3 minute read

The seventh event on the card this evening at Kranji does look a very good race for bettors and as a future wagering yardstick too.

Goal Keeper is a strapping four-year-old that only has one speed and that is torrid, so he gets his opposition on the back foot from the outset and says catch me if you can.

His poly record is sensational with six wins and two placings from eight starts but he is showing turf will not be stopper and this is important for the big sprint races.

Carrying weight has never been an issue so the 58kg tonight in the S$125K Kranji Stakes A over 1200m on the long course A turf track is not a concern.

You know he has come up a treat when trainer Theo Keiser ran him resuming in the G1 Krisflyer International (1200m) and after setting a hot pace wilted to seventh beaten seven lengths.

Last start back onto the poly Goal Keeper was huge in defeat when second in an Open Handicap sprint over 1100m after smoking along in the lead.

He was beaten three quarters of a length by an in form rival again this evening in Makkura in track record time but she had 5kg less and here will receive just 1.5kg from him.

I find it hard to see that mare beating him this time with the weight gap closure and the fact he has drawn gate two again and she is from barrier eight.

Goal Keeper has won twice on the turf and Makkura just once (on debut in New Zealand on real grass) so another tick in his column.

Danny Beasley rides as usual and the last win by the pair came on turf in a Kranji Stakes A under 56.5kg four runs ago when clocking 1:10.47.

It is impossible not to be drawn to the names that Goal Keeper has either bet or met in the last six starts.

He has beaten into second Red Beard, El Milagro and Texan Takeover while has finished second to Speedy Cat and Makkura and of course the seventh to the multiple G1 colossus Lucky Nine.

They may not catch him here and hard to see a pace challenger so Beasley can control the race should he choose then leave them grasping at place straws.

Masthead from gate three at 56.5kg is a serious chance and the draw alone gives the Michael Freedman prepared sprinter a huge tick.

Joao Moreira atop is a massive confidence booster as just he has won on Masthead since it came to Singapore from Australia with seven rides for three wins and two placings.

The last start win in May under 54kg in a Kranji Stakes A was huge in a slick 1:09.24 after a tardy start but recovering between runners.

Deliberately kept fresh for this assignment by Freedman is also a plus as Masthead does perform with a four to six week gap in his races.

He may be up 2.5kg on last start but is strong enough now to cope and it is worth remembering the third and fourth finishers since in El Milagro (close second at G2) and Red Beard (won a Kranji Stakes A easily) have greatly enhanced the formline.

The hotter the clip set by Goal Keeper the sharper the home stretch surge will be from Masthead but he cannot afford to be too tardy as then the mathematics become unsolvable.

Makkura has definitely improved for her new stable and Laurie Laxon when he got the mare had an already fleet and gifted sprinter on his hands.

The 3.5kg rise tonight is a concern as while she will carry it no problems it is the closeness to some key rivals now and in fact having the same or more than some proven performers too that matters.

I like that Barend Vorster retains the ride as tactically in a sprint race not many read them better and also Makkura is not the rip and tear mare any more so gives the jockey options.

Makkura is yet to win on the strathayr type turf track at Kranji with four starts for three thirds.

The placings have been good though behind Huka Falls, El Milagro and El Padrino, with the latter name a rival again tonight.

El Padrino is the best weighted runner at 55kg for mine and the six-race winner has never missed paying a dividend at 1200m with three wins and four placings from seven outings.

In fact El Padrino has never been beaten home by Makkura in three meetings with the same weight twice for each and carrying 3kg more the other time.

Tonight he will get 1.5kg from the mare and this is significant in a genuine run race, which is expected with Goal Keeper incapable of going meek time.

Must make a mention of the long awaited track return of Chase Me, the awesome Emirates Singapore Derby winner last year by eight lengths.

His actual last start was a win too and came in the G2 Chairman’s Trophy two weeks after his Derby demolition job.

Desmond Koh has been very thoughtful with Chase Me this preparation and two trials this month have shown the big gelding is forward enough and will claim 2kg.

He has never won fresh up before but does not take long to show his class thought at 1200m has placed twice from four attempts so it is a tad short.

However one of those placings came on debut behind Ato, a future dual G1 winner, so Chase Me has always had the quality.

Goal Keeper will try to let not the opposition lay a glove on him once he gets the front and into his relentless rhythm.

Masthead is the main danger and you must still respect a thriving Makkura.

The value and weight special is El Padrino.

Enjoy the feature event.