Countofmontecristo looks to have gone to another level following an outstanding win in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) at Kranji on Sunday.
The Michael Clements-trained runner was away well from the wide draw, settling up on the speed outside the leader for much of the race.
Countofmontecristo took over proceedings on the turn and looked under some pressure at the top of the straight but was able to fight on strongly to claim a half a length win over Debt Collector in second with Alibi third.
The four-year-old gelding ran to a clear new career peak rating in what was easily the biggest win of his career, having now claimed victory in seven of his eight starts.
The son of Echoes Of Heaven who certainly looks a horse on the rise came into the race off a solid first up win in a Benchmark 97 but this loomed as a much tougher task.
Countofmontecristo, was racing at weight for age level for the first time and had a fair bit of work to do early from the wide gate but continues to show a win at all costs attitude and also looks a versatile horse.
Looking at recent winners of the race, Countofmontecristo ran a figure three pounds higher than 2016 winner Debt Collector but was still well below that of 2015 winner Spalato.
With his only defeat coming in the Singapore Guineas when third behind Forever Young in a race that was not run to suit, the talented four-year-old will now be set for the Kranji Mile and Raffles Cup where he is sure to be hard to beat.
Of the beaten runners, Debt Collector was good again in second unable to make it back to back wins in the Jumbo Jet Trophy but certainly looks to have come back in good order.
Debt Collector will continue to improve as he goes up in distance and would have lost no admirers on the back of his first up run and will probably now look to defend his Kranji Mile and Raffles Cup titles.
Alibi also returned in good order, producing his highest first up rating of his career which was on par with his Singapore Derby fourth placing.
Earlier in the programme, Augustano claimed his second win as many starts with a big victory in the Class 4 over 1200m on the Polytrack.
Going straight to the lead from the widest barrier, The Cliff Brown-trained runner was able to put away his rivals in the straight to win by just under two and a half lengths from White Coffee with Katagas third.
Augustano ran to a new career peak Timeform figure and has now won two of his four career outings.
The three-year-old gelding who was taking on the older horses, certainly appears to have a big preparation ahead as he goes through the grades and on the back of this win is worth keeping a close eye on him.
On Friday night, Aramco continues his strong form since coming to Singapore, having now won four of nine starts at Kranji, placing a further three occasions.
Lining up in the Open Benchmark 83 over 1400m, Jockey John Powel settled the five-year-old gelding back in the field before running on strongly to beat Clarton Super by half a length with Eclipse Splash third.
Aramco ran his highest figure since coming to Singapore, slightly higher than his effort when third in the Group 3 Garden City Trophy the start prior.
Would expect the Shane Baertschiger-trained runner to remain over the 1200m-1400m distance range and looks another that has come back in good order and looks to have a strong preparation ahead.
