More so when the nominal favourite for Saturday's iconic handicap race – Mr Black Back – finished third on that occasion, which was his Singapore debut off a rating of 67.

But racing is a funny game and after two strong wins, Mr Black Back sneaks into the final field of the Gold Cup on a rating of 79 and according to most of the Chinese and English broadcast teams, he is hardest to beat.

English race caller Pat Comerford leads the Mr Black Back charge and is extremely bullish about the five-year-old by Snitzel's winning chances.

"Mr Black Back  for me," said Comerford, who will call his first Singapore Gold Cup race on Saturday.

"He's the clear standout, considering the fact that he drew gate two and all his main challengers potentially don't get onto the track from where they have drawn.

"Hopefully he jumps okay and finds a nice position in behind a couple of the early bolters from out wide and can peel out when needed for (jockey) Craig Williams.

"Trumpy for value. He may be a non-winner but his eye-catching runs in the (Group 1s) Kranji Mile and QEII (Queen Elizabeth II) Cup after having no luck in transit in both races, will stand up here from an inside draw."

Scott Bailey agrees with his Australian counterpart on the winner but turns back the clock for his value, with a watch on the weather recommended for both.

"I've gone with Mr Black Back simply for his comfortable draw and his light weight with gun jockey Craig Williams to take the steer," said the former hoop.

"He should bounce out and I have him mapped somewhere in the first five - not wanting to get shuffled too far back and held up. He has broken Class records in his previous wins and seems to keep on improving. My only concern is how he handles the conditions should the rain come on.

"My value in the race is Big Hearted. He is a winner of this race a couple of years ago (in 2020) and will be reunited with (jockey) Simon Kok Wei Hoong.

"If the rain comes, he will relish the conditions and I see the stable have put the blinkers back on for this assignment. He thrives at this distance and always seems to make an appearance in these feature races."

Media guest tipster Michael Spark also likes the 51kgs that Mr Black Back has to carry and two others with the same weight also came under notice.

"At the handicap conditions, I'm looking at those down in the weights for this Group 1," said the Australian-based pundit.

"Mr Black Back has been very impressive in his three starts in Singapore. From barrier 2, Williams will sum up whether he wants to lead or take a sit just off the speed. Looks the one to beat.

"Cyclone and Super Impact are the value for me. Forget about their last starts (in a Class 2 race over the mile on November 5) with both running times of a sprint race for the first 600m. Both can make their presence felt in this."

In the Chinese broadcast box, Kew Lee Teng and Raymond Yong are also with the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained gelding.

"My top pick for Gold Cup is Mr Black Back," said Kew.

"Although his experience is relatively few, his back-to-back recent wins were eye-catching indeed. The Gold Cup is his target. He will go all the way with a light weight.

"My value bet goes to Minister. His recent performances have been surprising, especially in the QEII Cup. 2000m is his cup of tea. Beware!"

Raymond Yong thinks the ease in which Mr Black Back won at his last two starts were too overwhelming to disregard.

"His last two record-breaking runs have been in such a leisurely manner," said the bilingual presenter.

"Add the light weight in the Gold Cup with one of the best jockeys on his back, he looks set to win."

At the other end of the weight scale, Yong thinks the highest-rated (103) horse in the race – Hongkong Great with 57kgs – will run a big race at value.

"They went too fast in the QEII (Cup) at the beginning and Hongkong Great fought on well to finish fourth. (Jockey) Mark Zahra is a plus. He might be able to lead from gate to wire."

I am also in Mr Black Back's corner, but with the caveat that no local horse has ever won this race (from memory) with such a short preparation.

Fitzsimmons has two horses - Mr Black Back and Cyclone – attempting to win the toughest handicap race in Singapore with just three runs under their respective belts at Kranji and if either wins, I doff my hat off to the leading trainer.

On the back of two record-breaking wins and with genius rider Craig Williams on board, Mr Black Back looks the winner a long way out.

The race is a cracker though – from Hongkong Great on 57kgs to a plethora of chances on 51kgs – but one horse that will provide big value is So Hi Class.

Trained by Jason Ong and to be ridden by Koh Teck Huat, So Hi Class always threatens to win a big race and his work late in the QEII Cup suggests that the Irish-bred six-year-old is spot on for this. Gate five could help him too.

However, two of the media team members – Collin Fan and Suresh Ragavan – have looked elsewhere and think Relentless can go one better than he did in the Singapore Derby this year and win a Group 1.

"I think Tim has a large number of troops who want to conquer the feature race but Relentless is the best of them," said Fan, who will call the big race for the Chinese audience.

"You have to respect Mr Black Back and Super Impact on their abilities with similar preparations and Senor Don is my outside chance as his running style will suit."

Ragavan is hoping for a trouble-free run for the Arexevan-Relentless Stable-owned five-year-old.

"He (Relentless) was extremely unlucky in the QEII (Cup)," said the man from across the Causeway.

"The Gold Cup distance (2000m) is not an issue and (jockey) Manoel Nunes retaining the ride adds more confidence. If he has a trouble-free run, he will be rumbling home.

"I will add three to my exotics. Sacred Croix gets a top class engagement in (jockey) Jamie Kah, Minister has found form and forget Super Impact's last run as the step-up in distance suits, so you can expect a very solid run."