GHALIB IS A CUT ABOVE THE REST

Back-in-form Pacific Vampire will roll along, but Burridge’s top-rater can reel him back in

- Michael Lee

A small but interesting field of six runners face the starter in the $100,000 Kranji Stakes A race (1,200m) on Aug 25.

On his superior rating of 102 points - 15 clear of next-best Major King Ghalib stands out.

But to have only six horses (Maxima was scratched) vying for top prize often means the form book can be tossed out the window. Ghalib himself is a prime example.

At his third-last start, which came in a similar contest, the I Am Invincible gelding rolled forward, slammed on the brakes and made a monkey of you know who.

The roles are reversed this time. There is no Golden Monkey or any horse rated better than Ghalib.

However, one horse makes that scenario of the Steven Burridgetrained galloper being caught napping seem improbable for one reason Pacific Vampire.