Raffles Cup looks a thriller
Most contenders work very well during training
Sunday's $1 million Group 1 Raffles Cup is one of the strongest seen in years.
The field of 14 comprises mostly Group winners and most of them have strong chances after showing great form on the training track the past few days.
All seven that showed up at Kranji yesterday morning worked with gusto.
Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby winner Jupiter Gold sizzled on the right-handed Track 6 and covered 600m in 35.1sec.
He was going so well that French jockey Marc Lerner allowed him to cruise to the end of the chute.
Lerner will take over the ride on the horse from the suspended jockey Olivier Placais.
Jupiter Gold, a former top juvenile, has hit a bright patch, winning three of his last four starts with Placais astride.
In such great form, the Hideyuki Takaoka-trained galloper can add another Group 1 feature to his cap.
Former Horse of the Year Debt Collector, who beat all but Preditor in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy over 1,400m last start, was taken out by jockey Michael Rodd in 37.3. He is coming back nice and good.
Preditor, too, worked keenly in 37.8 with Matthew Kellady astride. The Shane Baertschiger-trained six-year-old missed a running Group 3 double when second to Nova Strike in the Moonbeam Vase on Sept 2. Nova Strike had worked like a winner on Tuesday.
Group 2 Chairman's Trophy winner Circuit Land breezed over 600m in 37.8 with A'Isisuhairi Kasim astride.
Group 3 Committee's Prize winner Elite Excalibur was taken out by Rodd in 38.8, looking fit.
Clarton Super, winner of the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy and Group 3 Fortune Bowl strode out beautifully in 36.2 with Benny Woodworth aboard.
Elite Invincible, winner of the Group 1 Giovanni Charity Bowl and Group 2 Stewards' Cup, looked a beauty in 38.3. Champion jockey Vlad Duric was aboard.
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