On a day where stayers would take centre stage with the running of the $1.38 million Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m), Lim’s Bighorn took out the sprinters’ honours on Saturday after he won the $170,000 Red Numbers Cup, a Class 2 race over 1200m.
The race, named after artist Vincent Ho who created the iconic art installation that greets racegoers at the Kranji MRT Station and presented the trophy to the lucky connections, saw eight runners head to the start after Pacific Emperor and Energy Baby were scratched late.
But the small field was a frenzied betting affair with the Tim Fitzsimmons' trained Ravalli being sent out as the $10 favourite, and there was also good support for Lim's Bighorn ($20) and Mt Niseko ($30).
On jumping, Lim's Bighorn (Wong Chin Chuen) made use of their good gate one to lead and set a cracking early pace, spread-eagling the field in the first 400m.
When the field settled, visiting jockey Taylor Marshall had Mt Niseko four lengths back in second while his stablemate Greatham Boy (Ronnie Stewart) sat on his flank in third. Ravalli (Manoel Nunes), who was on the quick back-up, also made up the first four.
Lim's Bighorn led into the Short Course straight by five lengths and with the chasing pack off the bit at the 300m, Wong set sail for home and the race was over. There were no anxious moments for connections when Lim's Bighorn won eased down by two-and-a-quarter lengths over Mt Niseko. Sabah Ace (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) finished a neck away in third.
The winning time was a slick 1 min 8.99secs for the 1200m on the Short Course. Lim's Bighorn's sixth win from 11 starts took his prizemoney to over $270,000 for the Lim's Stable.
Wining trainer Daniel Meagher was full of praise for Wong.
"Well, I just left it up to CC (Wong)," said Meagher, who earlier saddled Lim's Shavano ($11) to win the $85,000 Yong Thau Yin Cup, a Class 4 race over 1200m before bringing up a quartet of wins with Pacific Warrior ($22) in the $85,000 S.R. Nathan Cup, a Class 4 race over 1600m and Pacific Padrino ($28) in the $85,000 Rocket Man Cup, a Class 4 race over 1400m.
"I don't have to tell a good jockey what to do. He's (Lim's Bighorn) won in Group 2 (Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic over 1400m on 27 April) this horse. He's a smart horse.
"That's what he does, he just runs. If he gets it a little bit wrong, he gets beaten, and if he gets a spot, he wins like that.
"He will be a bit of fun when we take him back to Melbourne (Australia).
"It's great for (owner) Mr Lim (Siah Mong), CC and all the boys who have done a great job."
Wong, who brought up a treble on the day after Te Akau Ben ($25) won the $130,000 Singapore Turf Club Trophy, a Class 3 race over 1600m and atop Lim's Shavano, thought the quick back-up was the key to Lim's Bighorn's easy win.
"The first time I came back (in a Class 3 race over 1200m on 11 August), I tried to really get him settled underneath me and tried to sprint home, but that seemed not suitable for him," said Wong of the four-year-old son of Better Than Ready.
"That's why at the second start (in a Class 3 race over 1200m on 28 September), I tried to bowl along. Still, at the last 100m, he has stopped every time, but I think the back-up is the way to win.
"Maybe he's not so fresh today and he was a bit more reserved by himself naturally. The previous time we stopped in the last 100m, so I thought maybe everyone thought I would stop again.
"I think he's still got some improvement."
