KEY POINTS:
Laurie Laxon has declared South African galloper Oracle West the horse to beat in tomorrow's S$3 million ($2.7 million) Singapore Airlines International Cup.
The former New Zealand trainer will produce three runners in the invitational race, Crusoe, Big Easy and Royal Admiral and New Zealand will be further
represented by Dezigna, trained by Wayne Hillis and ridden by Vinny Colgan.
"Oracle West has got Dubai form - that's good form," Laxon told the Weekend Herald yesterday.
Oracle West, prepared by well-travelled Mike De Kok, finished second to Hong Kong's Vengeance Of Rain in the Dubai Sheema Classic before finishing sixth in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.
"He's the horse I'm worried about," said Laxon.
Laxon says track conditions will play a huge part.
"It's been raining for some part of every day in Singapore, but not always here at the track - it might be out west. If it's fine, Crusoe is the best of mine and if it rains, Royal Admiral can be in it. He just loves it wet."
New Zealand jockey Andrew Calder rides Crusoe, a better than useful 3-year-old in New Zealand last season.
"Andrew gets on well with him. He's not the easiest horse to ride, he's light in the mouth."
Laxon has Darren Beadman on former Singapore Horse Of The Year Big Easy.
"He got galloped on in the Singapore Gold Cup and had time off and it's taken a while to get him fit again."
The Singapore Turf Club found no hard luck stories at the barrier draw.
Head lad for Kandidate, Desmond Reape, couldn't help but punch the air with delight when the Clive Brittain-trained runner drew the number one marble.
"We've never had a draw so good! He normally jumps well so we'll be hoping he does the same on Sunday and that he comes out running," said Reape. "He's led many times and he's also come from off the pace, but he predominantly runs from the front, so I'm very happy with his draw."
From the inside to the far outside and it was local Royal Admiral who drew 13, but while some may consider this number as unlucky, Laxon certainly didn't.
"Well, if the rain continues to fall the outside is going to be where you want to be, so it certainly doesn't worry me."
The two Japanese contenders drew next to each with Shadow Gate in 10 and defending champion Cosmo Bulk in 9.
"We were hoping for a smaller number but 10 is still a good position," said Yukihiro Kato, trainer of Shadow Gate.
"We don't really care where he is drawn as he has very good speed."
Track rider Kenji Enami, who has rarely left Cosmo Bulk's side since arriving, was very happy with his draw. "The only thing is the short distance from the start to the first turn which may make it difficult for us, but he has enough speed to cross if he needs to."
French-based trainer Richard Gibson was pleased not only with the draw (11) but with the way Doctor Dino is going as they head into tomorrow's event.
"He had a good year last year when he won three on the trot including a group three. This year we have kept him a little fresh and he ran a very good third to Dylan Thomas who I believe is the best mile-and-a-quarter horse in Europe this year," said Gibson.
"That race was just three weeks ago, so really we haven't needed to do a great deal with him, rather the opposite as he appreciated a little breather. He sits off the pace in his run so the draw is fine. Hopefully there will be a strong pace to suit him."
South Africa's Oracle West drew well in 5, with assistant trainer Steven Jell saying: "He did well in Dubai and he was probably at his peak then, so if we can get him there like that on Sunday we'll be right in it.
"We've changed his work a little to help sharpen him up and he seems to be working well and enjoying it. The draw is fine as he can be as close to the pace as he needs to be."
Hillis, who was as "happy as a dog with two tails" following Dezigna's work on Wednesday, continued to smile when the galloper drew gate 2.
"We'll you couldn't be happier with that. He'll settle in behind the speed with cover and with a bit of luck the pace will be on and that will help him to come home," said Hillis.
"His jockey Vinny Colgan knows the horse extremely well and I'll be able to just leave it up to him."
South African trainer Patrick Shaw has not only been overseeing the preparation of Mike de Kock's Oracle West, but also his own two contenders Setembro Chove and War Horn, who drew 7 and 8 respectively.
"They'll be a bit of speed on so I'm happy with their gates," said Shaw. "Their jockeys [Robbie Fradd and Barend Vorster] will be able to see how much pace there is once they jump. It'll be up to them to ensure they aren't too far from the leaders once they all get sorted out and into stride."
Last year the locals were well represented when Steven Burridge's King And King ran a gallant second to Cosmo Bulk and from barrier 6 he should have every chance again.
"It [barrier 6] just makes things a lot easier for us," said Burridge. "At least we can ride him the way we want this time - steady and midfield hopefully. Last year we were drawn wide and we were committed to ride him from behind."
* With no legal bookmakers in Singapore to set an early market there is no indication of tote odds until raceday.