Racing: Astrostar lights up Kranji

The consistent ASTROSTAR lit up the training track at Kranji yesterday morning with his nice turn of foot.

Ridden by regular jockey Ivaldo Santana, the Sonny Yeoh-trained three-year-old sizzled over 600m on the Polytrack in 35.4sec.

The going was good.

The bay/brown gelding pulled up fresh as a daisy.

He should rake in win No. 4 from seven starts in the Kranji Stakes C event over 1,200m in Friday's Polytrack meeting.

If not for bad luck, Astrostar should have won his last start on Feb 16.

He was bumped on jumping and had difficulty obtaining a clear run from the 400m until the 200m.

Yet, he finished second, only a head behind the talented Super Kenny.

Friday's Group 3 Merlion Trophy over 1,200m on the Polytrack will be keenly contested, judging by the smart hit-outs from all the runners.

With the exception of Valevole, who galloped nicely on Monday, the rest of the nine hopefuls impressed with their work and looks on Tuesday.

The race will see the return of 16-time winner CAPTAIN OBVIOUS, who continued to shine by dashing over 600m in 35.4sec with Oscar Chavez astride.

The Steven Burridge-trained grey had signalled his strong intention by winning his trial impressively last Thursday.

Captain Obvious has not raced for a year but should run well fresh.

It is interesting to see whether Chavez is staying aboard or hopping over to the Alwin Tan-trained EL PADRINO, who clocked a smart 35.3sec yesterday with the Panamanian-born rider astride.

William Low's Guide to Tuesday's Kranji Gallops by this weekend's runners:

HORSES ENGAGED ON FRIDAY

MERLION TROPHY - 1,200m: Captain Obvious (O Chavez) 35.4. Mr Big HHH (N Berry) 36.1. Goal Keeper HH (D Beasley) 35.5. Cavallo (S John) 44.5. El Padrino HHH (Chavez) 35.3. Pioneer Seven HH (M Nunes) canter/36.7. Supernova (Z Zuriman) 38.1. Rapido Star 38.9.

MONDAY: Valevole HHH (B Vorster) canter/35.3.

KRANJI STAKES C - 1,200m: Astrostar (I Santana) HH 35.4. Arowana Dot Com canter/36.4. Dragon King HH (Beasley) 37.1. Let Go Lenni HHH 38.5. Seligi 38.4. Beauty Supreme 38.3. Duty Free (I Saifudin) 38.6. Warspirit HH 36.

MONDAY: Let's See Action HH (Vorster) 34.5. Danny Ricardo HHH (E Aslam) 37.6.

CLASS 4 DIVISION 1 - 1,200m: Tiger Bee HH (Beasley) 34.1. Mulan (M Zaki) 34.7. Sombrani 40.3. Pure Tactics HH (Chavez) 35.3. Pacino canter/36.2. Affirmation canter/41.8. Simpang (HK Cheng) 37.2.

MONDAY: Flying Wild (R Zawari) 38.1.

CLASS 4 DIVISION 2 - 1,200m: Angry Cat HH (Saifudin) 34.1. Californian Girl 38.2. Perfect Challenger (Chavez) 35.7. Mangatangi HHH (Rueven) canter/35.8. Blue Diamond HH (Beasley) 34.8. Himalaya Dragon HH (S John) 36.9. Jet Man 41.7.

MONDAY: Benji's Rule canter/37.1. Sugar Man HH (H Amin) 35.3.

CLASS 5 - 1,800m: Royal Brat 35.8. Jet Cosmo HH (John) 37.2. Browne's Anatomy HH canter/43.7. North Star 40.2. Reciprocate (HK Cheng) 38.6. The Giant HH canter/36.5. Big Harvest HH (J See) 36.40. Dos Equis (HK Cheng) 38.2. Super Velox 36.7. Classic Thunder canter/38.5. Conquest 43.2.

MONDAY: Gravlax HH (Kellady) 36.6.

CLASS 5 DIVISION 1 - 1,100m: Piasau Garden (J See) 38.3. Arapuni HH canter/36.8. Hooper HH 40.8. Super Captain (WL Tan) 39. Happy Forever (Saifudin) 35.5. Bargain Bid 36.1. Storm Arc HH 38.8.

MONDAY: Bankers Call HH (Allpress) canter/37.1.

CLASS 5 DIVISION 2 - 1,100m: Fantastic Boy (Zaki) 37.6. Frenchman HH (Beasley) 37.4. Magic Diva HH (Saifudin) 38.4. Good Suggestion (T Rehaizat) canter/36.4. Good Day (Chavez) 36.5. Red Sensation 34.5. Win The Day (Allpress) 39.

MONDAY: Surpass 37.2.

MAIDEN - 1,200m: Stormy Along HH 38.6. Amazealot 37.2. Above Reach (Rehaizat) 37.5. Deauville HH (Beasley) canter/35.9. Follow The King (Nunes) canter/35.9. Ocean Story 41.8. Just Duit (WS Chan) 39.6. Live Well HH (Allpress) 36.1. Money King 37.8. Invictus (A'Isisuhairi) canter/37.9. Morris HH 35.5. Diamond On The Bay 34.7.

MONDAY: Diamond Flyer 40.4.

INITIATION - 1,200m: Takeover canter/37.9. The Mighty Thor HH (Berry) 38.3. Geeson Master (A'Isisuhairi) 37.4. Spalato canter/40.9. Top Of The Town HH (Allpress) canter/35.8. Mighty Astroboy 39.9. Happy Princess HH (C Brown) canter/35.6. Hathaway (D Flores) canter/35.8. Octivia (Rueven) canter/35.6. Here Come Buddy 40.6.

MONDAY: Gold Line (N Berry) canter/39.5. Sting (Zawari) 40.6. Valentino HH (Vorster) canter/39.5. My Barbarella HH (R Hasri) 38.6.

HORSES ENGAGED ON SUNDAY

OPEN BENCHMARK 83 - 1,100m: Sichuan Ruler HH (Hasri) 37. Bahen HHH 37. Super Kenny HH (Vorster) 37.4. Ronnie Brown 36.1.

CLASS 3 - 1,600m: World WarHH 36.5. Sweet Lodge HH 37.4. Solitaire HH (Hasri) 36.7. Vertical Start HHH (Vorster) 36.8.

CLASS 4 - 1,600m: Excavator (D Flores) 37.5. War Time 36.5. U Got It (WL Tan) 35.8.

CLASS 4 - 1,000m: Appreciation HH (HK Cheng) 39.7. Cash Advance (J Powell) 37.5. Natural Nine 38.6. Usain Colt HH (A'Isisuhairi) 37.1. Soon Yi HH (Chavez) 35.9. Fat Kiddy 38.4.

OPEN BENCHMARK 67 - 1,100m: Happy Money (Beasley) 41.3. Superb Success 38.1. Tenuponten (LQ Kek) 36.4. Luwak Coffee HH (Berry) 35.9.

KRANJI STAKES D - 1,700m: Irish Flash (Zawari) 37.9. Johnny Hates Jazz HH 41.4. Newfoundfame 37.8. Legacy HH canter/36.5.

KRANJI STAKES D DIVISION 1 - 1,200m: Flying Mission HH (Nunes) 35.6. Green Tracer 38.1. Dragon Ninetynine (SH Lee) 44.2. Greenback (Flores) 36.7. Street Ruffian HH (Chavez) 37.8. Humor Town (S John) 35.9.

KRANJI STAKES D DIV 2 - 1,200m: Cheetah King (WS Chan) 35.8. Good Buddy (Kek) 37.2. Rough Dance HH 37.5. Danger Money canter/38.7. Moonbeam Dazzler HH 35.6.

CLASS 5 - 1,600m: Black Bean HH 42.8. Voy 39.2. Spin Fire HH 36.7. Super Star 36.7. Afternoon Delight HH (I Andy) 37.2. A's Victorious 34.6. Buzet 36.4. Stylish Lad (J See) 39.3.

MONDAY: Moova Cash (Kellady) 38.1.

CLASS 5 - 1,000m: California Sun (S Noh) 38.7. Gypsy Magic 41.7. Rory HH (Chavez) 36.3. Salute 36.7. Stride Meteor HH 34.7. Prussian Jack 41.9. Samurai Kid HH 41.2. Lucky Banker 37.2.

RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1,000m: Overpower HH (Zawari) 38.5. Astroheat 39.7. Anak Carabao 36.1. Lively Dragon HH (Powell) 38.4. Show Class 39.1.

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