The name Meagher is often linked to champion racehorses.
Ex-Kranji trainer John Meagher has saddled a plethora of stars that include the 1985 Melbourne Cup winner What A Nuisance and Kim Angel in the Singapore equivalent, the Singapore Gold Cup in 2000.
Lim’s Bighorn (Marc Lerner) holds off the closing Bakeel (Manoel Nunes) to win the Gr2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic on 27 April 2024 (Pic – STC)
And son Daniel is best known for the deeds of three greats of Singapore racing: Lim’s Lightning, Lim’s Kosciusko and more recently, Lim’s Saltoro.
But for all the plaudits when leading in an incredible 15 Group 1 winners in the last four years at Kranji, Meagher puts the same polish on all the horses at his stable and with a winning strike rate of 16.33% in the 2024 season, the process seems to be working.
That strike rate has Meagher sitting second on the Singapore trainers’ premiership with 41 wins from just 251 starters and, while knowing he cannot catch leader Jason Ong (68 wins) before seasons end on 5 October, he trusts the system to keep the winners coming.
With his ‘bread and butter’ horses flying the stable flag more often than not.
“You have to follow the system,” said Meagher from trackwork on Tuesday. “And not just the stars like ‘Kosi’ (Lim’s Kosciuszko) and Lim’s Saltoro. Every horse in the stable follows basically the same routine and when we can, we don’t change anything.
“It’s why trainers always thank our staff when we get the opportunity. I need Sham (Lim’s Kosciuszko), Ayie (Lim’s Saltoro), and Hairi (Lim’s Zoom), to name just three, not to cut corners and stick to the routine. All the team are so important. Of course, we tweak the daily routine for individual horses pending characteristics. For example, (Lim’s) Saltoro doesn’t walk on the roads after work: straight home for him!
“But as a rule, horses are creatures of habit, so we stick to the routine, and we try not to second guess when things don’t go to plan at the races or when we have a lean spell. All trainers are the same and have their own routines, which inevitably bring results. But like me, sometimes we can all think too much and start to tinker with things. That’s when things can go wrong.”
And Meagher was quick to point out that a reset to the norm after some arguably unnecessary tinkering for Lim’s Bighorn could see a return to form for the four-year-old son of Better Than Ready in the SG$50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m.
“It’s been back to basics for Lim’s Bighorn,” said the Australian handler, who has seven horses nominated for Sunday’s meeting.
“Happy to put my hand up and say that we tried to change things up with Lim’s Bighorn to improve him, like changing his gear and work routine, and it didn’t improve him at all.
“I mean he won four in a row including a Group race (Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on 27 April), so in hindsight it was a mistake, and it could have been smoother with him.
“So back to what he knew best when he was winning races, and he had a nice trial last Thursday (finished fourth to Nimbus Cloud in trial no 3 on 22 August). So, I think we will see a return to form in what is a suitable race with jockey Marc Lerner riding.”
Elsewhere on the card, Meagher is hoping a horse he part owns, Always Together, can continue his good form in the SG$70,000 Class 3 race over 1100m, with Pacific Padrino (x Street Boss) also well placed to win the SG$50,000 Class 4 race over 1400m.
“I had Always Together nominated last Sunday (Kranji Stakes A over 1200m) but thought this race is more suitable,” he said of the five-year-old son of Shalaa.
“He’s so tough and consistent. I own him with Uncle Soon (Tan Cheong Soon) and he’s such a great horse to be involved with.
“Marc rides him as well, and I think they can be more than competitive on Sunday. Pacific Padrino looks a serious winning chance too.
“He never runs a bad race, he’s very genuine, and looks to have found the perfect race. I think if jockey CC (Wong Chin Chuen) has any luck, he can win this.
“And CC is also on Lim’s Puncak Jaya and he can make his own luck in that race (SG$50,000 Class 4 race over 1600m).
“Lim’s Puncak Jaya only has a lightweight (53.5kgs) and will enjoy being back on the Polytrack.”
There are only six racemeetings remaining at Kranji before racing comes to an end in Singapore – that’s six chances to win big on the free-to-play Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge.
Tip all the winners for Sunday’s racemeeting at least 5 minutes before the first is off at 06h30.
