Karaka Graduate Lim's Kosciuszko Wins Singapore Gold Cup

Already a six-time stakes winner between 1200 and 1800 metres, Singapore superstar Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec) extended his dominance into new territory on Saturday with victory in the S$1m Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) at Kranji.

The six-year-old’s sparkling performance came at his first attempt at 2000 metres. It was his 17th win from 22 career starts and lifted his earnings to S$2.47m. Lim’s Kosciuszko was offered at Karaka 2019 and the 2019 Ready to Run Sale, but was passed in on both occasions.

With his 2000-metre heroics on Saturday, Lim’s Kosciuszko earned himself a special place in the history of the Singapore turf. No other horse has ever won feature races, regarded locally as Group Ones, over as wide a range of distances as Lim’s Kosciuszko’s 1200 to 2000 metres.

Saturday’s win was among his most tenacious performances yet, carrying a testing topweight of 58 kilograms and having to jump from the outside gate in a field of 16. Jockey Marc Lerner had to ask him to work in the early stages of the race, spearing forward from that wide gate to take up a position on the outside of the leader.

Lim’s Kosciuszko sprinted again in the straight to take command, but he was soon joined by Dream Alliance (Into Mischief), who was carrying seven kilograms less. In a desperate duel down the straight, Lim’s Kosciuszko refused to be denied and held on by a short head. The race was run in a quick 2:00.67.

“That was amazing,” trainer Daniel Meagher said. “What can I say? I can train him to be fit, to be sound, to be happy, but I can’t train him to be tough.

“When it’s all said and done, that’s what won him the race today. He jumped from gate 16, carried the top weight and had every right to get beat in that final furlong. But he just toughed out the finish and that’s what makes champion horses.”

Lim’s Kosciuszko is just one of a long list of black-type performers to come out of the Ready to Run Sale. The 2023 edition of the world’s leading sale of two-year-olds will be held at Karaka on November 22 and 23.