DREAM ALLIANCE HAS MADE GOOD HEADWAY

Raffles Cup hope needed the run first-up, but barrier trial win on Aug is a sizzler

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Raffles Cup contender Dream Alliance was hands-down the star worker at the Kranji barrier trials on Aug 1.

With his race-jockey Ryan Curatolo up, the get-back chestnut spotted runaway leader Red Dot (Bernardo Pinheiro) around 10 lengths approaching the home turn.

Typically in such trials, horses either stay put or make some ground to finish a little closer.

But in this case, the Into Mischief six-year-old who like all Southern Hemisphere-breds turned one year older on Aug 1 - was gobbling up the ground at the rate of knots, granted, under Curatolo's urgings.

The commanding lead melted away in no time as Dream Alliance went on to nab Red Dot by a neck on the line, stopping the clock at 59.57sec.

Trainer Tim Fitzsimmons said Dream Alliance needed that squeeze following a first-up fourth to Mr Black Back in a Class 2 race (1,600m) on Singapore Derby day on July 21.

"He's come on from that run. I'm very happy with his trial today," said Fitzsimmons.