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There was not much to write home about for the Hong Kong duo’s dawn appearance on Tuesday. Both Southern Legend – watched by trainer Caspar Fownes who flew in the day before - and Singapore Sling just cantered around the Polytrack, but looking good in their coat.

On the other hand, it was a busy morning for six of the eight Singapore runners. They came out for their final gallops, while only Elite Excalibur and Countofmontecristo had a day off after wrapping theirs up earlier in the week. 

Now that the bulk of the work is completed, not much head-turning piece of work would be expected in the next three mornings, although the two Hong Kong raiders might open up a little more, either on Wednesday or Thursday.

Singapore Sling (HK) – Tony Millard 

Cantered over 1 ½ laps under track rider Cheung Hiu Ming on Track 2. 

“It was a quiet morning for him. Uneventful is good,” said trainer Tony Millard’s wife Beverly. 

“He just went a touch stronger than yesterday. The Polytrack here is bigger than ours back home.”

Track rider Cheung Hiu Ming said that the Philanthropist five-year-old took a couple of days to adjust to the new way of going, but is now changing legs better. 

“He changed legs a lot better this morning. We practice that way of going on Mondays in Hong Kong,” said Cheung. 

“He’s quite a tricky horse to ride as he hangs a lot, so you need to be on top of him.”

Southern Legend (HK) – Caspar Fownes 

Cantered over 1 ½ laps under track rider Edward Leung on Track 2 with trainer Caspar Fownes on hand for the first time. 

“He had a good freshen after his Dubai run (sixth to Almond Eye in the Dubai Turf in March), and he seems to have bounced back,” said trainer Caspar Fownes. 

“His blood count is all good, he’s eating and drinking well, he has no temperature. In this business, that’s all you can ask for until race night.”

Blizzard (SG) – Lee Freedman 

Came out for a gallop on Track 2 under jockey Daniel Moor, running the last 600m in 37.6 seconds. 

“He’s good. He had blinkers on once in Hong Kong and it didn’t make much difference,” said trainer Lee Freedman. 

“It’s his last run this prep and we’re thinking of putting both the blinkers and crossover noseband on. Let’s see how. 

“He had a quiet gallop as he’s a fit horse and doesn’t need much work.” 

Regular partner Daniel Moor still helped out with the ride on the Hong Kong-owned chestnut at that final hit-out even if he will be replaced by Hong Kong-based South African jockey Aldo Domeyer on D-Day. 

“Blizzard’s in good order. He has at least maintained his form,” said Moor. 

“He had the blinkers on, he can get a touch keen, but I think he will be in his element on Saturday. Lee has got him as good as he can be. 

“He did 1000m evens and brushed off the last 600m. He did it under his own steam. 

“He’s quite deep into his preparation, he doesn’t need a lot of work.” 

Countofmontecristo (SG) – Michael Clements 

Swam. Had a day off after Monday’s gallop at Track 6. 

Debt Collector & Elite Excalibur (SG) – Cliff Brown

Elite Excalibur swam. Debt Collector (Michael Rodd) had an easy gallop on Track 6, looking in fine fettle. 

“Two years ago, Gilt Complex was running in the Gold Cup on Sunday. He had a gallop on Wednesday, and then he was still full of beans and I thought I’d give him another gallop on Friday,” said trainer Cliff Brown. 

“Gilt Complex won the Gold Cup. On the other hand, I didn’t gallop Elite Excalibur that week, and he got beaten a neck (in third) in the same race. 

“That’s why Elite Excalibur is a horse who needs to be kept fresh. Don De La Vega is different as he needs a lot of work. It depends on the horse, they’re all different. 

“You learn as you go along. There are much more mistakes than good ideas in racing. 

“In saying this, I’m very happy with both horses, even if among the locals, I think Countofmontecristo will put in a big run.” 

Debt Collector’s regular partner Michael Rodd said if there was one year that the 2016 Singapore Horse of the Year would be ready to take on such world-class opposition, 2019 was it. 

“That was his final piece of work. It was more a maintenance gallop than anything else,” said the Australian jockey. 

“He’s fine, he’s just gone through the motions. All his work is done -- it couldn’t be any better, and we’ll just keep him in cottonwool from now on. 

“This is the best time to have a crack at the Hong Kong horses because I think he’s at his peak. 

“It’s no secret they’re the two best horses in the race. If they have average luck, and we have better luck, who knows what can happen.”

King Louis (SG) – Ricardo Le Grange

Galloped on Track 2 with race-rider Vlad Duric doing the steering. Ran the last 600m in 36.8 seconds.

“King Louis worked really well on the main track. He came off one round and galloped with Pennywise,” said jockey Vlad Duric. 

“He’s pulled up good. He’s as good as where Ricardo can get him – let’s see if he is good enough on the day.”

Makanani (SG) – Hideyuki Takaoka

Ridden by race-jockey Marc Lerner, Makanani galloped with stablemate Quadcopter (Ryohei Hatano), going around Track 6 and sprinting off the last two furlongs. She clocked 35.8 seconds for the last 600m. 

“It was a good blowout. She quickened up over 400m,” said French jockey Marc Lerner. 

“She’s in good form and we’ll just wait for the big race now.”

Preditor (SG) – Shane Baertschiger 

Pulled hard under Matthew Kellady over one circuit on Track 2 before letting down in 36.6 seconds inside last three furlongs. 

“All’s good, he just wants to go, and he has always been like that,” said trainer Shane Baertschiger. 

“He will walk tomorrow annd he will have a light canter on Friday. He’s in very good shape but it’ll still be hard to beat Debt Collector at level weights, let alone the two Hong Kong horses.”

War Affair (SG) – Bruce Marsh

Final gallop on Track 2 with race-jockey Daniel Moor jumping aboard for the first time. Clocked 37.8 seconds for last 600m. 

“Second-up over 1600m is not ideal for him, but I’m very happy with his work considering he’s probably short of one run,” said trainer Bruce Marsh. 

Jockey Daniel Moor said he was pleasantly surprised by the eight-year-old warrior’s general demeanour going into the Kranji Mile on Saturday. 

“It was my first sit on War Affair. We went to the trotting ring first and he was striding out beautifully out there,” said the Australian jockey. 

“He deserves to be in it even if he is not as deep into his preparation. Hopefully, he can be as competitive as he can be.”