3 minute read
The whole idea of bringing Lim’s Lightning back to Singapore was for the former top juvenile to “find some form” back.
He sure did and then some - two from two, one Group 1 to boot, and now, he's on the cusp of another shot at Group 1 glory this Saturday.
When trainer Daniel Meagher recalls that day in November last year when Mr Lim Siah Mong and his racing manager Mick Dittman told him the son of Lope De Vega was coming to his yard after an overseas stint (2019 to 2020) that didn't set Australia alight, he was not exactly throwing a homecoming party at the stables.
A Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) silverware among the four wins recorded under his then-trainer Steven Burridge would suggest an engine must still be there somewhere, but a record of one win in lowly Werribee from eight starts split between Queensland and Victoria (where he was prepared by Meagher's elder brother Chris) had undertones of "returned goods".
Worse. Lim's Lightning, who had never been a straightforward stock, had turned outright rogue. A new career in rodeo beckoned, except there was no such sport in Singapore, though some trainers with the odd nutcase in their barn would beg to differ.
Credit to Meagher for not leaving Lim's Lightning 's corner, though. After a thrilling first-up win in a Class 2 race over 1200m on March 20 this year, almost two years since his last start at Kranji, and nine months since his last Australian start on June 27, 2020 (when second-last in a 1100m race at Caulfield), Lim's Lightning struck twice, and in almost carbon-copy style (three to four wide throughout before launching a sweeping run to the line) in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on April 24.
Meagher was in tears when he went up to collect the first Group 1 trophy of his young career, and only his second 'black type' win after Secret Win in the Group 3 El Dorado Classic (2200m) in his sophomore year in 2017.
He said a win in the $1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) this Saturday would be an even bigger tearjerker. While the feature race has been downgraded from an International Group 3 event worth $1.5 million in line with the COVID-19-induced downsizing, it is still pitched as the race of the year.
"It's amazing. Just this morning I was talking to Mick about how we thought this horse was meant to come back just to find some form," said Meagher.
"To be honest, I was sceptical as we didn't even know how to get him to go. He had to go to the sand roll and get a rider on him first.
"He was double-barrelling and kicking out. He was so difficult.
"Then slowly, he came our way. After two runs for two wins, I'm really happy with the way his prep has gone.
"He trialled beautiful last week (seventh to fellow Kranji Mile contender Rocket Star on May 11), it was more of a conditioning trial. He didn't have to exert himself too much.
"We just left him where he was happy and he came through that very well. He really pleased me this week.
"So far touch wood, but he seems to be in a good headspace. He had a week off since the Lion City Cup and he's been in a good space since.
"His attitude is good, he's a happy horse, but he's quite a funny horse as it doesn't take much for him to get upset and lose his focus."
Meagher is aware that despite the unbeaten record at this new lease of life, Lim's Lightning remains a stamina doubt to many even though he ran third in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) two years ago, but the Australian handler has a hunch he can "go the extra mile".
"I don't know to be honest if he will get the mile," he said.
"He ran third in the Guineas. If I remember correctly, he had a beautiful run in the box-seat with Zac Purton and it was in the same age group.
"This time, he's going into open company. It's a different style of racing.
"But in saying this, he was very different when Matthew Dunn (Queensland) and Chris (older brother who trained him in Mornington) had him as he was only a 1200m horse then.
"The way he's racing now, it looks like he'll get the trip. I'm confident he'll get up."
And what about barrier 18? Meagher said the proverbial carpark was not making him lose sleep anymore.
"He was drawn wide at his last two starts and he won. It suits him as he has a big action and he doesn't like to be cluttered up and get boxed in," he said.
"I was concerned about his wide draw in the Lion City Cup, but Danny (Beasley), geez, he said don't worry about it, we'll be fine.
"At his first start, he was four deep around the corner and at his next he was three deep, and Danny told me he was happy to be there.
"This time, I'm tipping I won't even have to ask him. He knows what to do, we just need a bit of luck.
"Yes, it's a bit tough, but there is still only one corner. Besides, there will be good speed in the race."
Meagher is at his baptism of fire in the Kranji Mile, be it the previous version (last run in 2017) as the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series or the Invitational Group 1 feature in 2018 and 2019 - before it reverted to the old formula in the last two seasons, shelving a promotion to International Group 3 status because of COVID-19.
While ruing the loss of gloss and glamour of that race when stripped of overseas runners, Meagher doesn't mind the "clearer run to the line", also brought about by the exodus of former Kranji kingpin Inferno to Australia.
"I have to admit it's been a good year for Lim's Lightning with no international races, no Inferno, and that's not disrespecting any of the other horses in the Kranji Mile," he said.
"I have a massive amount of respect for Rocket Star. Ricardo Le Grange has done a great job with him since he came back from a spell.
"He looked amazing at the barrier trials last week. A couple of horses have also peaked for this race.
"But I believe in my horse. It would be great if I win it as my dad (former Kranji trainer John Meagher) won the race twice – with Mayo's Music in 2004 and Recast in 2006, both horses I used to ride in trackwork.
"I was very emotional at the Lion City Cup win, but if he wins the Kranji Mile, too, I think the tears will flow like the Niagara Falls!"