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Jockey Danny Beasley’s decision to let Lim’s Rally have it his way paid handsome dividends on Sunday.
The Australian rider’s original plan was to drop the O’Reilly four-year-old back in the field of the $80,000 Gingerbread Man 2011 Stakes (Class 3 Division 2) race over 1400m but had to fall back on Plan B after the first 300m did not pan out the way he wanted.
Lim's Rally would not agree being held up and with the pace not being frantic upfront, he took over and Beasley had no other choice but to let him roll. In the blink of an eye, the four-time winner slid up to sit on the girth of race-leader Solaris Spectrum (Matthew Kellady) to set the stage for a two-horse war in the home straight.
Solaris Spectrum tried to punch his way again, but that first test over 1400m soon started to look a bridge too far. Lim’s Rally collared him at the 200m before drawing clear to score by 1 ¾ lengths from the fast-finishing Gold Peregrine (Barend Vorster) who just edged Solaris Spectrum into third place by a head.
The winning time was 1min 22.66secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
“It wasn’t the plan to be handy. He just didn’t want to be where I wanted him to be - ridden at the back,” said Beasley.
“We were drawn wide and I didn’t want to be caught wide. If he had drawn good with cover, I would have sat in sixth or seventh spot.
“He was able to get into a good spot and travelled for me. I was confident he would give me a very good run as he can quicken really well.
“He went really quick in the last 200m and really impressed me today. He’s better than that Class for sure.”
Winning trainer Steven Burridge was a happy man as he was not only celebrating his 600th success at Kranji but it was also a fitting win for the connections, the Lim’s Stable, who were having a big day out with their entourage on the occasion of the sponsorship of the Group 3 Dester Singapore Three-Year-Old (1200m).
“I didn’t realise it was my 600th winner until I was told by someone the other day,” said the Australian trainer.
“It’s lovely that win has come for the boss (Mr Lim Siah Mong) as he invests so much in horses here, and today is a big day for them.
“This horse has been terribly unlucky. He had no luck at the barriers and the way the race was run the last time didn’t suit him.
“Harry (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) said he got pushed out down the back and he still stormed home. He should have won.
“He’s a very honest horse and I think he will go up to Class 2.”
Lim’s Rally has now brought his record to five wins and six placings for stakes earnings past the $290,000 mark for the Lim’s Stable.