Ridden by John Geroudis, the five-year-old bay Australian gelding by Dehere out of the Black Zephyr mare Augustine defeated two South African horses AL NITAK and T-BIRD in the 1,300m event on the turf, earning US$78,000 for the effort.

In the same race, the Daniel Murphy trained TERFEL, who was also making his Dubai debut, finished sixth of 13 runners.

LIM’S CLASSIC and TERFEL are among five Singapore trained horses who are in Dubai for the International Racing Carnival. The others are LIM’S GRAND, CYRIL and EL SANTOS. They will be joined later by DREYFUSS and SUPERIOR STAR.

LIM’S CLASSIC, a half-brother to former classy Queensland sprinter BULLDOG YEATS, was selected and purchased as a weanling by renowned Perth bloodstock agent John Chalmers at the 2000 Magic Millions Winter Carnival Weanling Sale on the Gold Coast.

Chalmers purchased the colt on behalf of West Australian thoroughbred nursery Yarradale Stud which offered the youngster at the following year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale but he was passed in at A$40,000 (Reserve A$50,000).

However, a few months later, he was picked up at the William Inglis 2YO Breeze Up Sale by James Tan for A$45,000.

LIM’S CLASSIC landed in Singapore unraced for trainer John Meagher and had 22 starts at Kranji for eight wins and six minor placing. He was sent to Dubai on the strength of his win at Kranji in Singapore on December 10 over 1,400m.

On the same evening’s card, LIM’S GRAND finished third to Irish bred TWILIGHT BLUES in the US$120,000 Kranji Stakes over 1,300m, also on the turf track. Also trained by Meagher and making his Dubai debut, he was ridden by former Hong Kong champion apprentice Stanley Chin.

Also on Thursday, CRYIL (5 b.nz.g Oregon - Diamond Reef by English Harbour) finished 12th of 16 runners in the US$110,000 Taby Stakes over 2,000m on the turf. It was his second unplaced run in Dubai.