Lim's Kosciuszko will race for the first time at a trip less than 1200m when he runs at Caulfield.
Trainer Dan Meagher is banking on fresh legs with his former Singapore champion Lim’s Kosciuszko when he runs at Caulfield.
Lim’s Kosciuszko is coming back in distance from 1400m four weeks ago to contest the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.
Meagher is banking on Lim’s Kosciuszko’s proven ability and lining up in a weight-for-age race on Saturday as being pivotal to the gelding’s chances.
Lim’s Kosciuszko won 22 of his 30 starts in Singapore and Hong Kong and has raced twice in Australia, finishing third first-up at Flemington before a midfield finish at Sandown last time out.
“He was disappointing on face value last time but at the end of the day he (Ryan Houston) had to make a decision, and he led, which was fine,” Meagher told RSN.
“But he had to go up that hill, he was carrying topweight, and he hadn’t led for two-and-a-half years, and it probably didn’t suit him to do that on that day.
“He probably should have come back a little bit and at the end of the day he had been racing in weight-for-age races for the last three years in Singapore and Hong Kong, so giving weight to horses when he is getting older is probably not ideal for him anymore.
“I thought this race, being weight-for-age gave him his best opportunity to win.
“He’s come out of that last run terrific, his first run was amazing, so I hope he can get back to that form of two runs ago.”
Lim’s Kosciuszko has yet to race short of 1200m, but Meagher does not see that as a problem with the gelding entering Saturday’s race fresh.
To have Lim’s Kosciuszko on the fresh side for Saturday’s 1100m journey, Meagher has refrained from giving the gelding a jump-out between runs.
“I think sometimes these older horses enjoy not being extended in distance and they like to come back in distance and have the fresh legs,” Meagher said.
“I don’t think it will be too sharp. On his day at weight-for-age, he’s good enough to run really well, but he’s getting older and he’s getting harder to read.
“He hasn’t been putting in the effort like he used to, but he still looks well, and his work has been good enough.
“I think this is a race for him to run well in.”
Jason Maskiell takes over from Houston in the saddle on Saturday.
