Trelawney graduate wins on debut in Singapore

Lim's Kosciuszko made the perfect start to his racing career on Saturday winning in Singapore.

The Kermadec three-year-old rallied under jockey Danny Beasley’s urgings to stave the fast-improving Elliot Ness off at the 300m of the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m.

Race by  Singapore’s multiple-champion owner Mr Lim Siah Mong, Lim's Kosciuszko was bred by Trelawney Stud and though passed in as a two-year-old at the Ready To Run Sales, was sold privately after winning his first and only trial in New Zealand when under the care of Clayton Chipperfield.

"We were approached by Phill Cataldo who was interested in organising a purchase," Trelawney Stud's Brent Taylor said. "Phill has a great record selecting talent from our farm and this horse, who looks quite an exciting prospect, he was involved in the sale of Star of the Seas who has now won eight races in Australia including the Gr.2 Blamey Stakes."

Trainer Daniel Meagher revealed he had all along harboured a silent hope Lim’s Kosciuszko could climb through his grades at Kranji, falling short of getting too corny by saying “to the top”.

“He’s a little professional bought from the New Zealand trials. He won a trial there, I knew he was ready when he came here,” said the Australian handler.

“The filly who ran third in that trial went on to win the New Zealand 1000 Guineas, Kahma Lass for the Te Akau Stable.

“He (Lim’s Kosciuszko) also ran two nice trials here. I really think he’s a smart horse but he’s still learning.

“When Mr Lim told me he had one for me, we watched the trials together and I said thank you very much. He’s a really nice horse, and it’s a great result for Mr Lim.”

Lim’s Kosciuszko defeated Elliot Ness by three parts of a length with Amazing Breeze (Tengku Rehaizat) third a gap of two and a half lengths away. The winning time was 1min 9.49secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.

Beasley said the original plan when the lids flew open was to play it by ear with the $100 chance, but as the speed sorted itself out in the first furlong, the leading spot was too inviting to ignore.

“I thought Louis (Philippe Beuzelin on Skylight) would lead, but he didn’t. Vlad was quicker (on Elliot Ness), but my horse wanted to box-seat, and I rolled through with it,” said the Australian rider.

“When he hit the front in the straight, he had a bit of a think and didn’t quite know how to get going. But once Vlad’s horse came along, he stuck his ears back and won a nice race.

“He’s a very nice horse but there’s still a lot of improvement to come out of him. He’s still very raw.

“From Day 1, he showed already he had potential. All credit to Mick Dittman who got him from the New Zealand trials.

“Dan was lucky to get such a good horse to train and I’m lucky to be the one to win on him today. He’ll become a good horse going forward.”

Lim's Kosciuszko is the first foal out of Keeper mare Jacquetta, winner of the Listed Welcome Stakes, as well as a Group Two placegetter. Her yearling filly by Almanzor was sold for $60,000 to Stephen Marsh and Denis Foster at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Sale in January.

Jacquetta currently has a Almanzor weanling filly and was covered by Ocean Park in 2020.