Lim’s Kosciuszko chasing overdue Australian win in the Standish Handicap

The Dan Meagher trained Lim’s Kosciuszko gets the chance to add what would be a very satisfying win to his resume when he takes on ten rivals in the Group 3 Standish Handicap over 1200m at Flemington on Saturday.

The former absolute star of Singapore racing moved to Australia with his trainer when racing came to a halt in that racing precinct … and the multiple Group 1 winner has been on a mission since then to put that Australian win on his record.

The now eight-year-old son of Kermadec has raced five times since relocating and settling into his Pakenham training base … with a third place in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington, when only half-a-length off the winner Title Fighter, and a fourth place finish in the Listed Doveton Stakes, when again less than half-a-length behind the winner Aviatress, being Lim’s Kosciuszko’s best results to date.

But, arguably, the best reference on which to weigh his chances on Saturday came in a unplaced run … namely in his last start, the $1 million Supernova over 1400m at Pakenham where he clashed with horses of the calibre of the Warnie and Private Eye, real quality performers in their own right who filled the first two places.

Lim’s Kosciuszko finished seventh there but was only 2.81 lengths off the result.

It was a solid run.

In the Standish, significantly, Lim’s Kosciuszko meets the Doveton winner Aviatress 3kg better off at the weights. Aviatress is the second favourite for the Standish at $4.20 behind Hedged, who is the $3.50 main fancy.

Lim’s Kosciuszko … well, if he does land his first win in Australia here he will do so at good odds.

He is currently a $12 chance.