Singapore, April 9 – Last season’s Champion Singapore Juvenile Mr Big was back in top form at the weekend winning the Kranji Sprint Sng Gr 3 on Sunday.

The 1200m race, which is the second Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series, provided the three year-old Elusive Quality (USA) gelding his seventh success, as well as his third win at Group level as he was the dual winner of the two top prizes for two-year-old races last year, the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe Sng Gr 2 and the Magic Millions Juvenile Championship Sng Gr 3.

Prepared by Michael Freedman, Mr Big skipped the first Leg of the Sprint Series, the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) which was captured by Better Than Ever on March 18, in favour of an Open sprint over 1100m on Polytrack, which he duly won a week later.

With Better Than Ever back in the fray carrying the topweight of 59kg in the Kranji Sprint, a handicap race, Mr Big – like the rest of the 10 runners – got in at the minimum weight of 50kg, but was still regarded as Freedman’s second chance after undefeated three-year-old colt Masthead.

The other question mark was Mr Big’s handling of a wet track which was rated as “soft” following the downpour earlier in the afternoon.

But following a faultless frontrunning ride from Australian jockey Stephen Baster, Mr Big relished the underfoot conditions and overturned predictions with a 1 ¾ length victory that Freedman described as “probably his easiest” so far.

“He’s such a genuine galloper. He just doesn’t like to get passed by another horse when he gets in front,” said Freedman.

“To be honest, I thought Masthead had the edge of him going with last Wednesday’s work.

“And there was another concern when it rained earlier. That dampened my enthusiasm.

“But going to the front probably worked out well for him today as he was always travelling well and was given a well-judged ride by Steve.”

Freedman said he would now see how the close to $660,000 stakes winner pulls up before mapping out his next course of action.

“It’s hard to say which way he’ll go now,” said Freedman.

“I will either look at the second Leg of the 3YO Challenge (Classic over 1400m) or the Lion City Cup (1200m). I’ll have a chat with the owner to reach a decision.”

Mr Big was plucked from the draft of Yarraman Park at the 2010 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for just $21,000.

Bred by Shadwell and foaled and raised at Yarraman, he is by Sepoy’s sire Elusive Quality and is from the unraced Danehill mare Basamaat (IRE) – a sister to stakes placegetter Clear Impression and daughter of stakes winning Red Ransom juvenile Shining Hour.