Lim’s Saltoro, the rising star of Singapore racing, did what few people thought possible by holding off Lim’s Kosciuszko in an exciting SG$300 000 Gr1 Raffles Cup at Kranji on Sunday.
It was a remarkable feat given the last-start Group 1 Singapore Derby winner was bidding at his first attempt in the weight-for-age Group race.
Furthermore, his stablemate and 2023 two-time Raffles Cup winner Lim’s Kosciuszko, who was named after Australia’s tallest mountain, was undefeated in four starts this year and was justifiably sent out as the favourite.
Lim’s Saltoro (Wong Chin Chuen, on the rail) fends off the fast-finishing Lim’s Kosciuszko (Marc Lerner) to win the Gr1 Raffles Cup on Sunday (Pic – STC)
But Lim’s Saltoro had also built a formidable winning reputation of his own as his only defeat in 10 starts before Sunday was a narrow second to Lim’s Kosciuszko in the Gr2 EW Barker Trophy on 21 April, hence the five-year-old son of Shamexpress was sent out second favourite in the elite 10-horse field.
Shortly after the start, the field was reduced to nine as Raising Sixty-One dislodged jockey Bernardo Pinheiro after jumping wide while Mr Black Back (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) set the early pace as expected.On settling, Lim’s Saltoro (Wong Chin Chuen) rolled forward from gate six to pressure Mr Black Back. Lim’s Kosciuszko (Marc Lerner) slotted in easily from his good barrier four to sit on his stablemate’s back in third while Cavalry (Daniel Moor) settled fourth on his inside.
Things got interesting turning for home after Wong pushed the button on Lim’s Saltoro and took the lead at the 350m, but there was still ample time for Lerner to show why Lim’s Kosciusko is the reigning Horse of the Year in Singapore.
With 100m to go, there was still a gap of one length between the duo and under hard riding by Wong, Lim’s Saltoro proved tough to pass.
But champions do not give up easily. Lim’s Kosciuszko made plenty of ground and an epic finish loomed with both horses locked together and the winning post nearing.
To the naked eye, it looked like a dead-heat on the line with Lim’s Kosciusko lunging late and Lim’s Saltoro refusing to lie down.
However, the photo finish showed the younger Lim’s Saltoro got up by a nose in the last edition of the Raffles Cup. Golden Monkey (Chad Schofield) again ran on well to finish one-and-a-quarter lengths back in third, a neck ahead of Makin (Manoel Nunes).
The winning time was 1 min 34.03secs for the 1600m on the Short Course. Lim’s Saltoro’s 10th win, and his second at Gr1 level, took his prizemoney to just under $750,000 for the Lim’s Stable.
It was also Wong’s third Raffles Cup win in a row. The Malaysian jockey ironically won on Lim’s Kosciuszko in the two previous running of the Group 1 race.
“I’m very happy that I can take this race (Raffles Cup) three times in a row,” said the Kedah-born hoop, who was at his first meeting back in Singapore after a five-month stint in South Korea.
“And it’s the last time! Today, everything just worked out well. The horse proved himself at weight-for-age scale.
“With 58kgs against (Lim’s) Kosciuszko, the best horse, it’s not easy. Today, he proved it again and just gave me everything at the race.
“That was my first sit on him. Marc rides him every day. He (Lim’s Saltoro) has a big character and is difficult to ride in the morning, so Daniel decided to let Marc continue riding him (in trackwork).
“I have to thank Marc. He shared a lot about the horse’s character and everything else he knew. As a team, I have to thank him (Marc) very much.
“Thanks very much to Daniel who always gives me good rides and believes in me.”
Raffles Cup winning trio: Owner Mr Lim Siah Mong, trainer Daniel Meagher and jockey Wong Chin Chuen smile for the camera (Pic – STC)
Meagher, on the other hand, had mixed emotions after the race.
“He’s a wonderful horse, isn’t he?” said Meagher, who was enjoying his fourth Raffles Cup win after Lim’s Lightning also won it in 2021.
“It’s very emotional because we haven’t got many (races) left and it’s (Singapore racing) been a big part of our life.
“Little Kosi’ got beat and he doesn’t deserve it. He ran great. Marc rode him fantastically and I felt for Marc a little because he’s done the work on both these horses. But who do you pick?
“They’re both great horses and (Lim’s) Saltoro is a wonderful horse. CC (Wong) was lucky to get on him after Marc has done so much work on him.”
When asked about the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on 7 September being Lim’s Saltoro’s next assignment, Meagher concurred but also had one eye on the Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on 5 October.
“That’s the plan but the Gold Cup will be the main race for him,” he said.
“He’s (Lim’s Saltoro) a superstar and he kept rising to the task.
“’Kosi’ getting beaten by a nose hurt a little because he’s such a wonderful horse. We are just lucky to have both of them.
“I’m very proud of the boys who have done all the work. It’s a wonderful day.”
The win was also the sixth Raffles Cup for owner Lim Siah Mong, who won with Lim’s Classic and Lim’s Objective in 2006 and 2007 respectively; both for Meagher’s father and ex-Kranji conditioner, John.
