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Lim’s Casino scored an upset win after he made all the running in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 3 race over 1200m on Sunday.
The Casino Prince four-year-old, who has not scored since September 23, the last of his previous three wins for Steven Burridge and the Lim’s Stable, has not been running too badly, but somehow, he was a little friendless in the betting, looking at his generous odds of $101.
Granted, $11 favourite Copacabana looked a moral after his flying second to Knight Chen Bay at his last run, but the Cliff Brown-trained galloper was never dangerous, staying at the rear right through, to beat two home.
But up at the top of the line, Lim’s Casino (Glen Boss) controlled the race to a nicety after a smart jump. When Bear Witness (Danny Beasley) came armed with a stiff challenge at the top of the straight, some thought Lim’s Casino would knock up, but he responded like a bulldog inside the last 300m to prevail by one length from a game Bear Witness.
The fast-closing Effortless (John Powell) gave a fleeting impression he could sneak in between the duelling duo, but could only run third another 1 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 10.8secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Burridge, who was recording his 20th win for the year, said Lim’s Casino was no world beater, but he does take some beating when things go his way.
“He’s a honest horse. Things did not quite work out at his last couple of starts,” said the Australian conditioner.
“He wouldn’t have won but he could have placed both times.”
Boss, who was at his first pairing with Lim’s Casino, said it was a straightforward run from the word go.
“He had a good jump and found the lead quite easily. He just got the right run from that point onwards,” said the Australian jockey.
“He was a bit strong in the lead, but I was able to get him to steady up, and he was just too good in the straight.”
With that fourth win, Lim's Casino has now taken his total prizemoney past the $140,000 level for the Lim’s Stable.