Ace Of Diamonds for G2 Classic success

Singapore racing continues at Kranji Racecourse tomorrow, featuring a 10-race turf and dirt fixture highlighted by the running of the second leg of the three-yearold series, the $150,000 Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on turf.

The Ricardo Le Grange-trained Ace Of Diamonds aims to secure back-to-back victories in the three-year-old races.

Ace Of Diamonds leads the entries for the Classic following an expected win in the first leg of the 3YO Series, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint, three weeks ago. On that occasion, he proved his superiority as the highest-rated horse at set weights in a small field of nine, maintaining a three-wide position throughout the race to secure a facile victory by one length over 1200m.

As statistics suggest, the step up to 1400m this week should suit Ace Of Diamonds even better, making him the standout contender.

However, the main threat appears to be Bakeel, who finished third in the 3YO Sprint after facing a troubled run and deserves significant respect.

Elsewhere, impressive debut winner Pacific Vampire is primed to score successive victories in the $70,000 Class 3 Handicap over 1200m on turf.

Following an astonishing trial win prior to his local debut, Pacific Vampire created a huge impression that day when toying with his Class 4 rivals to score an all-the-way win by 2.50 lengths over 1000m on the Polytrack, suggesting he is a horse with plenty of upside.

Trained by Jason Ong, Pacific Vampire has since turned in another emphatic trial in which he cruised to the line first by 7.75 lengths in a race-like winning time of 58.75 seconds. Despite the rise in class, he is ideally weighted to score a double. - iRACE magazine

BEST BET

Race 9 No 1 Ace Of Diamonds

VALUE BET

Race 10 No 3 Pacific Padrino

JACKPOT

R128

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5 Leg 2: 3, 6, 8, 12 Leg 3: 1, 3 Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 7