Trainer Tim Fitzsimmons reckons a wide barrier and fast tempo to the $100,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on Sunday may well enhance Gold Star’s chance of winning.
Of his six wins (1200 to1400m) thus far, five were achieved with a sweeping run down the outside part of the home straight. On the other hand, the six-year-old son of Redente was not as sharp when taking an inside run at his last start in a Class 1 race on the turf a month ago, finishing sixth behind Fame Star.
With the speedy Kharisma likely to set a brisk pace, Fitzsimmons expects they will roll along - and hopefully that can see his ward charge home at the business end.
"He went to the inside for a run at his last start, but he didn't seem to finish as well," said the current leading trainer on 19 wins.
"He's a horse that needs some room, so I would prefer an outside barrier for him.
"He won a trial last week (Thursday) and he will have a light gallop tomorrow. He's really good and I'm very happy with him.
"He just needs to have a good speed on, and if they go quick in front, that's the best chance for him to win.
"I think it's a really hot race. Fame Star and Celavi are the ones to beat. Also, I saw Jerome Tan's Sacred Gift gallop this morning. He was fantastic.
"Harry (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) is riding him this week."
Gold Star is also nominated in the $1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) coming up in five weeks (May 21), alongside stablemates Lucky Jinsha and Relentless.
On ratings, Gold Star (85 points) and Lucky Jinsha (84 points) are ranked 14th and 15th out of 31 nominees, while Relentless (66 points) looks unlikely to qualify as he sits at the bottom of the list.
However, should Gold Star or Lucky Jinsha not make the cut either, Fitzsimmons has a back-up plan for them: the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m).
"Kranji Mile is an option for Gold Star, but it all depends on how he runs," said Fitzsimmons as he watched Relentless (Nunes) win the second heat of the barrier trials on Tuesday morning.
"There is a Class 1 race over the 1200m on that day, and he will more than likely go for that. Then, we'll set him for the Lion City Cup in August (14).
"Lucky Jinsha is going for the Class 1 race over the 1400m at the end of April. If he runs really well, we'll give it (Kranji Mile) some serious thoughts. That run would tell us if he's a pure sprinter or if he can get the mile.
"I'm also trying him over the 1400m for another reason, which is the Four-Year-Old series that's coming up.
"But again, he's in a similar situation. If he looks like he cannot run the 1400m strongly, we'll come back and set him for the Lion City Cup instead."
The vastly-improved Lucky Jinsha has reeled in five wins in-a-row over the 1200m at his most recent runs, with Fitzsimmons keen to test the Shooting To Win four-year-old over more ground. The Class 1 race (1400m) pencilled in for him on April 30 is shaping up to be a mouth-watering clash among top guns like Lim's Kosciuszko, Katak and Minister.
The Singapore-Four-Year-Old Challenge series last comprised three legs, namely the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m), the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) and the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m). The series has since been cancelled, but the last two Legs remain as standalone feature races to be run on June 26 and July 17 this year.
