3 minute read

Sometimes, you would not know until you give it a try.

A good mantra for life in general but also one that applies to the fickle game of horse racing, where some thoroughbreds are pigeonholed due to either racing patterns or breeding.

Who could forget the mighty Raul, who came to the late, great Laurie Laxon's stable as a four-time winner over 1200m.

12 starts later, Laxon led in Raul (Mark du Plessis) as the 2004 Singapore Gold Cup winner over the then distance of 2200m.

So, you could forgive a few racing pundits for ignoring Sky Eye - one of the most consistent Polytrack sprinters in Singapore – when he tried his luck over 1400m on the turf on Kranji Mile day (May 21).

In fact prior to that run, the five-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding had only raced over 1200m five times from 25 career starts (and never won) and only three times on the turf, where he could not manage a place.

For trainer Jason Lim, it was a case of 'if it is not broke, why fix it' as Sky Eye  – owned by Gan Gim Chuan - continued his super honest run of form on the Polytrack, picking up good cheques every time he went round.

"He's very honest, very genuine, he has given his all ever since he landed in my stable," explained Lim from the trackwork on Tuesday morning.

"He had a chest infection after his first run for me and that was his only bad run and as he never needs a lot of work, he maintains his form when racing."

But what of that leap of faith to a Class 3 race over the 1400m on the turf at his last start?

"I just wanted a runner on Kranji Mile Day!" was the honest answer from Lim.

"When you get to Class 3, there are not a lot of Poly(track) sprints to choose from, so the programme made me look elsewhere for runs for him.

"It was unknown waters and on the books, he looked out of place, but he was in very good form.

"(Jockey) Bernardo (Pinheiro) settled him really well and the tempo suited him and he won… in a good time too."

The Per Incanto gelding – who gave the visiting Brazilian jockey a double on the day – won so well that Lim now has plenty of options going forward. He takes another step into the unknown this Saturday when Sky Eye tries the mile for the first time in the $70,000 Class 3 race.

"After his last run, he should handle the mile if the tempo if right," continued Lim, who has nine winners thus far.

"(Apprentice jockey) Jerlyn (Seow) will ride him on Saturday and I told her to watch how Bernardo rode him – long rein, let him stride out, don't choke – but I'm not sure how the tempo will pan out.

"We are racing against some of the same horses he met at his last start so hopefully it works out the same and Jerlyn's three-kilo claim will help."

And beyond the mile?

"We will find out more after Saturday," said Lim, who took over David Hill's stable when becoming a trainer in his own right in 2018.

"Some horses mature late and until we try, we will never know."

Lim – who oversees a small but solid stable of horses that includes one of the better sprinters in Singapore in Surpass Natural – is optimistic going forward with some promising horses joining his team.

"We have a couple of two-year-olds in work and they are showing something," said the Singaporean handler.

"We also have a horse in quarantine from Australia called Construct who was placed in some Group races as a two-year-old (now a three-year-old) and he looks an exciting type."

Of his other runners entered for Saturday's meeting, Lim thinks Crystal Warrior  (Emergency Acceptor no. 1) will run well if he gets a start in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m on the turf.

"He's an out-and-out sprinter and is probably better over shorter on the Poly(track) but (race jockey) Louis (-Philippe Beuzelin) is happy with his work. If he can lead, he will be a chance."

Lim also has five horses running round in Class 5 Company, but while he reckons they are working well and will be competitive, it will be Sky Eye over the mile that will get most of the amicable Lim's attention on the day.

And if he handles the mile… the sky is the limit.