3 minute read

Once touted as something out of the box, Lim’s Samurai instead went on to spend more time in his box, but the smart stayer finally makes his long-awaited racing comeback this Friday.

The Japanese-bred galloper captured the imagination with his four wins (1200m to 1600m) in only 11 starts when trained by Laurie Laxon between 2016 and 2017, but probably ran his best race in defeat, when a fast-closing second to Infantry in the 2017 Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m).

Vistas of opportunity were swung wide open after such a taking run, with the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) shining the brightest, but little did connections know he would run only twice thereafter.

Bequeathed to Lee Freedman after Laxon retired, the son of Samurai Heart warmed up nicely for the Australian Hall of Fame trainer with a second in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m one month out from the time-honoured race.

Dreams of gold were, however, dashed when Lim's Samurai  succumbed to a stressed ligament to his near-fore in the wake of that run.

His racing career went on in fits and starts. One more run came up after the recommended rest - another typical Lim's Samurai flying third first-up in the Group 3 JBBA Rocket Man Sprint (1200m) in April 2018, but the same leg issue reared its ugly head.

Lofty plans were put on the backburner for a longer period this time, and via a spell across the border in Malaysia. When he was deemed fit enough to relaunch his career, a new barn awaited.

Daniel Meagher was the new trainer tasked with the mission of nurturing the day-to-day proposition back to racing fitness. He had come to the right place because the young Australian is noted for his patience.

It's been a long and winding journey patching him up, with days when Meagher even thought a racing comeback would be touch-and-go, but Lim's Samurai will be there in this Friday's $85,000 Class 2 race over 1000m.

A speed scamper on Polytrack, a surface totally alien to him? There is every chance his engine may only kick into gear after the winning post is put astern, but Meagher is keeping his fingers crossed for a more important outcome – a return to scales unscathed.

"He was meant to run in a Class 1 race over 1200m on Sunday but it was scrapped. The 1000m is too short, and he's not even ever raced on Polytrack, but he had to start somewhere," said Meagher.

"That race does not really fit into his programme, but I hope he still runs well and pulls up well.

"He went to Sandy Lines in Malaysia for a rejuvenating spell and when he came to us, we put him through a really long and slow conditioning process.

"He's had four trials, he's done everything right and he's as fit as we can get him into that race. We still have to manage his injuries, though.

"He's of course a bit rusty and will need a few races under his belt to be switched into full racing gear as he hasn't been to races for such a long time – 17 months."

One person who was instrumental in giving the necessary feedback if Lim's Samurai was coming along the right way was Meagher's assistant-trainer Danny Beasley. The former top jockey was the gelding's regular partner during his Laxon days and was the one who steered him to all his four wins.

"Danny won on him before when he was with Laxon and knows him quite well. He rode him at all his four trials, and it's all worked out very well," said Meagher.

"Danny told me after his last trial on Thursday (September 5) that this is the best he's been in a long time.

"It's (Meagher's former apprentice jockey) CS Chin (Chee Seng) who will ride him on Friday. CS does all his gallops, rode him at his last gallop on Saturday, and knows him really well.

"He claims three kilos and I'm sure he will give him every chance. The horse is ready to go, we can't do much more than we've done.

"(Owner) Mr Lim (Siah Mong) has been great and patient. He lets us do things at our own time, at our own speed, we get good results with them."

As to whether the Singapore Gold Cup, sponsored by Mr Lim's Dester beer and which will be run on November 10, will finally become reality two years after his aborted campaign, Meagher preferred not to put the cart before the horse.

"The Gold Cup might come up too quick. He's a good horse, there's no need to rush him," he said.

"I think there's still plenty of races left in him if he stays sound."