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Some may be surprised by the new choice of rider on Lim’s Lightning in the Group 3 JBBA Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m), but it is actually a combination that struck at the highest level at Kranji in the past.

It’s veteran jockey Saifudin Ismail who was given the nod for the ride on the 2018 juvenile champion in the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge on April 5.

Not only will it be Saifudin’s first pairing with the son of Lope De Vega, but the Malaysian is not among the pool of five or six jockeys regularly seen in multiple-champion owner Lim’s Stable’s blue and yellow stars silks.

But for racing buffs, they will no doubt recall the Penang native did don the Lims’ old colours of grey and red bands and armbands in a not too-distant past, most notably, Lim's Classic in the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) in 2006.

After steering Lim's Lightning to a smart win from stablemate Lim’s Revent (track rider Ianish Luximon) in a barrier trial on Thursday morning, Saifudin sounded upbeat, but above all grateful for the plum ride on the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe winner.

“It’s nice to get a ride on a nice horse with plenty of ability in a big race. Even more so for a big stable I don’t really ride for, once or twice this year, I think,” said Saifudin, who is not having a bad season at all, having already ridden five winners to sit in 10th spot on the log.

“But I did ride a lot more for Mr Lim (Siah Mong) in the past. They gave me my biggest win here with Lim’s Classic in the Raffles Cup.

“In those days, I rode a lot for Daniel Meagher’s father John who trained Lim’s Classic and it’s thanks to the Meaghers I rode for the Lim’s.

“Hopefully, Lim’s Lightning can deliver next week, you never know.”

Saifudin said he had the four-time winner travelling like a winner all the way through in Thursday’s barrier trial.

“He jumped very well and we sat behind the leader. I started my move in the straight, and he responded very well by making up ground to win.

“It was a nice blowout. We wanted to give him a nice blowout ahead of the big race.”

Trainer Steven Burridge, who himself seldom teams up with Saifudin, could not be happier with the hit-out, but did bear in mind the opposition will be a different kettle of fish in the Sprint, especially with a certain Bold Thruster sending an ominous warning at his winning barrier trial on Tuesday.

“I was happy enough with his trial. He was meant to trial on Tuesday but I had to pull him out as he had an injection which had not cleared,” said the Australian handler.

“Everything has gone all right with him. Let’s hope he pulls up all right after today.

“He had a tough race at his last start on February 22. Troy See rode him and he was caught wide throughout and got beat (in a Class 3 race over 1200m won by Charger).

“Shane’s (Baertschiger) horse (Bold Thruster) will be hard to beat from what he showed us on Tuesday. We’ll go in as the underdog this time.”