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Raffles Cup surprise packet Safeer showed his third place in the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series was no flash in the pan after he posted an impressive barrier trial win on Tuesday morning.

The Savabeel five-year-old was one of three runners fielded by trainer Michael Clements in the Group 1 Raffles Cup over the mile on September 22, but truth be told, nobody would have batted an eyelid if told the Zimbabwean-born handler had only Countofmontecristo and Eye Guy.

But it was the unheralded Safeer  who eclipsed his two better-fancied stablemates at the business end, nearly landing the top prize if not for an ultra-combative Makanani and fast-finishing Mr Clint finishing in advance of him by narrow margins.

Mind you, Safeer is no slouch. The Al-Arabiya Stable-owned galloper counts five wins (1000m to 1200m) at Kranji, with the latest coming in a Class 3 race over 1200m on July 26.

He was not disgraced when stepped up in class at his next two runs when third, but the Raffles Cup was seen by most as punching above his weight, with the trip a query as well.

Even assistant-trainer Michael White was taken by surprise by the withering burst coming from near-last under jockey Benny Woodworth.

"He surprised us all. Actually, no-one realised he was even in the race!" said the Australian horseman.

"We didn't think he'd be up to that sort of grade, but he greatly exceeded our expectations.

"It was always the plan to run him in the Raffles Cup, but we knew the QEII Cup (second Leg, Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 1800m) and Gold Cup (third Leg, Dester Singapore Gold Cup over 2000m) would be too far for him.

"The EW Barker Trophy was his next race, and the freshen-up in between races would be just nice."

The Group 2 EW Barker Trophy is a handicap feature race over 1400m due on Friday week on November 8.

"He is well and truly on track for the Barker. Daniel Moor rode him in a trial this morning, I'm very happy with that trial," said White.

"Daniel will ride him in the EW Barker. He's had a nice freshen-up after the Raffles Cup and we expect him to go well.

"He'll then have a break, and maybe, we'll then prepare him for the Kranji Mile next year."

The Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) was run as an Invitational race in the last two years and was taken on both occasions by Hong Kong's Southern Legend.