By Alan Carasso
When Lim's Cruiser (Aus) (Casino Prince {Aus}) goes in search of a third consecutive victory in the S$800,000 Lion City Cup (1200m) on Saturday week in Singapore, the 6-year-old gelding will have leading Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton in the plate, trainer Stephen Gray confirmed Wednesday. The Australian will also partner with the Caspar Fownes-trained Southern Legend (Aus) (Not a Single Doubt {Aus}) as each looks for back-to-back victories in the S$1.5-million Kranji Mile.
“When we found out Zac was riding the Hong Kong horse in the Kranji Mile, Mr Lim (Siah Mong) and (racing manager) Mick Dittman thought they'd take advantage of that,” said Gray.
A respectable seventh, beaten 3 1/2 lengths in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint, Singapore's two-time champion sprinter Lim's Cruiser resumed with a strong runner-up effort in the Rocket Man Sprint May 5, in which he gave the victorious Bold Thruster (Aus) (Turffontein {Aus}) 15 pounds.
A positive performance in the Lion City could send Lim's Cruiser to Royal Ascot for the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. June 22.
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