New racing outfit Lim’s & Mark’s Stable has not taken too long to welcome their first winner at Kranji when Paperback Trooper raced away to an impressive win on debut on Sunday.
The recently-formed joint venture between current leading owner Mr Lim Siah Mong of Lim’s Stable and Australian owner Mark McLean has already saddled a handful of runners, Winning Express and Bristol Diamond both with trainer James Peters, but Paperback Trooper, prepared by trainer Steven Burridge, was the one to supply them with their maiden victory in the $75,000 Affleck 2014 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m.
Ridden by jockey Danny Beasley, the Publishing three-year-old was travelling so comfortably upon straightening that it was clear any trouble for hot favourite and race-leader Sir Isaac (Derreck David) inside the last furlong might hail from him.
David tried to save the two-year-old colt for as long as he could, but when he stoked the even-money favourite up at the 200m, the acceleration that Sir Isaac produced could not quite match that of Paperback Trooper ($29), who easily sealed the race with a blistering burst to go and post a comprehensive 2 ¾-length win.
Sir Isaac hung on for second place with Super Missile (Manoel Nunes) running on for third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 11.3secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
“Mark is an owner with Liam Birchley in Queensland. Together they won the Karaka Millions with Hardline two years ago,” said Lim’s Stable racing manager Mick Dittman.
“He joined forces with the Lim’s Stable and as his colours are blue stars, they did a combination with the Lim’s for the current colours – blue stars on yellow.
“Mark’s got five horses here and that’s his first winner. Good for him.”
Burridge said he had held some concerns over Paperback Trooper’s ordinary output on the Polytrack in trackwork, but was pleasantly surprised with his actual raceday result.
“He worked nicely on the turf in Australia, but he went terrible on the Polytrack here,” said the Australian handler.
“I also thought with 57kgs for a first start, it was a bit of a question mark, and hopefully he would fire up. But he drew a good barrier (3) and Dan rode him well.”
The Australian jockey said Paperback Trooper did not leave him indifferent from Day 1.
“He’s quite professional, although he was laying out in the home straight but I think that was because he was running out to the other horses,” said Beasley.
“He’s still not 100% there as he was still a little round, but it was a tough solid effort first-up considering he was giving the second horse seven kilos.”
