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Distinctive Darci has continued his terrific recent form with a good win in the Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on the Polytrack at Kranji on Friday night.
The Mark Walker-trained runner was up in grade off two Stakes A wins, the most recent over 1000m on the Polytack.
Distinctive Darci settled back in the ruck and looked in trouble on the turn but under an inspired ride by Vlad Duric, weaved his way through the field in the straight to score a narrow win over the well fancied Countofmontecristo.
The four-year-old Darci Brahma gelding returned a clear new career peak Timeform figure of 111, 10 pounds above his previous best achieved the start prior.
Distinctive Darci ran three pounds above 2017 winner Infantry and the same figure as 2014 and 2015 winner El Padrino still well below Spalato who is the clear top rated winner of the race (123).
Connections are still unsure if Distinctive Darci who loves the Polytrack will head towards the Lion City Cup which is on the turf his least preferred surface.
Countofmontecristo would not have lost too many admirers and for much of the straight looked to have the race well in his grasp.
The champion three-year-old ran to a Timeform figure of 110, the same as his previous start in the Group 3 Rocket Man Sprint (1200m).
The Michael Clements-trained runner has missed the placings just once in his 12 starts to date and continues to race consistently well in top flight company.
Lim’s Cruiser was a length back in third and ran to a Timeform figure of 106, two pounds above his previous effort in the Raffles Cup.
The other feature race of the evening saw Circuit Land upset the well fancied runners Infantry and Elite Excalibur in the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy
Coming off a modest effort in the Group 3 Committee’s Prize the start prior, Circuit Land found himself settling off the leaders before running on well in the straight to edge out Infantry over the final stages.
The Lee Freedman trained runner who was having just his second start in Singapore ran to a Timeform figure of 110, well below the 121 he ran to when third in the Lion Rock Trophy at Sha Tin last year.
Circuit Land is the equal highest rated winner of the race since Chase Me in 2012 (112) running the same figure as Stepitup in 2015, one pound above 2017 winner Forever Young.
Having run to much higher figures in Hong Kong, Circuit Land appears as though he can certainly compete with the top flight horses in Singapore going forward and is well worth keeping an eye on.
Infantry looked the winner for much of the straight and finishing second ran to a Timeform figure of 109, his highest since running to 114 when winning the Group 1 Kranji Mile last year.
Elite Excalibur was also below his best and ran to 107, two pounds below his win in the Committee’s Prize the start prior.