Dan Meagher has opted to stay local with his stable star Lim’s Kosciuszko, abandoning plans to run in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) due to the complexities and cost of flying north to Brisbane.
Instead, the accomplished galloper will remain in Melbourne and line up in the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1400m) at Sandown this Saturday, as Meagher shifts focus to the Winter Championship Series.
Lim’s Kosciuszko, who boasts 22 wins from 30 starts across Singapore and Hong Kong, made his Australian debut last month, finishing third in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington behind Title Fighter.
“He had a jump-out the other day at Pakenham and it was what I wanted to see,” Meagher said.
“I hadn’t seen that in his three jump-outs since coming back to Australia.
“He needed that race to stimulate him, get him up and going, because he hadn’t done anything for seven months.
“I think it worked, as since then he has been outstanding.”
The gelding has been assigned 63kg this weekend and will be partnered by apprentice Ryan Houston, who will offset the impost with a 2kg claim.
Meagher originally intended to book Tom Prebble, citing a close relationship between their families, but the late change of plans meant he was unavailable.
“Because it was a late decision not to go to Brisbane, I missed out on Tommy who would have been number one pick because of our relationship with his dad Brett,” Meagher said.
“But he already had a ride.
“Ryan is a good rider and I’m very happy to have him.”
The Sandown contest is a heat of the VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series. The first two finishers earn automatic qualification into the final at Flemington on July 5.
“I had him down to go to the Stradbroke but there was a little issue,” Meagher said.
“So, I thought it was better to keep him here, keep him in our own backyard and that Winter Championship program looks more suitable for him.
“There are races for him in July and August, and he’ll get his chance to run in a big one, hopefully.”
Stablemate Lim’s Ida also runs on Saturday after failing first-up at Caulfield, but Meagher admits it was a misstep on his part.
“I ran him over 1400 metres on a hard track first-up with no blinkers after 12 months without racing,” he said.
“He’s since come out and had a jump-out and looked really good in it.
“I want him to get back into a little bit of form, and I’ll find a race for him, but he needs to get his fitness up.”
