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From seven entries at nomination time, trainer Cliff Brown will in the end saddle only one runner in the $1 million Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) this Sunday, Gold Strike.

The Australian handler pulled out the two Elite horses, Elite Excalibur and Elite Quarteto, long-time top-rated entry Truson, and What's New to be left with the aptly-named Gold Strike, a five-time winner from 1200m to 1800m at Kranji and third Emergency Acceptor Dicton.

Threeandfourpence on 75 points did not make the final cut. Gold Strike himself snuck into the field (he was 22nd in order of entry at first nomination) after he picked up two points at his last start (ninth) in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) and nine horses ahead of him dropped out.

Brown, who boasts one success in the staying handicap with the late Gilt Complex in 2017, may not have had the same strength in numbers by declaration time, but has certainly not lost any hope of a second "Gold" Strike two years later.

"The two Elite horses have gone for a break. I was not happy with them; they had had enough," he said.

"Truson also came out and as for What's New, the 2000m is too far for her. She'll be running in the EW Barker Trophy over a distance (1400m) that suits her better.

"She's going good and Ben Thompson will ride her."

Interestingly, Brown claimed last year's renewal of the handicap race with the Australian jockey at a hit-and-run mission aboard Mister Yeoh, who alongside Circuit Mission will be What's New's stablemates in this year's $400,000 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy, which will be run on Friday night.

"Mister Yeoh is in good order, but he's got 58 kilos which is massive," he rued.

"He's been working well and I liked his trial the other day (October 31 when a half-length second to Wassergeist)."

With a dearth of lightweight jockeys at Kranji, Brown had to go a bit further afield to get a rider for Gold Strike, but who is by no means an unfamiliar partner for the Irish-bred four-year-old by Iffraaj.

"Barend Vorster is actually the one who texted me and asked me if I had any rides for him in the Gold Cup," explained Brown about the recruitment of the former top Kranji lightweight jockey who now plies his trade in Adelaide, Australia with great success since March.

"It's worked out perfectly as Barend is also a good friend of the Yong's (Gold Stable) and he's also won twice on the horse.

"Gold Strike  ran really good in the QEII Cup considering it was a Weight-for-Age race. Don't forget he was two weeks between runs whereas this time he will be three weeks between runs."

Gold Strike's last win came in a Class 3 race over 1800m when ridden by another visiting jockey in Melbourne's Ben Melham. The win was seen as a consolation for the Singapore Derby (1800m) run on the same day, given he didn't qualify in the last Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.

Without taking anything away from one of the country's most prestigious races, Brown will probably be more on tenterhooks a few races earlier, the $175,000 Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1200m) with his two gun three-year-olds facing the starter, the unbeaten Inferno and Bluestone, who could have boasted an identical three-from-three record if not for a brave second at his third start, first-up from a break.

"Both are okay, both worked well, even if Inferno had a big blow after his gallop, and that troubled me a bit," said Brown.

"Both will improve from their first runs fresh off. They will have a break after the Saas Fee and will come back for next year's 3YO series."

When asked if Inferno, the Barree Stable's (same owner as Brown's former champion Debt Collector) new find, could really become the next big thing as he is cracked out to be by most pundits, Brown was again keeping things in perspective.

"He won a nice race first-up (Class 4 race over 1200m), but there is still a long way to go," he simply said.

Regular partner Michael Rodd will stay on board the son of Holy Roman Emperor while Brown has booked visiting jockey William Pike (whose main mission is King Louis in the Singapore Gold Cup) for the ride on Bluestone (x Hallowed Crown).

Except for What's New, Brown has yet to confirm the jockeys for his two other runners in the EW Barker Trophy.