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After four placings from as many starts, Lim’s Passion finally opened his account with an easy win as the $18 favourite in the $75,000 Countofmontecristo 2017 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race over 1400m on Friday, with the breakthrough bearing the hallmark of trainer Steven Burridge’s craft.

At his last outing, the Show A Heart three-year-old returned with a cut on his mouth after a closing third place to Siam Royal Orchid.

Burridge had to back him off on his work, but at the same time could not afford to have his fitness level drop, as his next assignment was due in two weeks’ time. There was only one solution – the treadmill. 

“He got cut off after he panicked in his race. He went forward and back, forward and back,” said the Australian conditioner.

“We’ve put him on the treadmill in the last two weeks just to get his mouth right. It was also good he drew one tonight as there wouldn’t be any pressure on the mouth.

“He was rock-hard fit, the boy’s (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) ride was a big lift, everything fell into place, and he just kept striding.

“He did a couple of things wrong on the Polytrack but he travelled a lot better on turf tonight, he’s a lot more competitive on turf.”

Kok, who was at his second win since coming back from a three-month stint in Tasmania, but at his first for his master, was rapt with the way he has slotted back into the home scene.

“I’m very grateful and thankful for the support from the boss and the Lim’s Stable and Mick Dittman,” said the Ipoh-born rider who showed promise at his first year in 2018 with a fourth place on 16 winners.

“I just started my apprenticeship last year and I still want to learn more. The three months in Tasmania were hard but I definitely learned a lot.”

The equestrian-trained rider again showcased his silky hands when he pounced Lim'S Passion to the head of affairs without having to go all out, thereafter cranking down the throttle to ease the pace off to a nicety.

“My boss instructed me to go forward from the good barrier and hold my spot,” he said.

“The horse travelled really well and he finished off like a good horse.”

The well-backed Hugo (Ben Thompson) was among those who tried to pull some ground off in the home straight, but could do little when Lim’s Passion sprinted clear.

In the end, it was Hugo’s stablemate St Alwyn (John Powell) who finished the best of the rest to take second place 3 ¼ lengths away with Hugo settling for third place another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 22.8secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.