US-bred sprinter Fame Star had been handed the dreaded outside gate in the $300,000 Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) this Sunday, and trainer Stephen Crutchley hopes for him to be quick out of the gates to beat the draw.
It will be the 2019 Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) winner's bid for glory at his third attempt (after 2020 and 2021) in the premier sprint.
But, he faces an uphill task.
His opponents like defending champion and likely race favourite Lim's Lightning , freshly-crowned Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) winner Lim's Kosciuszko, Grand Koonta, King Arthur, Kharisma and other classy sprinters in the big field of 16 will stand in his way.
Also, the seven-year-old son of Twirling Candy had not won at his last five starts, including a seventh to Lim's Lightning in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) in May.
After he finished last behind King Arthur in a Class 1 race (1200m) a month ago at his last start, Crutchley had tweaked his training routine a little, but the Kiwi handler knew that much would still have to depend on the early speed battle this time.
"He was restless in the barrier and jumped a bit slow the last time, so we've done a few things different after that," said Crutchley.
"He trialled well last Thursday (second to Katak) without the blinkers. (Jockey) Blake (Shinn) pushed him a bit, and he said he went all the way to the line. But he'll still wear blinkers in the races like he normally does.
"He pulled up nice after that. I'm happy with him.
"The Short Course suits him and though we hoped for an inside draw, he's drawn 10, not ideal for a frontrunning horse.
"There are so many good horses in the field this time. It's a very strong Lion City Cup, so I wouldn't want him out wide. We've got to leave the machine quick and get him into the right position.
"We did run him in the past holding him a little bit and he has won, but they were against the lesser quality horses.
"Also, I reckon if it rains, (trainer) Shane's (Baertschiger) horse (Nepean) would roll forward, if not, many others could.
"It all depends on the pace, so I have to discuss with the owners (Toast Trusts & Shane Mcdonnell Stable) and jockey Silvestre (de Sousa) to come up with a plan.
"I like the track the way it is now, so I hope it doesn't rain."
Connections have invited the three-time British champion jockey and 12-time Group 1 winner to take the reins on Fame Star, who Crutchley believes would be of good help in the feature race.
"Silvestre is a very good rider and having him on sure helps," he said.
"The owners invited him, and he rode Fame Star for an easy piece of work this morning. He's (Fame Star) already done his last gallop on Wednesday."
The Brazilian-born British citizen rode mainly in the United Kingdom after leaving his native country, but also enjoyed three successful short stints in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2019, where he bagged the International Jockeys' Championship in December 2018 and took out the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Cup with Glorious Forever four days later.
He will be jetting off to the Asian racing mecca on August 23 after being granted a six-months riding licence by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ride in their upcoming season from August 2022 to February 2023.
Before that however, he is focused with the task at hand and even took some advice from fellow countrymate Manoel Nunes after arriving in Singapore on Thursday evening.
"I flew out on Tuesday night after my last two rides, and this is only my second visit to Singapore. The weather's nice, not too hot, though a bit humid," said de Sousa who rode Hunter's Light to run sixth behind Hong Kong's winner Military Attack in the 2013 Singapore Airlines International Cup.
"The last time I came, I arrived in the afternoon and left at night. This time, we went around the stables in the morning. There were not many horses working, but it's a lovely and beautiful environment.
"I sat on him (Fame Star) this morning and he felt pretty well. The gate's a bit tricky, but Stephen has done most of the work with the horse now, so hopefully he runs well.
"I haven't ran though the field from top to bottom, but Manoel (rode Fame Star once at his previous start) and I talked over the phone yesterday. He gave me some tips and also on riding the tracks here.
"I know he's injured and resting now. We've known each other for long and we'd talk when I was in the UK.
"I have four other rides and there are some live chances too. It would be great to get my first win in Singapore."
De Sousa will ride Hard Too Think for trainer Stephen Gray in the $100,000 Rocket Man 2009-2012 Stakes, a Class 1 race over the mile, Mystery Power and Legacy Fortune for trainer Donna Logan and Legacy Reign for trainer Leslie Khoo.
He will ride at the Yorkshire Ebor festival next week and partner the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained three-year-old filly Flotus in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs, which he scored aboard Winter Power last year.
Owned by Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida, Flotus tasted her first group success in the Group 3 William Hill Summer Stakes at York last month with de Sousa on board.
