Star Over the Bay in Singapore Cup

Star Over the Bay faces the test of his life at Kranji Racecourse on Sunday when he lines up against a world-class field in the $1.81 million Singapore Airlines International Cup.

The lone American runner in this 1 1/4-mile, Group 1 contest has drawn perfectly on the rail, from where Tyler Baze should be able to use the speed that brought Star Over the Bay several front-running stakes victories, most recently in the Sunshine Millions Turf.

Rain, however, will deprive Star Over the Bay of the firm ground he loves, as the turf course at Kranji is expected to be yielding on Sunday.

Star Over the Bay will also face early heat from the Mike de Kock-trained Excalibur and from Epalo, the Andreas Schutz trainee who won this race last year from the front end. If a speed duel develops, it could benefit Alexander Goldrun, winner of the Hong Kong Cup, or Phoenix Reach, the Dubai Sheema Classic winner.