Trainer Ricardo Le Grange is looking to get the new season off to a flying start with his gun trio in the $70,000 Class 3 race over the Polytrack mile at Kranji’s opening meeting of 2022 on Sunday.

The South African mentor saddles Polytrack stalwarts Pennywise, Senor Don  and Leatherhead in the day's highlight, which not too long ago would have been the traditional all-weather curtain raiser, the Group 3 New Year Cup (1200m).

As is his customary style, Patrick Shaw's former assistant-trainer would not split his three charges, but he can certainly make a strong case for each one of them.

"They're all fit and well. They have all done well in trackwork," he said.

"Senor Don and Leatherhead have drawn in. It will be up to Harry (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) to get a nice position for Pennywise from his wider gate (seven).

"Pennywise will also carry 59 kilos, but he's so gutsy and is as honest as the day is long. I'm sure he'll give it his best again.

"Senor Don is in great shape. I've put the blinkers on so he is more focused.

"He trialled very well (won) with them on last week (December 21), and Oscar (Chavez) was happy to put them on up to the mile.

"Leatherhead is probably more competitive in Class 4, but I've opted for a higher division to take some weight off him.

"I'm sure Zyrul (Nor Azman) will give him every opportunity from the good draw."

Le Grange may have strength in numbers from the smallish field of eight, but all it takes is one good horse to nullify that perceived advantage - and he's picked up the main danger.

"It's a very competitive race, but I think the horse to beat is David Kok's horse Real Efecto," he said.

"From the good draw (barrier one), he'll have all the favours, but like I said, my three horses are all doing well, and with some luck in running, we can only hope."

One remarkable stat he is hoping will be upheld from that contest is his healthy 2021 strike rate of more than 40% in the first four, even if at the end of the day, the real litmus test is the win strike rate, not placegetters.

Granted, his score of 8.74% is only the 11th highest among the 25 trainers to have filled the ranks in 2021, but Le Grange said it could have been worse given the tough conditions racing has operated under in the last couple of years.

"It was a more than decent performance given the small string I had in comparison to years gone by," said Le Grange, who finished sixth on 27 winners.

"I had a very good strike rate in the top four, which was a good effort considering the new restrictions, like racing only once a week and other difficulties we all face.

"I'm looking to rebuild the team with a few young ones, all unraced bought at the Ready-To-Run sales and coming in January for a new Filipino client. It'll be interesting to see what comes from them."

Besides new blood, Le Grange will also be pinning his hopes on his two top raters, Rocket Star (97) and Katak (91) even if the latter, an undefeated three-time Group 3 winner in South Africa, has only a second place to Hard Too Think in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) to show for in four local starts.

"All going well, Katak will have his first run back in a Class 2 race over 1400m on January 22," he said.

"He will then run in a mile race one month later, all heading towards his main target, the (Group 1) Kranji Mile (May 21).

"Rocket Star is also back on track (since withdrawing from the Singapore Derby due to blood in the mucus), and he will be running in the big races as well."