The difficulty of third-placed Singapore Sling's task seemed to have increased when Tony Millard's charge drew gate 10 at Thursday's barrier draw for the Singapore Group 1 Kranji Mile, and so it proved.

“There was no speed in the race, there was nothing I could do,” Karis Teetan said. “I was drawn outside and when you come out two lengths clear across Southern Legend, I couldn't yank him back behind slow horses, so the only option was to let him go. He was a little bit keen but it was just the draw – there was nothing faster than him to lead him.”

The South African-bred galloper was on his toes going onto the turf track and was ponied to the start.

“I don't think it affected him,” Teetan said. “The horse was well – it was just the draw that killed us.”

Hong Kong jockeys filled the first three places with Aldo Domeyer buzzing after the former Ricky Yiu inmate Blizzard ran on gamely to take second behind Southern Legend, this time for his Singapore trainer Lee Freedman.

“I felt like I'd had a winner!” Domeyer said. “That was a great run – it's always tough against the Hong Kong horses but he travelled beautifully. Zac moved out and I moved out with him; I thought we were going a fraction soon but it felt the right thing to do. It was a cracking run.”