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Smart sprinter Emerald Hill lost no admirers when tackling unknown quantities at the last two of his seven starts, running second on both occasions, but will again face a new challenge in the $200,000 Group 3 Kranji Sprint (1200m) on Friday night – turf.

After the noted frontrunner chalked up five wins from as many starts at Kranji last year, all on Polytrack, he was given his first big test at his next start last February when he drew the outermost alley in a 11-horse field. Ridden for the first time by top jockey Joao Moreira (in replacement of the suspended Saifudin Ismail), Emerald Hill gave his all, but the early toil in cutting across left him a sitting duck for Martincho Cat in the last bounds.

The Sharp Humor five-year-old was reunited with Saifudin at his next run, but this time, he had to deal with much better cattle at his first race at Group level, the Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m), the first Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series. Again, he drew off the extreme end and again, he tried his heart out and was even shouted the winner when he got the measure of Huka Falls halfway up the home straight, but he was collared by Speedy Cat in the last bit.

Though the once undefeated gelding has now revealed a few chinks in his armour, he has, however, shown he could hold his own among Kranji’s sprinting elite. After his fighting second in the Merlion Trophy, pressing on towards the second Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series was almost a foregone conclusion, but trainer John O’Hara is exercising caution.

“He’s never run on turf here and that is a big question mark. He ran at his only start (Golden Gate) in the US on turf, but it didn’t count as he was badly checked,” said O’Hara.

“One horse on his inside rolled off badly and he was slammed right up against the outside rails. The jockey eased him out of the race and he just cantered home 35 lengths behind (winner Gig Harbor).

“Since his arrival here, he’s never stepped onto turf as he does all his work and racing on Polytrack.

“He’s unproven over turf, but he’s a smart horse and smart horses normally try their best no matter what. Fingers crossed, but I think he should handle it all right.”

O’Hara is also bemoaning the fact the barrier draw has not been kind to the Saratoga Stable-owned galloper for the third consecutive time.

“He’s drawn a bad barrier again (10). It’s not ideal even if he has the gate speed to get across as he proved at his last two runs,” said O’Hara.

“But wide draws force you to be out of your comfort zone early, and that can prove costly, especially in Group races.”

Emerald Hill, who will be ridden by Saifudin, does not have just the wide gate to beat in the Kranji Sprint. Though first-Leg winner Speedy Cat is not running, there is no dearth of quality in a line-up, which will boast the likes of his former nemesis Martincho Cat, the resuming El Milagro and impressive last-start winner Foxtrot Hotel.