The biggest equine draw card in Singapore, Lim’s Kosciuszko, makes a welcome return to racing this Saturday when the son of Kermadec headlines the $100,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on the Polytrack.
Lim’s Kosciuszko was last seen at the races in Singapore on 11 November last year, when winning the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m), before running a competitive ninth to the dominating Golden Sixty in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile (1600m) in Hong Kong in December.
The Polytrack sprint will be the launching pad for arguably Singapore’s greatest ever horse, certainly the most versatile at the elite level, with the $1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) on 18 May firmly on his agenda.
And while the Kranji Stakes A conditions will see the 117-rated six-year-old carry 59.5kgs, the star of trainer Daniel Meagher’s stable looks thrown in at the weights, compared with a true handicap where all of his competitors would carry the minimum (50kgs).
A point not lost on Meagher, who is eager to get the horse they call ‘Kosi’ back to what he does best; racing.
“I’m just happy he’s (Lim’s Kosciuszko) back,” said the Australian conditioner of the seven-time Group 1 winner.
“It’s a bit different to last year though, when we had some weight-for-age Group races to have him cherry-ripe for the Kranji Mile.
“But this race (Kranji Stakes A) actually works out pretty well at the weights. We only carry a few kilos more than the next best rated horse (King Arthur on a rating of 97 with 56.5kgs) and (with the exception of the emergencies) the bottom weight is 52kgs.
“The Polytrack over 1200m suits too. But he definitely needs this run, and maybe one more, to get him back into racing mode before the big races.”
Meagher does warn though, that while the race suits and Lim’s Kosciuszko is the horse to beat, the ‘little horse’ is not fully primed and will not be until 18 May.
“He’s fit enough, but obviously not fully screwed down,” he explained.
“The set-back in quarantine after Hong Kong has been well documented and we had to go easy on him for longer than normal.
“But he’s had two trials (his most recent when finishing second to Gold Star in trial no 2 on 14 March) and while they were soft for him, I was pretty happy and so was (jockey) Marc (Lerner).
“He’s (Lim’s Kosciuszko) much more laid back now. Probably just getting older and Marc has beautiful hands, so he relaxes more in his work.
“So this race will definitely switch him back on; it will stimulate him. He needs that and to be honest, I don’t care is he wins this race or not, as long as he gets through OK and shows his competitive streak at the track.
“He may not need another run after this. But I will let the horse tell me where to go next.
“If I’m happy with him after this race, he will go straight to the Kranji Mile with a couple of trials to get him ready.
“But the (Group 2) EW Barker (1400m) in April (21) is an option if I think he needs another competitive hit-out. Not ideal at the handicap conditions, but again, I will let the horse guide me.
And while Meagher has made it clear that defending the Kranji Mile is Lim’s Kosciuszko’s main aim in 2024, there are still plenty of big races to cement a legacy that will outlive the imminent closure of racing in Singapore on 5 October.
“I think his legacy is there already, given his record,” mused Meagher.
“You can’t do much more than he has. He’s won big races from 1200m on the dirt (2023 Group 3 Merlion Trophy on the Polytrack) to 2000m on the turf (Singapore Gold Cup).
“So while we obviously want to win them all, whatever happens this year won’t change what he has done.
“Age will catch up to him. He might not be as dominant this year as he has been, but he will be giving it his best shot.
“After the Kranji Mile, he has the (Group 1) Lion City Cup (1200m on 28 July), the (Group 1) Raffles Cup (1600m on 11 August) and the (Group 1) Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m on September); all at weight-for-age.
“And who knows, he may have another crack at the (Group 1) (Grand) Singapore Gold Cup (2000m on 5 October)!”
And while all eyes will be on the return of Lim’s Kosciuszko on Saturday, Meagher will be hoping a stable favourite in Webster can get back into the winners’ circle in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1100m.
“He’s a grand old horse,” said Meagher of the 10-year-old son of Showcasing.
“It’s his first run in Class 5 and you would have to think he may have a chance. Took him a while to get there (Class 5), as he’s been in good form.
“Be nice if he can win another race before he retires. We will give him another few runs before finding him a good home. He deserves one.”
By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
