3 minute read

He won this race last year.

He went on to add two more Group 1s that season - the Raffles Cup (1600m) and the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) – and for good measure, added the Group 1 Kranji Mile to his CV this year.

He is Lim's Lightning and with a rating of 113, the Daniel Meagher-trained star is the best horse on paper in the $300,000 Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m).

Who could stop Lim's Lightning making it back-to-back wins in the iconic feature sprint on Sunday?

Only a few look capable of an upset but two from the Chinese Broadcast team – Raymond Yong and Kew Lee Teng – have made cases for Lim's Kosciusko and the in-form King Arthur, respectively.

"Lim's Kosciusko has matured into such a fine horse," said Yong who pinch-hits between the Chinese and English broadcast teams on race days.

"He has natural speed but learned at his last start (Group 1 Singapore Derby) to race off the pace and finish strongly. He can do the same this time.

"Lim's Lightning is the danger and for value, I think Golden Monkey will not get involved in the action early but will finish off strongly and is a good each-way chance."

Kew, however, has a caveat on her top pick.

"I agree Lim's Lightning is the best horse and hardest to beat," said Kew, who will call the big race for the Chinese audience.

"But I am looking forward to the rising stars to perform. I think King Arthur can win as he has improved tremendously lately and Golden Monkey doesn't have the experience but there's room for imagination there."

Collin Fan is the only pundit from the Chinese team to pick the likely short-priced favourite in Lim's Lightning on top.

"(Jockey) Danny Beasley won this race in 2017 on Lim's Cruiser and missed out due to retirement in 2018 when (jockey) Glen Boss rode him to back-to-back wins," explained Fan.

"So he (Beasley) wants no regrets this time with Lim's Lightning and can make history.

"Golden Monkey lacks big race experience but he is my value as he is the fresh blood on the scene and is looking for a good run."

Once a jockey and assistant-trainer, broadcaster Scott Bailey is firmly in the Lim's Lightning camp.

"The Meagher stable is the leading Group 1 stable in the last two years and this horse (Lim's lightning) is the reason why," said Bailey.

"He won this race last year and the Singapore Gold Cup, so he can win at both weight-for-age and at handicap conditions over any distance.

"Gate 1 is not ideal but Danny will have a game plan and follow the right horse to get out at the right time.

"For value, Mr Malek has some of the best course and distance statistics in the race and he drew well (barrier five) for an economical run. (Trainer) Steven (Burridge) will have him ready to run a big race."

Pat Comerford – who will call the big race for the English audience – picked Lim's Lightning on top in a race that he thinks will be a very tactical affair.

"So many elements to this race," said the Australian race caller.

"It's a full field of 16 so barriers play a big part and so will the early pace.

"I think the most adaptable horse is Lim's Lightning but barrier one is not ideal, though if Danny can get him into a good position and have any luck when making a run in the straight, he's hardest to beat.

"The danger is King Arthur with winning form and (jockey) Blake Shinn from a good gate with an eye on Hongkong Great at odds."

Australian form analyst Michael Spark was glowing in his praise for Lim's Lightning.

"He's a marvel," said Spark of the Lope De Vega gelding.

"Beasley will sum up the race from barrier one and if gets the luck at the right time, he can go back-to-back in the Lion City Cup.

"The new kid on the block – Golden Monkey  – is the danger and (jockey) (Mark) Zahra will sort out the sticky barrier (12). Hongkong Great is the value as his recent trial suggested that he can improve second-up and will be charging late."

From 'across the causeway', media tipster Suresh Ragavan sits on a 'Lim's stable fence' but leaned towards Lim's Lightning with gate one the factor.

"It was hard to separate the pair (Lim's Lightning  and Lim's Kosciusko) but Lim's Lightning has drawn a perfect barrier and goes well fresh," he said.

"I expect Lim's Kosciuszko  to be the main danger with Golden Monkey and if not for the barrier draw, I might have switched camps.

"King Arthur is going through the grades smoothly and Hongkong Great with (jockey) (Vlad) Duric are the two for exotics."

I would have loved to go against the Lim's Lightning grain but I think he wins with a proverbial leg in the air.

He wins big races, his form from the trials looked exceptional and it would be a big surprise if he does not add another Lion City Cup to his already impressive CV.

The horse that could sneak under a radar or two and hopefully add value to exotics is Grand Koonta.

The grey started favourite in this race last year when not beaten far (less than a length) behind Lim's Lightning and has found winning form at the right time.