Foursome firm up for Class 4 foray

It is going to be tricky. And it is not even the main race on the 12-event card.

But that Class 4 Division 2 event over the Polytrack 1,200m is shaping into an exciting affair.

There are numerous contenders for honours and it will certainly give racegoers plenty to think about.

But, hey, is this not what the sport is all about?

For a minute there, forget about Saturday.

Even on the training track at Kranji on Tuesday morning, it was difficult to separate the quartet.

Augustano came out to flex his muscles, running the 600m in 37.6sec. He looked as ready as ever.

Not to be outdone, Last Samurai went even quicker, covering the trip in a flashy 36.1.

Then there was Pacific Charm.

He breezed over in 37.2, while Per Incrown was not out to make time, covering the distance in an easy 44.9sec.

As each had his merits and looked equally smart, let us take it from top down in the handicap, which means we go first with Last Samurai.

The handsome chestnut had Ronnie Stewart’s feet planted firmly in the irons and he made his intentions known in fine style.

A last-start winner, he won that race on Jan 23 in good fashion, beating Rocket Ryane by almost two lengths.

That day, with Louis-Philippe Beuzelin in the saddle, he made every post a winning one over the Polytrack 1,200m.

Two runs earlier, on Nov 26, Last Samurai also saluted over the course and distance, also in Class 4.

He also beat another Ricardo Le Grange-trained galloper, Water Rocket.

Trainer Kuah Cheng Tee has kept him ticking over nicely and it would not surprise to see him pull off a third career win.

As for Augustano, he certainly knows where the winning post is. He has been there on 10 occasions.

Prepared by Stephen Gray, Augustano looked mediocre in his last two outings of 2022. But, freshened up with a trial on Jan 12, he ran third to Lim’s Passion.

He has firmed up further and Saturday could be his day.

The last of his 10 victories was over the course, distance and surface in Class 4 on Sept 19, 2022.

Pacific Charm is one of trainer Michael Clements’ youngsters who should have a good season ahead of him.

His win in maiden company in October was really something.

After giving jockey Wong Chin Chuen some anxious moments in the initial stages, he took the bit, settled down and went on to beat Raffie by two lengths.

The race was over the 1,400m on turf.

Then, on Singapore Gold Cup Day on Nov 19, he missed out on making it a race-to-race double when beaten into second place by January, also over 1,400m on turf.

Since then, he has been to the trials twice, winning one of them.

That should set Pacific Charm up for Saturday’s assignment, his first race for the season.

Being a young four-year-old, he will certainly be eager to flex his muscles in a competitive setting.

What about the Polytrack?

No problems there. He was second on debut over 1,100m on the surface. That was on Aug 28, 2022.

So, that leaves us with Per Incrown.

He is another one who knows all there is to know about racing.

He has been there and done that. And, even with 35 starts under his girth, he is far from finished.

From Jason Ong’s yard, Per Incrown comes into Saturday’s contest as another last-start winner, having won over the Poly 1,200m on Feb 4.

That day, he gave his backers a rude shock when he began awkwardly. But he gathered himself and took the lead on settling.

He never gave it back, beating St Alwyn by a nose.

But here is the thing. That was in Class 5 company.

Come Saturday, if he is to add more money into the kitty, the son of Per Incanto must defy a promotion.

Right now, it is a tough ask, especially since Per Incrown’s four wins have been in Class 5.

But, if you are looking for something to toss into that quartet, Per Incrown could help sweeten the pot.