Trackwatchers had a busy day on Wednesday morning with several of the 22 contenders to the Singapore Airlines International Cup and KrisFlyer International Sprint clocking fast times, more so for the local runners.

One of the most impressive workouts came from Singapore Derby winner JOLIE'S SHINJU who turned in a sparkling hit-out that suggested she was back in form, but connections would rather not get too carried away.

The Lotus Room was also getting more packed with visitors, be it international media and trainers and jockeys who had recently arrived to play their part in their charge's preparation towards the two feature races.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP

Al Shemali (UAE) - Ali Rashid Al Raihe

Cantered on grass over one lap and worked home in the second lap with race jockey Royston Ffrench in the saddle. Last 600m in 38.1 seconds and last 200m in 13 seconds.

"That was his final workout. He breezed up the home straight and I'm very happy with the way he went," said trainer Ali Rashid al Raihe.

"He'll now just go at three-quarter pace on Friday. Everything is going the right way."

Ffrench who rode AL SHEMALI to his memorable Dubai Duty Free success last March was delighted to be reunited with the flashy chestnut at Kranji.

"He seems in good form and is striding very well. He had a nice gallop on the turf today, nothing too serious, but he did it very easily," said Ffrench who first rode in Singapore two years ago when he partnered Lovelace to seventh in the KrisFlyer.

"It's no different from his preparation in Dubai really. He may have a pipe opener over a couple of furlongs before Sunday.

"The good thing is he's travelled well and we can only hope for the best on Sunday. He's a very versatile horse and can position himself anywhere in the race.

"It's a big advantage to have ridden here before. So I won't need much familiarisation, and will focus on just the big race."

Gloria De Campeao (FRA) (pictured) - Pascal Bary

Warm-up on the Polytrack over one lap before cantering on second lap and working home with track rider Christophe Bretez aboard.

"He did the same thing as yesterday. Canter from the 12, slow down before home turn and pick up speed down the straight," said travelling foreman Josephine Soudan.

"I think for some reason he's a little more restrained here in Singapore compared to Dubai. He was just like that last year (when he won the SIA Cup).

"Maybe it's because he spent four months there and he's here for a shorter period of time.

"But he seems to know what he's doing and where he's going. Tout va bien (all's good)!"

Yamanin Kingly (JPN) - Hiroshi Kawachi

Canter of one lap under race jockey Yuichi Shibayama on the turf.

Jockey Yuichi Shibayama arrived last night and wasted no time reacquainting himself with YAMANIN KINGLY.

"It feels like the horse is very settled," said Shibayama following his light workout.

"The ground felt really good out there and the horse is happy and in form. I'm confident the horse will run well.

"He will just have an easy workout again tomorrow to keep him relaxed."

Shibayama said he was hopeful of drawing a barrier towards the inside at tomorrow's post position draw.

"He's a front runner, so drawing closer to the inside would be preferred."

Shadow Gate (JPN) - Yukihiro Kato

An 1800m canter on the turf track which followed a three furlong trot. Covered last 600m in 45.5 seconds, last 200m in 15.6 seconds before an extended walk to cool down.

Travelling manager Toshi Yoshino said the eight-year-old had surprised him a bit with how he behaved out on the track during his work.

"I thought he would be a bit silly out there and would be looking around," said Yoshino. "He's an eight-year-old now but is really settled and was happy in his work."

SHADOW GATE was displaying coltish behavior and squealing as he left the track, particularly when passing the stables where Hong Kong visitor JOY AND FUN is stabled.

Yoshino said SHADOW GATE will have a "breeze" tomorrow once jockey Katsuharu Tanaka and trainer Yukihiro Kato, who are due into Singapore tonight, arrive.

Presvis (GB) - Luca Cumani

Cantered over one lap on the Polytrack.

"He cantered over 7 furlongs on the Polytrack and looked good," said assistant-trainer Charlie Henson.

"He then went to the paddock for a look. He was all relaxed."

Lizard's Desire (SA) - Mike de Kock

Cantered straight off on the grass and sprinted home with race jockey Kevin Shea aboard. Last 600m in 38.2 seconds and last 200m in 13.6 seconds.

"Very happy with him and I'm pleased with the way he has travelled here," said Shea, who was aboard at his narrow second to GLORIA DE CAMPEAO in the Dubai World Cup.

"He's doing very well, moving very well and feels just as good as he was in Dubai.

"He can get a little on edge, but he's been good here.

"There were no excuses in Dubai. He had a good run throughout but needed just one more stride.

"Maybe he'll have fast work on Friday, I'm not sure. We'll see how it goes."

Lahaleeb (BAH) - Fawzi Nass

Cantered over one lap on the Polytrack with race jockey John Egan in the saddle.

"She feels 100 per cent. I just walked and jogged her today, and she cantered a few strides," said Egan.

"She's going the right way. I trotted her over 1800m and walked her over 1600m.

"She then got a bit fresh and I let her break into a hack for 50m and backed down on her again.

"It's been a great team effort to bring her to her current level. She's put on 4kg since yesterday and she would be just 2kg off her racing weight of 425kg.

"The filly will tell us if she needs any gallop. It's also up to Fawzi.

"She's pretty fit now. So the most important part is to keep her well."

Drovetti (SG) - Steven Burridge

Galloped on the Polytrack under race jockey John Powell, running last 600m in 36.3 seconds, last 200m in 11.9 seconds.

"He's as fit as he can be," said jockey John Powell. "Here's hoping anyway. I'm glad to be having a ride in the race."

Powell, who will be having his first ride on the gelding, said he would study the gelding's previous runs.

"At the end of the day I'll be looking for the shortest way home against this lot," said Powell. "You just never know what can happen."

El Dorado (SG) - Hideyuki Takaoka

Ridden by Saimee Jumaat, EL DORADO joined WAIKATO in a gallop over 2000m, running home the last 600m in 35.2 seconds, last 200m in 11.9 seconds on the turf track.

It was the third time that Saimee had been on EL DORADO's back and the jockey said he keeps raising the level of his work.

"This time on the grass he felt a lot more comfortable," said Saimee. "The trainer has done an excellent job with him and he feels just about spot on.

"There should be good pace on and that is only going to help him at the finish."

Goldschatz (SG) - Stephen Gray

Worked on the Polytrack under race jockey Vlad Duric, running last 600m in 38.7 seconds, last 200m in 11.9 seconds.

Duric who has ridden GOLDSCHATZ at his last seven starts, said the gelding was holding his form well in the lead-up to the big race.

"His work has been good and I'm sure he'll run his best race," said Duric. "The speed will be on which will help him, unfortunately the better class ones keep going.

"Following his little freshen he has come back well, but I think his last run in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup has topped him off.

"Obviously this is much tougher, but I hope to give him a good ride and see what he can do."

Jolie's Shinju (SG) - Hideyuki Takaoka

With race jockey Ronnie Stewart up, she worked on the turf track, running home the last 600m in 35.7 seconds, last 200m in 11.5 seconds.

Jockey Ronnie Stewart believes JOLIE'S SHINJU is just about back to her best but wished the race was still another three weeks away.

"I am very happy with her," said Stewart. "This last week she has just continued to improve and hopefully she is about ready to recapture her best form.

"Ideally I would prefer her to be running over 1600m this weekend and then the SIA Cup, just to get a good guide as to how she is going.

"But this is the best she has felt for a long time. Mr Takaoka has done a great job. His horses always step up in their last few gallops before a big race."

Waikato (SG) - Laurie Laxon

Ridden by race jockey Joao Moreira, WAIKATO worked with fellow SIA Cup contender El Dorado over 2000m, the last 600m in 35.2 seconds, last 200m in 11.9 seconds.

"He looked pretty good to me," said trainer Laurie Laxon. "He finished alongside the other horse and did work nicely.

"It is not long to the big race now, so we'll just keep him ticking over." KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT

Gold Trail (AUS) - Gary Portelli

A light canter under Olivier Placais on the Polytrack.

Handler Amanda Shotbolt reported GOLD TRAIL had added a "couple of kilos" following his workout on the Polytrack on Tuesday.

"I weighed him after his workout yesterday and he's put on a couple of kilos since his arrival," said Shotbolt.

"He's happy and doing extremely well. I couldn't be happier with how he's settled in."

Shotbolt said trainer Gary Portelli was due to arrive in Singapore this afternoon.

Eagle Falls (AUS) - David Hayes

Gallop over 1000m on grass with travelling foreman Lizzy Jelfs up. Last 600m in 36 seconds and last 200m in 11.7 seconds.

"He seems good. He settled very well in Dubai and seems to have settled here very well too," said trainer David Hayes who arrived on Tuesday.

"He did a gallop and breezed over 1000m on grass and sprinted up within the last 400m.

"He did pretty well and everything's spot-on. I will get him to do 14 to the furlong tomorrow and some light work on Friday and that will be that."

Hayes is hoping for better luck in the running than in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in which EAGLE FALLS ran fifth to Kinsale King. ROCKET MAN ran a half-length second after dropping back further away than he normally races.

"If Rocket Man was unlucky, EAGLE FALLS was very unlucky. I had someone who took the sectional times and he told me he ran the fastest 400m.

"If he had clear running, he might have been right with the first two. Obviously ROCKET MAN is a clear local champion for whom I have the utmost respect, but I don't think it's impossible to beat him.

"I've had a few runners in the International races here before such as Vroom Vroom, Ain't Here, Charming City. North Boy won the KrisFlyer for us in 2002 but he wasn't trained by me then as I was in Hong Kong.

"But EAGLE FALLS is probably one of the better chances I've had here."

Happy Zero (HK) - John Moore

Canter over 1 ½ lap of the Polytrack with track rider Ali Shazard astride.

"He did the same work as yesterday. He was nice and relaxed working by himself," said George Moore, son of trainer John Moore.

"He was all by himself on the track and that's when he's the happiest. Can't complain, everything's going smoothly."

Joy And Fun (HK) - Derek Cruz

A light canter on the Polytrack.

Trainer Derek Cruz was on hand to cast his eye over JOY AND FUN before heading to Changi Airport and a return flight to Hong Kong for racing at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

He said he would fly back to Singapore on Thursday to oversee the final stages of JOY AND FUN's preparation.

"He just had a trot and a light canter around," said Cruz. "Everything is in order with him.

"He's happy and I'm happy. We are now hoping for a good draw and a good performance."

Green Birdie (HK) - Caspar Fownes

Cantered over one lap with track rider Dale Bussey on Polytrack.

"I am flying back to Hong Kong today as I've got a big stable and got a few runners tonight, but I wanted to be here to see for myself how he is doing," said trainer Caspar Fownes who arrived last night.

"I'm very happy with him. He's looking very well though it can get quite warm here.

"He's eating 80 per cent of his ration, but that's all right as he's never been a big doer anyway.

"He put in a good run today and reeled off a very good sectional.

"He's more of a backmarker who sits off the pace and hits the line strongly, but if the pace is slow, we may ride him a little closer.

"He won't be working fast as most of the work's already been done back home. Mark (du Plessis) gets in on Friday evening, but he was champion here and knows the track very well."

Mariol (FRA) - Robert Collet

Cantered over 1100m on the Polytrack and a quick dash up the straight with track rider Nadege Ouakli up. Last 600m in 36.9 seconds and last 200m in 11.9 seconds.

"The horse feels nice. He's eating well and is in good spirits," said Ouakli.

"I'm not sure if he will work fast tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. It all depends on his owner Micheline (Vidal)."

Cheyenne Dancer (SG) & Ntini (SG) - Michael Freedman

With race jockeys Danny Beasley (CHEYENNE DANCER) and Vlad Duric (NTINI) on board, the pair worked over 800m, the last 600m in 35.7 seconds, last 200m in 11.6 seconds on the turf.

Trainer Michael Freedman said the pair worked well and is looking forward to them running forward races on Sunday.

"They worked within themselves but stretched out well," said Freedman. "They are pretty fit now so we will have a fairly easy time between now and Sunday."

Freedman said if Sunday's KrisFlyer had been over 1400m or 1600m he would be going into the race full of confidence, especially with CHEYENNE DANCER.

"CHEYENNE DANCER may find the 1200m a bit sharp, but he'll be getting home strongly," said Freedman. "I would like a bit of fire out of the ground for CHEYENNE DANCER whereas NTINI would be better suited on top of the ground."

Mexican Rose (SG) - Laurie Laxon

Ridden by race jockey Saimee Jumaat, MEXICAN ROSE cantered a lap on the Polytrack before speeding up on her second circuit, running the last 600m in 38.6 seconds, the last 200m in 12.2 seconds.

"We kept her on the Polytrack this morning as when we worked her on the grass before the Lion City Cup she worked a bit hot," said Saimee.

"She had an easy gallop this morning and I had a good hold of her on the line. She still had plenty left."

Saimee said he was hoping for a better draw for the filly in Sunday's race after drawing barriers eight, 10 and 10 at her last three starts.

Rocket Man (SG) - Patrick Shaw

Kept to hand walking.

"It is my usual practice after I work them on a Tuesday morning just to give them a walk," said trainer Patrick Shaw.

"He did a bit more than I wanted him to do yesterday, but he'll be out tomorrow for another canter.

"Everything has gone to plan so far."