The Piala Emas Sultan Selangor on Dec 1 has garnered an even field with no standout in the absence of Malaysia's pin-up horse Antipodean.
Connections decided to skip the RM250,000 (S$75,500) Group 1 event on the premise the 2,000m trip is not yet within the compass of the nine-time winner (1,100m to 1,600m).
A capacity field of 16 was all set to battle it out, but former Kranji galloper Pacific Warrior was scratched on veterinary grounds, leaving Dream Alliance as Singapore's sole post-closure galloper in the mix.
The Into Mischief six-year-old's new handler Wayne Lim obviously does not know him as well as Tim Fitzsimmons, who prepared him to four wins at Kranji.
But the Kuala Lumpur-based trainer, who recently captured his first "black type" with Mega Gems (also a Piala Emas contender along with Golden Pegasus) in the Group 1 Coronation Cup (1,600m) in Ipoh on Nov 11, has been exposed enough to the Legacy Power Racing-owned chestnut to entertain some hope.
"Dream Alliance just came to us. He's had a short prep with us," said Lim.
"But he has a good draw (4), and if he jumps and settles, he has a chance."
Former Kranji trainer Richard Lim's (who has relocated to Kuala Lumpur as well) elder brother was noticeably more bullish about Mega Gems and Golden Pegasus.
"Both worked well recently, but it's also their first time over 2,000m," he added.
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