3 minute read

While he was beaten in this race last year and had his first taste of defeat in the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) on 11 August this year, most of the Singapore Turf Club’s broadcast team members chose to stick fat with Lim’s Kosciuszko in the $300,000 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup (1800m) this Sunday.

Given the two-time Singapore Horse of the Year's almost unblemished record domestically that saw him win nine races at Group 1 level before he went down by a nose to stablemate Lim's Saltoro in the Raffles Cup.

He lost no mark there. Jockey Marc Lerner thought he had won the Raffles Cup and is confident that Lim's Kosciuszko , who is affectionally known as 'Kosi', can bounce back quickly. Trainer Daniel Meagher also believed that 'Kosi' will be the one to beat.

Scott Bailey, who will call the iconic race for the English audience, agreed and suggested the race pattern will pan out in Lim's Kosciuszko's favour.

"I'm sticking with Kranji's pin-up horse," said Bailey of the seven-year-old son of Kermadec.

"I know a few would jump in the corners of Lim's Saltoro , and rightly so as he is the new kid on the block and has done incredible things for where he is at.

"But from the way the race is mapped out with barriers and such, we are going to see plenty of speed from the outside and they should stretch out allowing 'Kosi' to be either outside the leader or in a one-out-one-back spot.

"It would be great to see Dan (Daniel) take out the only Group 1 race trophy that he doesn't have in his cabinet.

"In terms of value, I think Bestseller can run a huge race and sneak into the first four. I think he has been a well-proven Group performer and at this point of his career, the distance is right for him."

Bailey's Chinese counterpart, Kew Leng Teng, also hoped to be calling Lim's Kosciuszko first over the line in a Lim's Stable's forecast.

"I think it's quite a clear-cut prediction for QEII Cup. I'll definitely go for the Lim's pair," said the female race caller.

"Lim's Kosciuszko is on top because he is always the best in my heart. In my opinion, he was unlucky when he was defeated a nose by Lim's Saltoro in the Raffles Cup.

"He's more mature than Lim's Saltoro and I believe 1800m is more suitable for him (Lim's Kosciuszko). However, I do think that Lim's Saltoro has improved a lot.

"I don't see any value bet here. The Lim's pair are really hard to beat."

Raymond Yong, who has a foot in both the English and Chinese broadcast camps, hoped Lim's Kosciuszko can make amends for his loss in this race last year.

"There was a slight mishap (tactically) last year when Hongkong Great went from wire-to-wire," he said of the famous upset in the 2023 QEII Cup.

"He (Lim's Kosciuszko) has won all the Group 1 races in Singapore, some twice or three times (Lion City Cup) except for this race and can add the missing piece to his puzzle.

"Lim's Saltoro will pressure the frontrunner Mr Black Back, and that should suit Lim's Kosciuszko."

Suresh Ragavan was the only pundit on this platform to pick Lim's Saltoro over his stablemate to win the Raffles Cup, but he is now back to support 'Kosi', citing the barrier draw as a factor.

"While 'Kosi' failed to nail 'Salty' (Lim's Saltoro) in the Raffles Cup, I'm expecting him to turn the tables on Saturday," said the Malaysian tipster.

"Nothing separates the pair and both are versatile over any distance, but the determining factor would be the gates. 'Kosi' (barrier nine) has drawn inside of 'Salty' (11).

"The dangers are Golden Monkey and Bestseller, and I will add Hole In One and Dream Alliance for value in the quartet."

But not all thought the 'big brother' could bounce back. Ethan Mills from the English team has jumped on board the Lim's Saltoro's bandwagon.

"I think what he did in the Raffles Cup showed he has come on from the four-year-old (feature) races and is now proven at weight-for-age," said the young Australian presenter of the five-year-old son of Shamexpress.

"He's a natural go-forward horse, so the wide barrier can help as he will have plenty of space to push across and lead or sit behind the tempo, whereas the champ (Lim's Kosciuszko) may have horses kicking up on his inside.

"My value play is Mr Black Back. I thought he knuckled down really well in the last 200m of the Raffles Cup and the tempo over 1800m may suit him."

Collin Fan was also on the heir apparent to win, but not without a fight from the stablemate and with two trainer Tim Fitzsimmons' runners also in the conversation with their best work expected late.

"Lim's Stable sent two fighters in the last running of the QEII Cup," said Fan.

"Lim's Saltoro looks ready, but we must always show respect to the 'old king' Lim's Kosciuszko.

"Golden Monkey and Dream Alliance would give their best performance in the final stages."

As for me, I'm making Lim's Saltoro my special for the day.

It is probably not the smartest thing I have done of late, but given the horse is still improving and beat Lim's Kosciuszko fair and square (albeit just) in the Raffles Cup, why pick against him?

Moreover, his recent trial suggested he was full of beans after he ran second in trial no 3 on 29 August, which meant Meagher could not have him any better heading into Saturday.

I do respect Dream Alliance at odds in the exotics but the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on 5 October may be the battle he can win.

It's a shame Kranji is closing as racing does not get any better than this.