Trainer Steven Burridge was in fine form on Friday night when he saddled an early race-to-race double with Lim’s Elusive and newcomer Run It Twice.
Both drew off the track in their respective races, but while Lim's Elusive scraped home by a short head in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1400m, Run It Twice, a former one-time Newcastle winner, was never going to get beaten once his jockey Corey Brown set him alight at the top of the straight in the $75,000 Graduation race over 1200m.
Lim’s Elusive, a four-year-old by Elusive City, more or less replicated his last run in a 1600m race three weeks ago when he sat handy before going full bore down the middle of the track to grab the lead.
Then ridden by visiting Brisbane champion jockey Timothy Bell, the Lim’s Stable-owned galloper was grabbed late by longshot Best Life. With Manoel Nunes doing the steering this time, he speared over from his wide gate to take up a prominent spot tracking up the leader Lucky Lincoln (Zuriman Zulkifli) before hitting the front shortly after straightening.
While Best Life was the only one who matched strides with him last time out, he had at least three challengers ready to topple him this time around, with Marine Treasure (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) leading the charge. But Lim’s Elusive ($24) kept digging deep to fall in by a short-head from the fast-finishing Winning Cause (Nooresh Juglall) while Marine Treasure had to settle for third place another 1 ¼ lengths away.
Favourite Damon (Brown) ran on late for fourth another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 23.02secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
Burridge said the tempo of the race did not suit Lim’s Elusive at his last run, not to mention that his jockey did not really know him.
“He was unlucky at his last run. The pace was too slow and it didn’t suit him,” said the Australian handler.
“It wasn’t Tim’s fault as he’s never ridden him before and he hit the front a bit too early. We gave him a freshen-up and he’s done a good job tonight and I’ll probably give him a break now.”
Nunes was delighted his first ride for former Singapore multiple champion owner Lim’s Stable was a winner.
“He’s a nice horse, but he's still learning, still green,” said the leading jockey.
“He landed in a good spot and when I started to apply pressure on him, he started to settle and changed his strides.
“Thanks to Steven and the Lim’s Stable for giving me the ride. It’s the first time I rode for Mr Lim and I’m glad I won.”
It was smiles all around for Burridge’s second winner as well, especially for the Premier Racing Stable who purchased the Bradbury’s Luck five-year-old from Newcastle where he was trained by Broadmeadow trainer Kris Lees.
“The boys got this one from Newcastle. His form was not too bad and he’s been working well here, even finishing second to Affleck in a barrier trial,” said Burridge.
“His barrier draw (9) was a disadvantage, though, and he overraced a bit as well. But he did a good job to win first-up in the end.”
Brown gave Run It Twice ($24) a copybook ride, giving him every chance when he was able to slot him into the slipstream of race-leader Red Dawn (John Powell) from the outset.
The rest was pretty straightforward the moment Brown peeled him to the outside to first reel in Red Dawn before staving off the challenges of Secret Weapon (Michael Rodd) and Quicksilver (Nooresh Juglall) who had to settle for second and third place respectively, less than two lengths off the winner. The winning time was 1min 23.02secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Brown said he was a bit concerned about the balance of petrol in the tank after he had to use Run It Twice a bit more than he would have liked in the early stages.
“He jumped well from the outside but I had to stir him up to go forward,” said the Australian hoop.
“In his trials, he didn’t relax at all, but I was able to grab hold of him and he settled quite well for me.
“He’s a horse with big strides and a big action and who can go further for sure. Steve and the boys will have plenty of fun with him.”
