Trainer Stephen Gray is always on the lookout for a good staying race, and whenever one pops up on the programme, he would try his best to enter a few.

Australian jockey Vlad Duric feels that Alibi has returned a better horse overall as he gears up towards his Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge campaign this Friday.

Six furlongs is not really Lim’s Cruiser’s cup of tea, but punters still liked the resuming miler’s chances for a first-up win in the $200,000 Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) at Kranji on Sunday – and they proved to be right on the money.

Rising Singapore star Countofmontecristo has underlined his talent by maintaining his perfect record.

The Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan got off to an inauspicious note for Singapore after its first runner Quechua finished out of the placings in the US$1 million Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) on Saturday.

Hearts skipped a beat in the Singapore camp when Debt Collector started to improve in his customary style at the half-mile of the US$6 million Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) on Saturday, but the last 300m was the reality check they had long feared as it soon became clear he could not quite sustain the run as he does back home, eventually plodding on to ninth place just under 10 lengths off the winner Vivlos.

Singapore raiders Debt Collector and Quechua landed safely in Dubai on Saturday afternoon, and while they have yet to come out of quarantine, they have pleased connections with the way they have settled in.

Longshot Darci's Boy sprang a major upset in the $35,000 Open Maiden race over 1400m on Sunday, but trainer Bruce Marsh said he did have a hunch he was not without qualities.
 

Jockey Matthew Kellady made his only ride at the Friday meeting count when Hero I Am came from behind to post a brilliant win in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m.

Trainer Mark Walker joked that if Turquoise King did not win at his first test over 1900m, he would send him to New Zealand to race over hurdles.

The road to the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge for promising Japanese-bred Lim’s Samurai hits the ground running in the $60,000 Open Benchmark 67 race over 1200m on Sunday.

Trainer Stephen Gray has had a fairly quiet start to the season, but things have picked up since, and will probably get busier in the coming weeks as his stable stars come rolling out.

Trainer Kuah Cheng Tee put Decreto's debut win down to raw ability, but said better things should be in the offing after he noticed a sharp improvement in his mannerisms since.

A double at Kranji last night has taken Mark Walker two wins clear in the race for the Singapore trainers’ title.

It was touch and go for a while, but Singapore Horse of the Year Debt Collector is a definite starter in the US$6 million Group 1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on March 25.

Promising stayer Magstock rocketed home with a flying finish to take out the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1600m on Sunday.

Favourite Major Tom (Darci Brahma) did not let his punters down with a gallant win in the $75,000 Novice race over 1400m on Sunday.

Trainer Shane Baertschiger and jockey John Powell combined for a race-to-race double with Sacred Army and Preditor on Friday night.

Jockey Danny Beasley has always had a bit of time for Chalaza from Day 1 and it showed in his effusive post-race appraisal after they recombined for a second win on Friday night.

Trainer Cliff Brown saddled two leading hopes in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden 2YO & 3YO race over 1200m on Friday night, and duly obliged - even if it was not quite the result predicted by most.

It’s a fact that apprentice jockeys have been in short supply at Kranji since a large chunk left for other shores to hone their craft, but the temporary setback is only a small kink when stacked up against the greater good of boasting better homegrown jockeys in Singapore one day – and such benefits are already being reaped.

Promising galloper Alibi is ticking all the right boxes as he gears up for his campaign towards the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.

Trainer Steven Burridge is pouring a bit of cold water on the buzz around Autumn Rush in the wake of his last-start romp, but hopes a short break will keep him on the fresh side for another bold showing this Sunday.

Champion trainer Alwin Tan’s love story with the Merlion Trophy is giving no signs of letting up after he captured the sprint feature for the fourth time with Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock) on Sunday, even saddling the quinella for good measure with even-money favourite Nova Swiss (NZ) (Swiss Ace) a close second.

Trainer Cliff Brown gave due credit to owner Graeme Mackie after Gilt Complex stepped up to the plate to land the $80,000 Tuxedo Moon 2011, a Kranji Stakes C race over 1700m on Polytrack on Sunday.