Daniel Meagher, who followed his father and Melbourne Cup-winning ex-Kranji trainer John Meagher into the training ranks, knows his racing history.
Especially in Singapore, where a young Meagher watched his hall-of-fame father train multiple Group 1 winners before forging his own impressive career with the likes of Lim’s Lightning in 2021 and Lim’s Kosciuszko in 2022 and 2023.
With racing in Singapore closing after the running of the Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on 5 October, winning the $400,000 Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on Sunday has taken on an even greater significance.
It will be the last running of the iconic race for four-year-olds so the young Australian conditioner wants his name on the trophy, and Lim’s Saltoro will be the horse to get the job done.
The nominal Singapore Derby favourite has won the other two four-year-old lead-up races, namely the Group 3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on 9 June and the Group 2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 30 June. Furthermore, he has an outstanding record of eight wins from nine starts.
His only loss was a narrow one to his much-heralded stablemate, Lim’s Kosciuszko, in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) on 21 April. The latter also gave Meagher his first Singapore Derby win two years ago.
“I was lucky to win one (Singapore Derby),” said Meagher.
“Dad won a few Derbies in Australia but never won a Singapore Derby and it wasn’t for lack of trying. He came second twice (with Exaggerate in 2003 and Lim’s Grand in 2005) from memory.
“But they are hard to win as you only get one crack as a four-year-old. Derbies anywhere in the world are the race trainers, owners and jockeys want to win.
“So when Lim’s Kosciuszko won it in 2022, it was very important to me and my family.
“Singapore is my life. I have been here for more than 20 years and met my wife (Sabrina) here. My kids (Caiden, Harper Rose and Vienna) grew up here.
“To win the last ever Singapore Derby would be massive for everyone concerned.
“It’s history. As a trainer, I want my name on the honour board as the last ever winner and Mr Lim (Siah Mong) as the owner, Marc (Lerner) as the jockey and the staff. We all want to be part of this.
“And we are lucky to have Lim’s Saltoro representing the stable.”
Meagher reported that the son of Shamexpress could not be better leading into what his biggest assignment to-date.
“I can’t fault him (Lim’s Saltoro),” he continued.
“He just had a stimulation trial the other day (finished last in trial no 2 on 11 July) and he will have a really strong gallop tomorrow (Wednesday).
“We knew he was special from day one, but to do what he has done is still amazing.
“He doesn’t win by much; he always gives you a scare in races, but he digs deep to win. He knows where the finish line is.
“I’ve mentioned he’s from a sprinting sire but I think he handles 1800m no problem as he has some staying depth on his dam’s (Lamplighter) side.
“Marc will ride him as he sees fit. It’s a bigger field over an extra 200m, so a soft draw would be nice.
“You saw what he (Lim’s Saltoro) did last start when he bullied his way out of trouble. He shouldn’t have won that (Stewards’ Cup) but he did.
“He’s as ready as can be and set for this race.”
Of his opposition, Meagher suggested Bestseller, who was beaten only a short head by Lim’s Saltoro in the Stewards’ Cup, and Lightning Strike are two to watch, but his other runner, Pacific Warrior (x Snitzel) will not be making up the numbers too.
“Bestseller ran terrific in the Stewards’ Cup and you know (trainer) Ricardo (Le Grange) will have him spot-on,” he explained.
“But I’m wary of (trainer) Tim’s (Fitzsimmons) horse (Lightning Strike). He’s the underdog.
“Knowing Tim, he would have trained Lightning Strike for this race specifically. He’s also a genuine 1800m horse and not many in this race are in my opinion.
“So, like his trainer, he’s (Lightning Strike) flying under the radar but then he (Fitzsimmons) went and gets (jockey) Hughie (Hugh Bowman) in from Hong Kong! There goes his price (laughs).
“Pacific Warrior is obviously way up in Class but great for the owners (Pacific Stable) to have two runners (the other one being Pacific Star for trainer Jason Ong) in the last Singapore Derby.
“(Jockey) Dan (Daniel Moor) will ride him and the trip is not a problem. And like I say, you are only four once.”
By Larry Foley
