Grand Cross in good order, Latest Racing News - The New Paper
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Grand Cross in good order

The Open Benchmark 83 contest, slotted in Sunday's Race 9, is shaping up to be a sprint to savour.

On Tuesday, Royal Ruler impressed. Then there's Constant Justice and last-start winner Divided House to make things interesting.

Now we hear that GRAND CROSS wants to join in the fray.

He showed his credentials in the best possible way, running an excellent 600m on the training track yesterday.

With Vlad Duric in the saddle, the son of Fastnet Rock covered the distance in 39.4sec, finishing with plenty in reserve.

From trainer James Peters, yard, Grand Cross has been another one of China Horse Club Stable's money spinners and has cashed almost $170,000 from just 11 starts, beginning last July.

Just a four-year-old, Grand Cross opened his Kranji account last October, easily beating a Class 4 field over the 1,100m.

Sent up a class, he was quick to make his presence felt - running second to Hip Hip Hooray in his first Class 3 foray before winning in his next start.

He picked up his third win last month, beating Elusive Emperor over the 1,200m on the turf.

Although beaten in his last start, expect Grand Cross to be right there in the firing line on Sunday when the big guns start showing off.

The China Horse Club Stable could have another winner on Sunday with JULIUS CAESAR in Race 2.

Although running against more seasoned opponents in the 1,200m sprint, the son of I Am Invincible looks to have improved enough to win in his second Kranji start.

With Duric on the reins, he looked in good shape in his workout running the 600m in 41.6sec.

Julius Caesar came in for inspired betting in his last start - which also happened to be his Kranji debut.

He was seen doing his best work at the business end of the 1,100m race and was unlucky not to have caught the winner, My Horse.

With natural progression and some "TLC" from trainer Peters and his staff, Julius Caesar could blow them away over the slightly longer 1,200m trip.

Yesterday's Kranji trackwork

GALLOPS BY HORSES RUNNING ON SUNDAY

RACE 1: Alan (V Duric) canter/38.5. Elhaame (I Saifudin) 36.7. Shaqraa 37.7. Best Jade (M Nunes) 39.5. Pretty Elusive (R Shafiq) 38.1.

RACE 2: Julius Caesar (Duric) 41.6. One Kinabalu 44.9. Black Swan (K A'Isisuhairi) 44.2. Funkadelic 41.3. Smiddy Byrne (M Kellady) 37.7. Miss Elysium canter/38.4. Sun Hancock (M Zaki) 37.3.

RACE 3: One Rar 39.9. Zeus 36.3.

RACE 4: Qingdao 37.7. Jacks Secret 36.7. Shabbat canter/36.4. Yu Long Emperor canter/36.4. Matsuribayashi 37.3.

RACE 5: Cactus Jack 44.8. Risky Rockefeller (TH Koh) 43.6. Duty First (Powell) 37.9. Asprey (Shafiq) 37.8. The Jeuneyman 35.5. Rum N Raisins 39.8.

RACE 6: Hee's Forte (Duric) 41.8. Kaiser Bright 35.1. Metaphor gallop. Captain Classique (E Aslam) pace work. Jack Of Hearts 37.3.

RACE 7: Keen Dragon 37.2. Effortless (Powell) 40.3. Rusty Brown 41.3. Lim's Casino (D Beasley) 41.4. Pop Gems canter/36.4. O'Reilly Bay 37.1. Swift 40.6.

RACE 8: Clutha Lad (M Nunes) canter/40.8. Knight Spirit (Koh) canter/36.4. Dragon G (Beasley) canter/43.2. Viva Joe Strummer (O Chavez) canter/36.3. Key On Kodiac 38.7. Super Buffalo 39.6. Speedy Warrior (Nunes) 40.4. Happy Joy (Aslam) 42.2. Grand Paris (Saifudin) canter/36.4.

RACE 9: Laser Storm (Beasley) 36.8. Famous Artist (CC Wong) 37.4. Grand Cross (Duric) 39.4. Divided House 36.3. Constant Justice (Nunes) 37.4. Brahma Circus 43.8. Guilty Pleasures (Kellady) 37.5.

RACE 10: Jubilation 40.3. Lim's Bullet pace work. Golden Mission (Aslam) 38.4.

RACE 11: Champagne Rein 38.1. Northern Boss 39.9. Fine Choice 37.8. Life Is Gamble 39.2.

GALLOPS BY HORSES RUNNING TOMORROW

RACE 5: Mighty Emperor (N Juglall) 42.3. Super Joe (B Vorster) 41.6. Verbal Link (Vorster) 38.6.

RACE 7: Cadet (Juglall) 42.3.

RACE 8: Situation (Vorster) 40.6.

RACE 9: Barnato (Juglall) 37.2.