunday.

Malaysian apprentice jockey Zawari Razali’s perseverance saw Pure Justice squeeze between runners to get the money by the barest of margins on Sunday.

The new Cliff Brown-Kissana Phathanacharoen partnership combined for their first win with Augustano on Sunday.

Nurshahril Nordin is a name we don’t hear very often but it was back in the news in a big way at Kranji on Sunday.

Manoel Nunes pulled the wrong rein when he picked Siam Sapphire over eventual winner Mystic Master in the 2016 Group 3 Juvenile Championship.

Former leading three-year-old Sir Isaac made a successful racing comeback in emphatic fashion on Friday night.

Sticking to the 1000m scamper paid off for Alaranch who brought up her second win in a row on Friday night.

The Hideyuki Takaoka-Derreck David association were in fine form on Friday night after they combined for a winning double, never mind if they came in the lower divisions.

Sir Isaac makes his racing comeback in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1100m this Friday with trainer Cliff Brown, however, recommending caution despite the boom around him.

There is every chance former top three-year-old Countofmontecristo will be making his racing comeback this Sunday.

Smart Friday winner Mighty Conqueror is having another bite at the cherry this weekend.

Former Aushorse Golden Horseshoe winner Lim’s Racer returned from bone chips surgery a brilliant winner on Sunday.

The whistle stop in Singapore has come to an end, but the Poon Train has certainly made winning stops at all his stations since he has come chugging along at Kranji.

Trainer Laurie Laxon’s worries about Lim’s Shot being out of the handicap were quickly allayed after the grey posted a stout win from favourite Splinter in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m on Sunday.

Five years ago, Saimee Jumaat bringing up win No 1356 would have not had anyone batting an eyelid.

Nooresh Juglall might consider a second job as a wedding planner.

Trainer James Peters and leading jockey Vlad Duric made their only assignment for the night count when they combined in Friday’s last race to career away with the top prize with even-money favourite Julius Caesar.

The shock of the night had to be $203 longshot Lucky Six springing back to winning form in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m on Friday night.

A mentally and physically stronger Mighty Conqueror was seen in full flight at his victory in the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1000m on Friday.

Three meetings, four winners, that would be the proud record Hong Kong’s rising star Matthew Poon now boasts at Kranji.

Last year’s Aushorse Golden Horseshoe winner Lim’s Racer has seen her racing career stall a little after her Group 2 success in June 2016, but trainer Steven Burridge is hoping she can still make a fresh new start this Sunday.

Trainer Laurie Laxon saddles a handy duo in last-start winner Lim’s Shot and Katagas in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m on Sunday, but tends to lean more towards the latter even if his last win dates back to more than 16 months.

Singapore champion trainer Alwin Tan recognises that the defence of his 2017 title is starting to look like a tough ask, but that doesn’t mean he has thrown in the towel.

Forever Young bounced back to form in the best possible way by winning his second silverware in the $300,000 Group 2 Chairman’s Trophy (1800m) on Sunday.

Matthew Poon’s rapid rise at Kranji soared to another level on Sunday after he took out the $200,000 Group 3 Garden City Trophy (1200m) aboard Faaltless.

Situation came off the narrow winner from a slogging battle in the $60,000 Goodman 2014 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 1 race over 1600m on Sunday, but another battle had to be fought in the Stewards’ room before correct weight could be flashed.

Despite his meteoric rise, Hong Kong apprentice jockey Matthew Poon has remained a shining example of a humble young man still grounded by traditional values like friendship and respect.

There is nothing new with trainer Ricardo Le Grange hogging half of the Chairman’s Trophy field on Sunday, going with his high rate of participation in such long distance feature races.

Argentinian four-year-old Gariza returned from a short let-up to record his maiden Kranji win in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m on Friday.

Up-and-coming Hong Kong apprentice jockey Matthew Poon described the experience of riding a winner at his first meeting in Singapore as “awesome”.

The sparingly-raced Ancient Warrior took his healthy career record to three wins and two placings in 10 starts after he landed the $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m in the Stewards’ room on Friday.

It’s taken 15 rides, probably a little longer than he would have liked, but New Zealand jockey Craig Grylls was finally able to notch his first winner in Singapore on Friday.

South Korean jockey Moon Se Young will ride at his last Kranji meeting this weekend.

Visiting Hong Kong riders Matthew Chadwick and Matthew Poon were the two guest speakers at an apprentice jockey workshop organised by Singapore Turf Club Riding Master Damien Kinninmont on Wednesday.

Popular Hong Kong apprentice jockey Matthew Poon hopes to bring his winning streak to Singapore in the next two weeks.