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Trainer Steven Burridge has called upon a young gun from Brisbane, Timothy Bell, to ride his two-year-old Lim’s Showcase in the $200,000 Group 3 Juvenile Championship (1200m) on Sunday.
The son of Showcasing actually opened his account at his second run on Derby day last Sunday week when ridden by another guest star, Hugh Bowman. But that ride, which turned out to be Bowman’s only winning ride for the day, was a spinoff from the Sydney champion jockey’s main assignment aboard Fastnet Dragon in the Emirates Singapore Derby (third to Quechua).
This time around, it is Burridge who is behind 22-year-old Bell’s cameo visit - and first to Singapore - for the Juvenile Championship day during which the reigning Brisbane champion jockey with more than 620 wins to his name is sure to pick up other rides on the undercard from Burridge and other trainers alike.
“As all the leading jockeys already had rides in the Juvenile, we decided to bring up another jockey, and Wade (son), who knows Timmy, suggested him,” said Burridge.
“The horse has done everything right since his last win, but it will still be tough as Super One may well be too good for all of us.”
Burridge does have a few other concerns other than the obvious threat that is Michael Freedman’s unbeaten two-year-old, who is first-up in the Juvenile Championship since he demolished his peers in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horeshoe (1200m) in May.
Lim’s Showcase caused some mayhem at his last start when he shifted out sharply for no reason at the 1000m mark, and the price for that waywardness was a mandatory 1000m gallop trial on Tuesday.
“He had to pass the test this morning after he shied away down the back at his last start. I put blinkers on him and I was happy enough with that run, he went all right,” he said after Lim's Showcase with Saimee Jumaat up jogged along to run fifth, eighth lengths off the winner Black Magic.
“The only thing is that he has not had enough time between those gallops. He just had that run on turf, and now today’s trial, but he’s in good shape and I hope he goes well.”
Joining Lim's Showcase in Singapore’s second and last two-year-old feature after the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe will be Lim’s Sincere, a surprise debut winner over 1000m last Friday.
“He’s pulled up well and as there is only one juvenile race, we thought why not back him up,” said Burridge on his decision to enter the son of Snippetson.
“He’s quite a good eater and seems to have pulled up well. I’ve just given him some light work, but he will also have a tough ask against Super One.”
While Lim’s Sincere was ridden by apprentice jockey Syafiq Hazman on debut, it is Alan Munro who will take over in the Juvenile Championship.