3 minute read
The Singapore Turf Club held just the sole meeting over the weekend, however it was littered with talent with three Group 1 races on the 10 race card.
The Group 1 Kranji Mile was one of the key highlights with Hong Kong galloper Southern Legend easily justifying his heavy market support ($1.60F) in the feature event.
A comprehensive winner of the race last year, Southern Legend easily repeated the dose when always in firm control under Zac Purton.
Having led the race last year, Purton elected to take a sit this time around, settled fourth behind the leader Singapore Sling.
Popped off the fence on straightening, Southern Legend travelled beautifully and quickly ambled up to the lead inside the 400m.
While others were under heavy pressure, Purton hadn't flinched and was simply kidding to them.
Cut loose at the 250m, Southern Legend displayed a good turn of foot and put the race to bed in a few strides.
Allowed to coast to the line, Southern Legend scored by two-and-a-half lengths from the Lee Freedman trained Blizzard.
Fellow Hong Kong galloper Singapore Sling stuck on to finish third, while Singapore Champion Debt Collector worked home well to finish fourth.
The race shape simply didn't suit Debt Collector, he recorded the fastest last 800m of the race and mirrored Southern Legend's final 600m (33.46).
Rated 117 by Timeform, Southern Legend was back to his best after failing to fire a shot in Dubai last start.
His form prior was very good and it was simply a case of forgiving a good horse one bad run.
The Group 1 Lion City Cup wasn't as straight forward with the Shane Baertschiger trained Aramco upsetting the short priced favourite Lim'S Cruiser ($1.40).
Bringing different form into the feature sprint, Aramco (Old Name: Mawahibb) continued his remarkable run, notching up his fourth win from his last five starts.
An impressive winner first up, he went into the Lion City Cup off one of the more impressive trials you will see and certainly backed it up under Vlad Duric.
Settled towards the rear, Aramco took full advantage of the solid tempo, with Zac Kasa recording 23.72 for the first 400m.
Travelling well, Aramco peeled the widest runner on straightening and loomed ominously inside the 300m.
Making his run with favourite Lim's Cruiser, Aramco edged ahead inside the 150m, before Lim's Cruiser kicked back and looked to have the ascendency.
However under the urgings of Duric, Aramco regained the lead late, landing trainer Shane Baertschiger his maiden Group 1 success.
Rated 109 by Timeform, Aramco returned a new career peak and capped off a fantastic 12 months, having finished 12th in this very race last year.
Along with the victory, Aramco recorded the fastest 1000m, 800m, 600m, 400m and 200m of the race - it was a stellar performance.
The Michael Clements trained Top Knight was the horse on everyone's lips and he easily landed Duric a Group 1 double in the Singapore Guineas [1600m].
A sectional start in the Singapore 3YO Classic [1400m], Top Knight had few issues replicating that form out to the mile when scoring by 1.8L.
Now rated 101 by Timeform, Top Knight joins an elite list of horses to win the Guineas, including Debt Collector, War Affair, Stepitup, Super Easy and Better Than Ever.
Without pointing out the obvious it's a good horse's race and in 12 months time, wouldn't be surprised to see Top Knight as Singapore's leading contender in the Kranji Mile.
Could he win it? He'd obviously have to improve, but nothing to suggest he won't and he is clearly the horse to beat in next year's Derby.
He is simply a class above at this stage.