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The winning post had been dodging Lim’s Dashing for more than two years, but the long wait was finally over on Sunday.
The Lim’s Stable-owned Darci Brahma six-year-old has actually done nothing wrong throughout the barren run, filling the minors six times and running fourth four times in 15 starts since notching back-to-back wins in Restricted Maiden and Novice company in June and July 2016, when ridden by Danny Beasley, who has since retired and is now assistant-trainer to Daniel Meagher – just to give an idea of how long it’s been between drinks.
Dropping in grade to the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race (1000m) after last running on for fourth to Sikino in a Kranji Stakes C event over 1000m proved to be the spark that Lim’s Dashing needed.
Patiently ridden off the pace by in-form apprentice jockey Amirul Ismadi, Lim’s Dashing ($33) started to motor home once he was peeled out to the outside at the 300m mark.
He was actually a few feet away from the luckless Drone who clipped heels in restricted room between Thunderstruck (Vlad Duric) and Racer King (Daniel Moor) at the 250m, hurling his rider Alysha Collett to the ground, but fortunately stayed clear of the fall.
Rolling on from his momentum, Lim's Dashing went on to beat Classified (Troy See) by three parts of a length with Racer King in third place another short head away. The winning time was 59.44 seconds for the 1000m on the Polytrack.
Collett was reported to be conscious after the fall, but she complained of some pain in her leg. The Kiwi jockey was sent to hospital for further observation, with more updates on her condition to be given when available.
Trainer Stephen Gray said it was ironically Lim’s Dashing’s consistency that had been his nemesis.
“He was down in grade today. He’s been so consistent but that has been his downfall in a way – he doesn’t drop points,” said the New Zealander.
“It’s finally gone down and last start, he quickened so well over 1000m we thought why not run him over the same trip.
“Young Amirul is also riding very well.”
The Ipoh-born apprentice jockey has indeed been riding on a mini crest of a wave, booting home on average one winner in the last six weeks. Jockey-turned-trainer Ismadi Ismail’s son currently sits in fourth spot on 12 winners, but a fair gap off the lead as he has half of current leader Troy See’s haul of 24 winners.
“I rode this horse at his last start in a 1000m and he ran on nicely,” said Amirul.
“There were a lot of horses on the pace in today’s race. I knew they would have to stop and when they did, he ran on very well.”
Lim’s Dashing has now taken his record to three wins and seven placings in 19 starts for prizemoney that has now tipped over the 200,000 mark for the Lim’s Stable.
