Lim’s Lightning has Raffles Cup in his sights
Daniel Meagher held some legitimate concerns ahead of the return of Lim’s Lightning (Lope De Vega) yesterday as the top sprinter attempted to give weight all round on his first start back from a two-month break but the ease of the win in the Kranji Stakes A race (1400m) quickly allayed them.
The Lion City Cup (Listed, 1200m) winner had been sighted at a couple of barrier trials since he last raced on June 19, when he dispatched seven rivals in an identical race to yesterday’s, but Meagher was satisfied enough with his overall condition to throw him into a race that was a practice test towards a higher quality target, the Raffles Cup (Listed, 1600m) on September 18.
After Lim’s Lightning posted a rousing two and a quarter length win under regular partner Danny Beasley, Meagher was immediately looking to the future.
“He’ll go to the Raffles Cup in four weeks’ time, and we may even look at the QEII Cup,” said the winning trainer.
“He’s had two runs over the mile for a second and a third. He was not fully screwed down then, not at his top, he’s a little older in his preparation now, and looked a bit better today and that will bring him along.
“I was a little worried today as he had 59.5 kilograms and the others were claiming off weight like Sacred Croix and Fame Star.
“But when his draw came out as barrier one, I thought ‘beautiful’. He had an economical run, didn’t spend any energy and he sprinted by Fame Star so easily.”
Such was the dominance for Meagher’s rejuvenated sprinter that the rest of the field finished spread out in the run home as Lim’s Lightning clocked 1min 21.59 secs for the 1400 metres on the Short Course.
Return back to winning ways ahead of Cup date
A tilt at the Raffles Cup is also on the agenda for Prosperous Return (Fighting Sun) after the gelding bagged yesterday’s Kranji Stakes C (1600m).
“Today, Prosperous Return settled better. I always knew he’d get the trip when we’d push him to the mile,” said winning trainer Michael Clements.
“He was certainly very good today and is a promising horse going forward. On that win, he’s likely to get enough points to get into the Raffles Cup.”
Ridden by Vlad Duric, his partner at his three-year-old campaign, Prosperous Return enjoyed a smooth run behind the speed after jumping from barrier one before beating Rambo (Heliostatic) by a length and a half.
Duric, who was returning from a two-day suspension for careless riding, was registering his first win since August 1 to move his seasonal total on to 28, five behind Beasley, who enjoyed a double through Lim’s Lightning and Real Efecto (Real Impact), but a whopping 15 winners behind leader Hakim Kamaruddin.
Fitzsimmons stock keeps rising after double
Tim Fitzsimmons keeps stamping himself as one of the trainers to watch in Singapore and he saddled another double yesterday.
Cliff Brown’s former right-hand man may not have superstars in his stable, but he has already sprung to sixth place on the log on 19 winners.
After a double with Hero (Warrior’s Reward) and Nate’s Honour (Turffontein) last week, Illustrious (Top Echelon) kept up the momentum following Lucky Jinsha’s (Shooting To Win) in yesterday’s opening race.
“Cliff is a part-owner of Illustrious with Buffalo Stable, my main supporter. So it’s great to train a winner for the old boss,” said Fitzsimmons.
“It’s the first time Illustrious has drawn a barrier. He’s been in double-digit barriers most of the time.
“He was unlucky at his last start, but today from barrier one, he had a lovely run and was ridden to perfection by Oscar Chavez.
“Lucky Jinsha continues to impress me. I really don’t know where his limit is,” said Fitzsimmons.
Diamond sparkles again
Diamond Mine (Gingerbread Man) has not exactly been Steven Burridge’s best friend or a punters’ pal, but a daring change of tactics worked the oracle yesterday.
“He’s a bad problem horse. He usually comes from behind and had shown ability when he flew home,” said Burridge.
“Today from barrier 14, it was do or die, we thought let’s go forward to avoid all the kickback.
“He’s got a mind of his own, and with a horse like that, you can’t tell the owners to have a bet.
“They had something on today. Can’t complain, winners are grinners.”