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Trainer Hideyuki Takaoka is aware the firepower of his three-pronged attack in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1800m may not be the strongest, but he still expects a good run from Con Speranza, Larry and Wind Rhapsody.

The Japanese handler's trio is a bit of a motley crew as far as ability and aptitudes go from that race angle.

At four, Con Speranza is arguably the one with the most scope after breaking his maiden status in style at his last start in a Class 4 mile event one month ago, but Takaoka is wary of the extra 200m, even if he is a Tavistock.

"The 1800m is a big question mark. He won over 1600m last time, I didn't ask his rider (Oscar Chavez) about running him over more ground, but I just want to try myself," he said.

"I think he has maintained his form since his last win, but it's a tough race. If he stays, he will be there."

Last-start winner King's Command will probably start as the favourite, especially with Zyrul Nor Azman's three-kilo claim off his top impost of 59kgs, while Rambo and debut winner Mesmerizing should also be well tried.

Takaoka is not worried about Mastercraftsman seven-year-old Larry taking on younger rivals, but more the trip.

The former Stephen Gray-trained galloper finally recorded his first win for Takaoka at his ninth start under his care, but that was over 2000m.

Although Larry does boast one win over the mile for Gray, the other three victories came in the 2000m-2200m distance range.

"The 1800m is a little bit short for Larry. He is better over 2000m," said Takaoka.

"I think taking off the earmuffs was the right decision. He had them on during Gray's time because I remember he had some barrier problems, I left them on, but decided he didn't need them as he's a lot better now.

"Marc Lerner also rode him very well at his last start (Class 5), but with 51kgs this time as he's back up in class, I got Saifudin (Ismail) who knows him well as he's ridden him a few times."

As for Wind Rhapsody, Takaoka said the rise in class following his back-to-back wins at Class 5 level will make the three-peat a challenging feat.

"Wind Rhapsody can take the trip. He won over 1800m at his last start around a month ago," he said.

"It's a stronger field, but we can only try our luck."

Wind Rhapsody , who will be partnered by apprentice jockey Krisna Thangamani, hails from that exclusive four-horse team of Japan Cup winner Screen Hero progeny all going by a name containing "Wind", raced at Kranji by Japanese outfit Galahad Racing Stable.

The late Dance In The Wind was their best horse, but the stable had recently been pinning their hopes on proven stayer Wind Trail for the bigger stage.

The four-time winner had to win a Kranji Stakes C race over 1800m last Saturday to boost his hopes of making the cut in the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup on November 14, but has snuffed them out after finishing fourth to Trumpy.

He remains at 67 points with at least 25 horses stacked on top of him in the current order of entry, but consolation is at hand.

"Wind Trail had to win last week, but he ran fourth. He can't get into the Gold Cup anymore," said Takaoka about exhausting his last bullet for a shot at the premier race he has won four times (El Dorado in 2008, 2009 and 2011, and Better Life in 2012).

"He still ran well. He couldn't get a run in the home straight, or he could have finished closer.

"But I can still run him in the Kranji Stakes C race over 2000m on Gold Cup day. He's a Screen Hero like all of them, he can stay."

Speaking of heroes, Takaoka still has his 2018 Emirates Singapore Derby hero Jupiter Gold in his barn even if he hasn't been sighted in a race since the last 2020 race meeting on December 27 when he returned lame.

It's been well documented the Congrats eight-year-old has been plagued by leg issues (only three starts in 2019, which dropped to two last year), but his patient handler and owner Kaz Hosaka have never lost any hope of bringing him back to the races.

As it turned out, they would need another good dose of it again.

"Jupiter Gold doesn't have any tendon problem anymore. His scans have come clear for a while now," said Takaoka.

"So, he's been back in work and even galloped a few times. I was looking at a barrier trial in two weeks, but unfortunately, he's had some hoof problems.

"He's always had that, but it's come up again. We've had to back him off again, but we're not giving up on him."

Right alongside the likes of El Dorado, Jolie's Shinju and Better Life, Jupiter Gold figures among Takaoka's best horses in his 19 years at Kranji since moving from his Hokkaido base in 2002, boasting an imposing record of nine wins and seven placings from 29 starts for prizemoney in excess of $1.4 million.

He was with 2019 Group 1 Raffles Cup winner Makanani the only two big-race winners in Takaoka's yard, but now stands alone after the seven-year-old Black Tide mare was recently retired and sent to Kelantan two weeks ago.