Dan Meagher is hoping a freshened-up Lim’s Kosciuszko can bounce back to form when he lines up at Caulfield in Saturday’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m).
Dropping back in trip from 1400m, Meagher believes the shorter distance combined with weight-for-age conditions are well suited to his seasoned sprinter, who made his mark with 22 wins from 30 starts in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Now having his third Australian run, Lim’s Kosciuszko was solid first-up at Flemington before a flat performance at Sandown last start.
“He was disappointing on face value last time but at the end of the day he (Ryan Houston) had to make a decision, and he led, which was fine,” Meagher told RSN.
“But he had to go up that hill, he was carrying topweight, and he hadn’t led for two-and-a-half years, and it probably didn’t suit him to do that on that day.”
Meagher said returning to weight-for-age racing, where the gelding has competed consistently over the past three years, made more sense than continuing to give weight away in handicaps.
“He probably should have come back a little bit and at the end of the day he had been racing in weight-for-age races for the last three years in Singapore and Hong Kong, so giving weight to horses when he is getting older is probably not ideal for him anymore,” he said.
“I thought this race, being weight-for-age gave him his best opportunity to win.”
Lim’s Kosciuszko has never raced over less than 1200m, but Meagher is confident the fresh approach will help, having deliberately skipped a jump-out between starts.
“I think sometimes these older horses enjoy not being extended in distance and they like to come back in distance and have the fresh legs,” Meagher said.
“I don’t think it will be too sharp. On his day at weight-for-age, he’s good enough to run really well, but he’s getting older and he’s getting harder to read.
“He hasn’t been putting in the effort like he used to, but he still looks well, and his work has been good enough.
“I think this is a race for him to run well in.”
Jason Maskiell will take the reins on Saturday, replacing Ryan Houston in the saddle.
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