The Singapore Turf Club has released the prospective fields for the upcoming G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup and G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint May 17, with three previous winners set to make the 4-hour journey from Hong Kong.
Runners from that jurisdiction have accounted for each of the last two renewals of both races, and defending champions Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal) and Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will look to defend their titles in the SAI Cup and KrisFlyer, respectively. Lucky Nine, who is looking for his third consecutive victory in the 1200-meter test, will be joined by fellow top-class sprinters Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a last-out third in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 28, and G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint hero Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), who will look to follow up on his determined score in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo Mar. 29. The last of the five Hong Kong representatives is Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), the 2013 SAI Cup winner who was third to Dan Excel in defense of his title last season.
Smoking Sun (Smart Strike) split the Hong Kong duo last year and will return for another try for the Niarchos Family and trainer Pascal Bary, who saddled Gloria de Campeao (Brz) (Impression {Arg}) to win the 2009 Cup. Previously trained in Dubai by Doug Watson, Cooptado (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg}) has relocated to Singapore and will run for trainer Patrick Shaw in the SAI Cup. Winner in his native land of the G1 Gran Premio Nacional in 2013, the bay was a listed winner at Meydan last December, but was last home in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at the end of March.
Locally based horses have failed to win the SAI Cup since Ouzo (NZ) (Oregon) landed the inaugural running in 2000, and among those who will try to bring the trophy back to Singapore is the former U.S. galloper Parranda (English Channel). The 6-year-old won the CEFC Singapore Cup in her Kranji debut Feb. 22 and was a close third to Stepitup (Aus) (Hussonet) and Quechua (Arg) (Pure Prize) in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over the SAI Cup course and distance Apr. 26.
The home team has been somewhat more successful in the KrisFlyer, with wins in 2011 and 2012, and they have a real chance in the form of Zac Spirit (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}). Third to Lucky Nine 12 months ago, the 5-year-old was most recently runner-up while looking for back-to-back scores in the Lion City Cup Apr. 26. Joao Moreira, who racked up over 700 winners in four full seasons in Singapore, has taken the call for trainer Cliff Brown.
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