By Alan Carasso
Lim Stable's Lim's Cruiser (Aus) (Casino Prince {Aus}), the reigning champion sprinter in Singapore, took a major step towards an appearance in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin Dec. 9 with a dominating first-up victory in a Kranji Stakes 'A' Tuesday evening.
Making his first start since posting a 1 1/2-length victory in the S$1-million Lion City Cup over this course and distance May 26, the Stephen Gray-trainee was resuming here as the $15 (2-1) second choice in the wagering behind $8 (3-5) favourite Zac Kasa (Aus) (Reset {Aus}), who was in receipt of five pounds from his market rival. Drawn gate one, Lim's Cruiser rode the rails into a midfield position as the field raced into the final three furlongs. Making ominous progress in hand leaving the 400m mark, the two-time Magic Millions sales graduate was short of room as he went for a run between pacesetting Faaltless (NZ) (Faltaat) and Zac Kasa shortly thereafter, but sliced through once he saw daylight and raced away to score by 2 1/2 lengths (video).
“He bullocked his way through the gap and he showed he was right on track after coming off a long layoff,” said racing manager Craig Geehman, deputising for Gray, who is at the sales in New Zealand. “Lim's Cruiser will be much better off from this run tonight. It looks like he will be getting there [Hong Kong] at his best form, if he makes it.”
While no horse from Singapore has ever won the Sprint, the legendary Rocket Man (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}) was just touched off by South Africa's J J the Jet Plane (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}) in the 2010 renewal.
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