A pair of shades is being thrown on Mr Exchequer in a bid to sharpen up the Singapore Derby prospect in the prelude, the $1 million Group 1 Giovanni Racing Charity Bowl (1600m) this Sunday.

Favourite backers had their hearts in their mouths when Mr Exchequer was taking a month of Sundays to hit the line in the $80,000 Class 3 race (1800m), but under John Powell’s hard riding, the Savabeel four-year-old sprouted wings when it mattered.

All the stars were aligned for Mr Exchequer to win on Friday night and he sure did not let his connections down by turning up with a brilliant win in the $80,000 HJM Asia Cup, a Class 3 race over 1600m.