3 minute read
Star galloper Lim’s Lightning etched his name into the history books on Sunday when taking out the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup.
He became the first horse in history to win the Lion City Cup - Gold Cup double and did so carrying topweight, was 57 days between runs and off a set-back – unbelievable!
Since the turn of the century only 44 horses have been rated 118 or higher in Singapore, a list Lim's Lightning joined following his success in Sunday's Singapore Gold Cup.
Of those 44, only eight were locally trained headed by the untouchable Rocket Man.
Beyond a mile only War Affair and Better Than Ever produced a better performance — what he achieved on Sunday was special.
He's now stamped himself the best horse in Singapore over 1200m, 1600m and 2000m.
If he's right there isn't a horse that can go with him.
It's a shame we never got to see Lim's Lightning and The Inferno race, as it stands Timeform only have a pound between the pair.
Under the conditions of the race they all had their chance to beat him on Sunday but even with his 5kg pull in the weights, Group 1 Singapore Derby winner Hard Too Think had no answers.
It's very easy to draw comparisons with War Affair as they both boast very similar CVs however War Affair notably fell short with topweight in the 2014 Gold Cup [2200m].
It's no secret the Gold Cup has been a graveyard for those at the top of the weights but not so for Lim's Lightning, he is a superstar and his record is one that will be talked about for many years to come.
Even more remarkable is his journey.
A winner of four of his first six starts including the 2018 Golden Horseshoe, Lim's Lightning finished third in the Singapore Guineas at his tenth start before being sent to Australia to race under the care of Matthew Dunn.
Unplaced in four runs he joined the John and Chris Meagher operation winning one of his four attempts before being sent back to Singapore.
Now under the care of Dan Meagher, Lim's Lightning has won six of his seven starts with his only defeat coming in the Group 1 Kranji Mile when narrowly beaten behind Minister.
He has improved with every start for Meagher and off a mark of 118 he would certainly hold his own if they did want to chance their arm in Hong Kong.
In Australia he struggled to break the 95 barrier and was beaten over 8L at his last two starts.
Fast forward 18 months and he's now rated 118 and is one of the best we've seen in Singapore – incredible.
