Trainer Jason Lim is having a very good year.
The Singaporean conditioner – who currently sits on top of this year’s trainers’ log on 27 wins at a healthy strike rate of 20.3% – has even exceeded the expectations he set for himself at the start of the season.
The 41-year-old handler has achieved that feat by the end of June this year when his previous records were 17 wins in the last season and 14 wins in 2021.
But according to Lim, the only thing he cared about was the next race.
“Honestly, I’m not concerned about the (premiership) table,” said Lim on Tuesday morning.
“I’m happy to train winners, so the tally is important, but this year especially, we’d have to look after our owners. So, we move on quickly from week to week and try to find our next winner.”
For Lim, that next winner could be the highest-rated galloper in his stable – Sky Eye – in the $100,000 Class 1 race over 1200m this Saturday.
The six-year-old son of Per Incanto will be having his first start since being scratched on June 3 when he was the nominal favourite in the Group 3 Kranji Sprint (1200m).
It was a cruel blow as Sky Eye looked perfectly placed to add a Group win to his CV but Lim was quick to move on after the setback. He reckoned that his star sprinter can knock in his belated third win in a row on Saturday.
“It was unfortunate to scratch him from the Kranji Sprint, but he had a sore back and it was the right thing to do by the horse and the owners,” explained Lim.
“He had treatment – acupuncture – and he’s all good to go now.
“He had a few good gallops to get ready and (jockey) CC (Wong Chin Chuen) gave him a good workout this morning. CC was very happy and I think we have found a winnable race.
“The important thing is that he (Sky Eye) is sound and ready to show his best.”
Sky Eye will carry 59kgs, but Lim’s other runner in the highlight race of the meeting – General Command – will be well placed with only 53kgs on his back.
“A race like this on the turf is a big ask for General Command – it’s a different kettle of fish,” said Lim of the four-year-old son of Shalaa.
“His winning form (in Singapore) was on the Polytrack but he did run second to (trainer) Stephen’s (Gray) handy horse (Silent Is Gold) at his only start (in a Class 3 race over 1200m on March 18) on the turf for me.
“But he gets in with 53kgs and (jockey) Manoel (Nunes) stays on, so he should be more than competitive.
“In fact, it’s hard to fault his form – so consistent. He also pulled up very well from his last start (finished second to The August in a Class 1 race over 1200m on June 24).
“It’s a very tough field but we’re happy to throw him in the deep end as he is very competitive wherever he races.”
Lim – who has nominated six more horses for Saturday’s races – was also happy to report that his stable star, Super Salute, pulled up well after Golden Monkey ended his winning streak in the Stewards’ Cup (1600m) last Sunday.
“He was beaten fair and square on Sunday,” said Lim of his two-time Group winner, including the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on June 11 which was the first Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
“But he pulled up very well and the (Singapore) Derby plans are still on. Manoel will ride him again in the Derby and we are very much looking forward to the big race.”
The 4YO series will progress onto the third and final Leg on July 23, which features the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m).
