Saturday, February 23, 2008

4 timer for John Meagher

Trainer John Meagher notched a magificent four-timer when Lim's Hero got up in the shadows of the post to score by a whisker from Maxi Marine in Saturday's last race of the 12-horse card, including the Blue Diamond Stakes in Australia.Two of the other four legs were also earned for stalwart Meagher ally and last year's champion owner Lim's Stable - Lim's Joy (Race 1) and Lim's Zerperb (Race 8).The Meagher stable is in irrepressible form at the moment following on from their hat-trick of victories at Kranji on February 15.
Lim’s Zerperb, ridden by Din Azis, followed on from the victories of Lim’s Joy (John Sundradas) and Gust (Danny Beasley) to take out the $125,000 Open Class Stakes over 1400 metres.
Beasley was aboard the Meagher treble back on February 15 and jokingly quipped after the race: “I must be a good trackwork rider”.
Lim’s Zerperb was ridden quietly by Din Azis and was with the backmarkers as the field turned form home. He charged home out wide to record a two length victory over Breckenridge (Jacky Low) with Big Easy (Sam Subian) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Meagher told Din Azis to ride Lim’s Zerperb quietly in the early stages of the race.
“I was a bit concerned by the barrier but he had a luxury weight and I thought he’d run super,” Meagher said.
Din Azis said the the pace was on from the outset and that suited Lim’s Zerperb.
“John wanted me to let him find his feet,” Din Azis said. “They went along at a good pace which suited him down to the ground.”
Lim’s Zerperb’s victory was his seventh from 34 starts and Saturday’s victory took his prizemoney to near the $500,000 mark.
In the opening race of the day – which was race two on the 12 race program - Lim’s Joy, having start number 17, broke his maiden status following a perfect ride by John in the $35,000 Maiden Stakes over 1400 metres.
John had the four-year-old Australian-bred gelding in the perfect spot behind the leaders on settling and stayed to the fence throughout. He followed the pace set by Fingers Crossed (Alan Ng) and World Fantasy (K K Ng) before gaining a rails run with 300 metres to run.

Once clear, Lim’s Joy raced clear to go on and score a two-and-a-half length victory over Working Wealth (Mohd Azrull) with Fingers Crossed a nose away in third spot.

Lim’s Joy was heavily supported to run the $11 favourite on his return to turf racing after performing just fairly on the sand.

“He’s finally won a race,” Meagher said. “He may go on and win another one but I can’t really tell you much more about him.”

Lim’s Joy was a $14,000 yearling purchase in Australia. He is by the Danehill stallion Johan Cruyff from the Our Maizcay mare Misdirection and is owned by the Lim Stable.
As for Lim's Hero, he owed his last-grasp victory to jockey Robbie Fradd's never-say-die attitude. Maxi Marine (Ronnie Stewart) did not look like he would surrender the lead when Lim's Hero ranged up alongside, but in a last-ditch effort, Fradd summoned the last drops of petrol left in his mount to lunge at the post a short head clear.The win incidentally brings Fradd to the top rung of the Singapore jockey's ladder, which he now shares with Saimee also on 13 wins.

The Big G
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