Singapore Preview: Dream Catch for Joe

Can Dreamcatcher score at Kranji?

Gary Crispe takes a look at a competitive handicap at Kranji on Friday...

Singapore's champion rider Joao Moreira continues to dominate Kranji racing already sitting atop the jockey's premiership with almost twice as many winners as his nearest rival, fellow Brazillian Manoel Nunes. And I see that run continuing tonight where Moreira has several highly fancied mounts including Dreamcatcher in the 14:20 Class 4 handicap over 1200m on the poly track.

Moreira does not do a lot of riding for the powerful Mark Walker stable, but when the pair do combine they have a twelve month strike rate of 26%, so it is unwise to treat the combo lightly. It will be the first time Moreira has ridden the useful Dreamcatcher, not even testing him out in a recent barrier trial, that responsibility left to apprentice Shafiq Rizuan finishing a handy second over 1000m. 

So it is quite significant but not surprising that Moreira has elected to ride Dreamcatcher ahead of stablemates Vitalico and Zac Warrior, both of whom he has ridden previously. It is not surprising because on Timeform weight adjusted ratings Dreamcatcher is the horse to beat.

The son of Occidental Tourist has not raced since October when a luckless fifth to Full Site in this class and distance on the poly however his previous form and ratings see him very well placed in this field. Two back when blinkers were removed, he was just touched off by Feisty Leo under the same race conditions he faces tonight and that form has subsequently been franked. The fact he resumes from a spell is of little concern, his recent barrier trial run clear testimony to that.

In a race where there does not look to be a designated leader, and from his low draw I can see Moreira using Dreamcatcher's natural early speed to either take it up or be handy throughout. Either scenario gives Dreamcatcher the edge in a race of some depth as far as winning hopes are concerned.

The Michael Freedman-trained Super Junior, normally a Moreira mount, the champion jockey steering him to his only two career wins to date, looks well suited. Manoel Nunes will take the reins tonight and despite giving age and weight away to his rivals the improving three-year-old looks well suited.

Super Junior has raced just four times for the two wins both on the poly including one over the 1200m so he brings solid form to the race, particularly his last start effort in the Jubilee Stakes an open three-year-old class race that comprised some of the best of that age group in Singapore. Super Junior resumes from a 138 day spell but Freedman has ensured he will be lacking nothing on the score of fitness having given Super Junior two solid barrier trials to prepare him for tonight.

He was particularly impressive in winning his most recent trial over 1000m, jumping smartly then sitting outside the leader until entering the straight where he literally dragged Nunes to the front winning quite comfortably. Nunes has been aboard the gelding in both those trials and there seems little doubt he will be close to race fitness tonight. From barrier one Super Junior will get the run of the race.

The Bruce Marsh-trained Smart Idea was disappointing last start but his previous form was first class and he is a definite threat. Last start he contested much stronger graduation class over 1200m on the poly but bungled the start then raced very wide before dropping out. At his start prior he scored narrowly but comfortably in an Initiation stakes over 1100m on the poly, a repeat of that effort would see him right in the mix today.

Proven poly performer Our Friendly Diva is another coming off a last start disappointing run that can be excused. The Danroad mare looked good two back when runner up to the handy Speedy Ahead over 1100m on the poly but went back to the turf last start and never featured fading noticeably in the straight. Apprentice Muhammad Hasri retains the mount and his four kilo claim will be a significant asset again.

If there is an upset in the race it could come from the Mark Walker stablemate Vitalico who is another runner resuming from a spell. Better regarded over longer distances, Vitalico is well capable of sprinting well fresh, especially if the speed is on. Walker has trialled Vitalico and engaged Wei Li Tan who will claim three kilos bringing the gelding in very well on his best form. It is also significant that blinkers will be applied again, all signs a forward run could be expected tonight.

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