Fairway's Turf Online

Lim's Kosciuszko too classy in Raffles Cup

SINGAPORE: Mar 25, 2023

LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO coasting home in the Raffles Cup - SNTC photo

Freshly-crowned 2022 Horse Of The Year LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO cemented position as the best galloper in Singapore when he outclassed his rivals to win the Raffles Cup over 1600m at Kranji here today.

The Australian gelding is unbeaten in five starts on home soil since winning the Singapore Derby last July. The only blip on his record during that time was a failed attempt in the Hong King Sprint last December.

On his return, LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO cruised to an easy win in the Merlion Trophy (1200m) and now winning the Raffles Cup which was not run in 2022.

Ridden by Wong Chin Chuen, the five-year-old settled just off the pace on the rails and was travelling so well his rider decided to take him to the front at the top of the straight.

LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO and KATAK and the early pacemaker MR BLACK BACK were almost in a line at the 400m. But in a flash, LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO kicked clear and was four lengths clear of the field at the 200m.

LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO did not have to do much after that and at the line, he was 2 1/2 lengths clear of KATAK, with SACRED CROIX flashing home third.

"There is no doubt he is a good horse," said Wong who also won last year’s Lion City Cup (1200m) and the Merlion Trophy last month on LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO.

"This horse is the complete version. He just does everything that we want. He is the best horse. I believe a lot of feature race (wins) are coming for him.

"He’s always got a high cruising speed, and be it over 1200m or 1600m, he still gives you the same kind of finish and response. This is the specialty of this horse and I’m going to enjoy the moment."

"You know that Hong Kong trip has really made him a proper horse," said trainer Dan Meagher.

"We had a beautiful run, he did everything right and he just got better and better."

LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO has now won 13 of his 16 starts in Singapore.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	LIM'S LUGHTNING 2021 STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4	ZYGARDE	KS Tan	S Shafrizal	1
	(6 b.nz.g Atlante - La Madeline by Giant's Causeway)
8	Happy Friday	R Lim	TH Koh	2
5	Mo Almighty	J Lim	K A'Isisuhairi	3
10	Captain Singapore	J Lim	T Krisna	4

2	ARAMAAYO 2020 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1600M
11	NIMBUS CLOUD	T Mahadi	T Krisna	1
	(3 b.ir.g Cotal Glory - Irish Spirit by Invincible Spirit)
7	February	S Gray	WH Kok	2
3	Shihab	M Clements	M Nunes	3
5	Mewar	M Clements	R Stewart	4

3	MAKANANI 2019 STAKES
3	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
4	RED MANED	S Crutchley	PH Seow	1
	(4 b.nz.g Burgundy - Imagunakepa by Keeper)
1	Malibu Beach	R Le Grange	V Duric	2
9	Centurion	KS Tan	M Lerner	3
8	Captain Legacy	R Lim	R Stewart	4

4	DEBT COLLECTOR 2018 STAKES
4	CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	DANCING LIGHT	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	1
	(4 b/br.a.g Street Boss - Torchsinger by Ad Valorem)
2	Pacific Angel	M Clements	CC Wong	2
8	Opunake	J Ong	TH Koh	3
9	Baby Twins	J Tan	R Woodworth	4

5	GILT COMPLEX 2017 STAKES
5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
5	CIRCUIT STAR	J Peters	T Krisna	1
	(6 ch.nz.g Showcasing - Miss Percy by Sir Percy)
12	Flaming Kirin	S Baertschiger	CC Wong	2
7	See Yah	J Ong	TH Koh	3
13	Gamely	D Logan	S Shafrizal	4

6	DEBT COLLECTOR 2016 STAKES
6	KRANI STAKES C (SW) - 1600M
5	SATURNO SPRING	D Meagher	M Lerner	1
	(6 b.arg.g Greenspring - Silvery Whisper by Silver Deputy)
7	Dream Alliance	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	2
9	Pacific Bao Bei	M Clements	WH Kok	3
11	Street Cry Success	S Burridge	CC Wong	4

7	STEPITUP 2015 STAKES
7	CLASS 5 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
3	TONY'S LOVE	R Le Grange	V Duric	1
	(5 b.a.g Artie Schiller - Vaziri by Oratorio (IRE))
2	Khao Manee	J Tan	R Woodworth	2
9	Maximilian	CT Kuah	I Saifudin	3
1	Etwas Neues	H Takaoka	M Lerner	4

8	WAR AFFAIR 2014 STAKES
8	CLASS 4 - 1600M
2	FIGHTER	M Clements	V Duric	1
	(6 b.j.g Lord Kanaloa - Shadow Stream by Sunday Silence)
7	King Of Sixty-One	T Fitzsimmons	R Stewart	2
8	Free And Happy	J Ong	R Iskandar	3
9	Global Kid	T Mahadi	I Saifudin	4

9	SUPER NINETYSEVEN 2013 STAKES
9	CLASS 5 - 1200M
6	BINGO MASTER	J Tan	R Woodworth	1
	(4 b.nz.g Proisir - Tip Top Class by Pentire)
9	Cizen Lucky	J Tan	M Akamazani	2
11	Holy Eleanor	S Gray	M Nunes	3
1	Charger	S Crutchley	PH Seow	4

10	FLAX 2012 STAKES
10	KRANJI STAKES A (SW) - 1200M
4	GOLDEN MONKEY	T Fitzsimmons	WH Kok	1
	(4 ch.a.g Star Turn - Dixie's Comet by Northern Meteor)
3	Sky Eye	J Lim	S Jamil	2
7	Legend Of The Sun	D Koh	R Iskandar	3
1	King Arthur	D Logan	F Yusoff	4

11	RAFFLES CUP
11	SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (WFA) - 1600M
1	LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO	D Meagher	CC Wong	1
	(5 b.a.g Kermadec - Jacquetta by Keeper)
2	Katak	R Le Grange	V Duric	2
5	Sacred Croix	J Tan	R Woodworth	3
9	Cyclone	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	4

12	ALWAYS CERTAIN 2011 STAKES
12	CLASS 4 - 1200M
10	PACIFIC HERO	M Clements	CC Wong	1
	(3 b.a.g Exceed And Excel - Sanity by Lonhro)
11	Buuraq Sixty-One	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	2
4	Invincible Tycoon	S Burridge	M Lerner	3
8	Be You	S Baertschiger	M Kellady	4