A Singapore Gold Cup berth came so close within Real Efecto’s grasp last week, but this Saturday’s $70,000 Kranji Stakes C race over the same trip of 2000m will work out as a nice consolation - and probably a more achievable target as well.

Trainer David Kok had always been keen to enter the Real Impact four-year-old in the handicap showpiece, but unfortunately, his ratings of 69 could only see him scrape in as the second emergency acceptor.

The first reserve was Special Ops, who eventually took his place in the race after the Singapore Gold Cup, a more modest Class 3 race over 1400m, which he actually won in a pulsating finish.

Taking a leaf from Special Ops ' win, Kok is entitled to also feel bullish about a similar outcome for his charge, even if he had wished for a Class 3 event as well.

"There were no other races for him, no Class 3, so I run him in the Kranji Stakes C, but the 2000m shouldn't be a problem," said the Singaporean handler.

"He's won over 1800m on Polytrack before. I have no doubt he's a stayer.

"Unfortunately, he couldn't make it for the Gold Cup this year. It would have been tough, anyway, against Lim's Lightning.

"But the other EA Special Ops won the next race. This race is also easier for Real Efecto, and I hope he also runs well.

"All goes well, we can get Real Efecto  ready for next year's Gold Cup. He's only four and he'll be a better horse next year."

Kok has without surprise again booked the partner who has steered Real Efecto to the last two of his three wins (1600m to 1800m), Singapore Gold Cup-winning jockey Danny Beasley.

The Australian jockey currently trails Hakim Kamaruddin by six winners into the last stretch of the jockeys' title fight. With two race meetings left, he'll be hungry for wins while hoping that the Malaysian boom apprentice jockey stalls at 56 winners – a scenario deemed unlikely by most given the strong support from his master Mark Walker, who is all but home in the trainers' log going with his better buffer of nine wins (65 versus 56) on Michael Clements.

"Beasley will ride him again, he knows him well. He just won the Gold Cup, and he's in great form," said Kok.

Kok will couple Real Efecto up with another runner on Saturday, Dimesso who carries only 50.5kgs and will have Saifudin Ismail up, but had to wait for his barrier test on Tuesday before confirming the one-time winner as a starter.

"Dimesso was fractious at his last start and needed to pass a barrier test, which he did this morning (fourth to Big Tiger)," said Kok, who just like for Real Efecto, also shares the Dissident rig with local partners.

"Let's hope he jumps on terms this Saturday, but it looks like a tough race for him. Fantastic was entered, but he's not running, he's shown nothing in three starts so far."

On the other hand, Happy Moment has won his last three starts, and is bidding for a four-in-a-row in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1100m on Polytrack.

The Showcasing five-year-old has come back like the complete package at this second prep, change of name (scored his first two wins as Count Me In) and all.

Confidence is relatively high in the Kok camp, but the 58.5kgs impost does give a few jitters.

"The horse has still maintained his form, but I'm a bit worried about the 58.5kgs," said Kok.

"It's a lot heavier than what he carried at his last three wins. Weight can stop a train, I could have used a claimer, but S John (Sundradas) won on him at his last start, and we're going with experience in the end."