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Trainer Daniel Meagher has history beckoning as he aims to become just the second Kranji-based trainer to secure successive victories in the SGD$1 million (approx. HK$5.881 million) SIN G1 Kranji Mile (1600m) on Saturday (20 May).
Versatile galloper Lim's Lightning led the Australian handler to victory in last year's feature event, earning him a spot on the prestigious list of Kranji Mile-winning trainers alongside his father, John Meagher, a two-time winner of the race in 2004 and 2006 with Mayo's Music and Recast.
However, Lim's Lightning won't be lining up to defend his Kranji Mile crown on Saturday. In fact, he hasn't been seen in a race since as he wrestles with injury. Instead, Meagher's other stable star, Lim's Kosciuszko, will be taking on the challenge.
Five-year-old gelding Lim's Kosciuszko, Kranji's joint highest-rated horse with stablemate Lim's Lightning, has been a force to be reckoned with in two runs in 2023 after a no-show in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin in December.
The 13-time winner from 17 was simply sensational winning the SIN G3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on the Polytrack in early February, before going on to claim his third top-level trophy in the SIN G1 Raffles Cup (1600m) towards the end of March.
So, Meagher heads into the Kranji Mile as the one to beat with Lim's Kosciuszko, and winning the race two years in a row would see him enter rare territory as no other Kranji-based trainer has achieved the feat since 2011 when the late Laurie Laxon won it for the fourth consecutive time.
Laxon's remarkable winning streak began in 2008 with Top Spin and Waikato continued the streak by securing successive Miles for the New Zealander in 2009. Better Than Ever then triumphed twice in a row in 2010 and 2011. Hong Kong-based trainer Caspar Fownes has since won consecutive Kranji Miles with Southern Legend in 2018 and 2019.
Out to stop Meagher in his tracks, however, is South African trainer Ricardo Le Grange with his trio of runners.
Six-year-old South African-bred Katak spearheads Le Grange's team, having won three out of 11 outings since his arrival at Kranji. Although he has finished as a runner-up in two previous Group 1 races, he has yet to achieve his first Group 1 success and still has a couple of lengths to make up on Lim's Kosciuszko based on their last head-to-head in the Raffles Cup.
Last year's SIN G1 Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) winner, seven-year-old Chilean-bred Hongkong Great, and six-year-old Australian-bred Rocket Star round out Le Grange's team.
Australian trainer Steven Burridge, yet to claim a Kranji Mile since taking up a licence in 2005, has his best chance with four-year-old rising star, Street Of Dreams.
Finishing no better than second place in his first four starts, Street Of Dreams has been on a rampage since, winning six on the bounce which has seen his handicap rating soar from 50 to a current mark of 93.
Street Of Dreams' last two victories have proven he is a star in the making, taking down the likes of Katak and Hongkong Great but on each occasion under handicap conditions and carrying a featherweight.
With the Kranji Mile run at set-weights, Street Of Dreams faces his biggest test to date. However, if he measures up – which he should – and let's down with his trademark turn-of-foot, this year's edition has all the makings of an all-time contest.
