This year’s two International Group 1 races, the $3 million Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) and $1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) have yet again garnered quality fields, both locally and from overseas.

Hong Kong, last year’s winning country in both marquee races, will be looking at a repeat feat with the biggest foreign team of five entries. Title defenders DAN EXCEL (SIA Cup) and LUCKY NINE (last two KrisFlyers) are back for another shot along with 2013 SIA Cup winner MILITARY ATTACK and two new raiders, Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner AEROVELOCITY and frequent flyer RICH TAPESTRY (KrisFlyer), incidentally the first contenders sent to Kranji by trainers Paul O’Sullivan and Michael Chang respectively.

Europe has been represented every year since the Internationals began in 2000 and this year is no different. France will have two gallopers, namely last year’s SIA Cup runner-up SMOKING SUN for Pascal Bary, already an SIA Cup winner with Gloria De Campeao in 2009, and FREE PORT LUX, a Group 2 winner (Prix Hocquart) in France for leading trainer Freddy Head of Goldikova fame while English trainer Ian Williams saddles SIR MAXIMILIAN, recent winner of the Group 2 Meydan Sprint in Dubai.

The remaining globetrotters hail from Japan and the Middle-East. MEINER FROST, third in the Japanese Derby last year, will bid for a third Japan victory (after Cosmo Bulk and Shadow Gate) in the SIA Cup while Bahrain trainer Fawzi Nass will hope to be third time lucky (after Lahaleeb and Krypton Factor) with a runner, this time, HOTOTO in the KrisFlyer.
 
Local hopes will rest on 11 runners, six in the SIA Cup, including a just-landed former Dubai galloper in COOPTADO, now in the care of Kranji trainer Patrick Shaw, and five in the KrisFlyer.

The home contingent in the SIA Cup will be headed by last year’s Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup winner QUECHUA, who will be joined by stablemate JOHNNY GUITAR for a three-pronged Shaw attack. The remaining Singapore entries boast two Queen Elizabeth II Cup winners, STEPITUP (2015) and WILD GEESE (2014) as well as CECF Singapore Cup winner, recent US import PARRANDA.
 
Running up against the overseas top guns in the KrisFlyer will be current Singapore champion sprinter ZAC SPIRIT, his arch-rival EMPEROR MAX and star filly KIWI KARMA, who finished in that order behind War Affair in a thrilling finish to the Lion City Cup two weeks ago.
 
Also in the mix are sprinting stalwarts two-time Merlion Trophy winner EL PADRINO and MAGNETO who brings up Shaw’s fourth runner for the two races.