Singapore Turf Club
Trainer Steven Burridge extended his current lead in the premiership with an 11th win which was provided by his former champion two-year-old Lim’s Racer (NZ) (Red Giant) and his promising apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong on Friday night.
The Australian handler, who won the title in 2010, is now five winners clear of reigning champion trainer Mark Walker. He had only another one runner, Conilad, who beat one home in the following race.
Getting off to the brightest start in the nine-horse field of the $80,000 Air Canada Cup, a Class 3 race over 1200m, Lim’s Racer had little trouble finding the lead – her favourite tactics – from her wide gate.
Once Kok was able to settle her on the rails, the young Ipoh rider showed silky skills as he cuddled Lim’s Racer ($25) into a nice rhythm even with Alamosa Express (Mohd Firdaus) sitting on their outside.
Turning for home, Kok threw everything at the Red Giant mare who responded with a gallant acceleration down the Kranji straight.
If there was to be a threat, it did come from favourite and fellow juvenile champion 2016 version Be Bee inside the last furlong.
Kok rode for dear life, and as stinging as Be Bee’s swooping run was, he could not quite peg back Burridge’s game mare.
Lim’s Racer fell in by half-a-length from Be Bee with Lim’s Reform third another 1 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 9.96secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
“She’s had a bit of leg problems but the stable staff has done a good job to get her back,” said Burridge.
“She’s not a great doer and she ties up. Seven days a week, she has to do the treadmill, but the main thing is she won tonight.
“She was the two-year-old of the year and the young lad rode her well. He never panicked.
“They flew the box and he was able to control the pace very well. I’m happy that the boss and Mick Dittman have another winner.”
With that fourth success, Lim’s Racer has taken her stakes earnings past the $310,000 mark for the Lim’s Stable.
Kok said he only listened to his master’s instructions and was always confident he had the race in his keeping from a long way out.
“The mare was carrying a light weight. She jumped good and took the lead quite easily,” said the former equestrian rider.
“She was always travelling easy and she gave a nice kick in the straight. I knew a horse was coming but I was focused on my ride and she just kept giving.
“She was very brave all the way to the line.” -STC