Singapore champ heads to Flemington for The Straight Six

Lim’s Kosciuszko will launch his Australian campaign at Flemington this Saturday in the Listed Straight Six (1200m), with trainer Dan Meagher electing to ease his star into local conditions rather than dive straight into Group 1 company at The Goodwood.

With 22 wins from 29 starts in Singapore and a single outing in Hong Kong, the decorated gelding was originally aimed at Morphettville’s feature sprint, but Meagher opted for a less demanding task to gauge where the rising eight-year-old currently sits.

“It was a proper Group 1 race, a good field, and he would have been having his first Australian run,” Meagher said. “I thought he was peaking last year or the year before, and I need to make sure that he’s going as well as we know he can.”

Instead, he’ll test the straight track at Flemington and experience a floated trip for the first time—something Meagher has prepared for with three jump-outs, two of which were at away venues.

“Winners like him, and he’s won some good races, should not be affected,” Meagher said. “If he’s going good enough, he will show up in that race.”

Meagher admitted his decision was partly influenced by sage advice from his father, Melbourne Cup-winning trainer John Meagher: “He always said that you put your horses in the lowest grade and yourself in the best grade.”

Pending Saturday’s performance, Lim’s Kosciuszko may still head to Brisbane, with entries in both the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap still on the table.

“He’s been good to me, so we’ll see how he is,” Meagher said. “And we can head off to Brisbane if he ticks the box.”

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