Two New Zealand sourced horses fought out a exciting finish in the $300,000 Raffles Cup at Kranji on Sunday with Lim’s Saltoro doing what few people thought possible by holding off Lim’s Kosciuszko in a epic contest.

It was a remarkable feat given the last-start Singapore Derby (1800m) winner was at his first attempt in the weight-for-age race. Furthermore, his stablemate and 2023 two-time Raffles Cup winner Lim’s Kosciuszko, who was bred by Trelawney Stud, was undefeated in four starts this year and was justifiably sent out as the raging favourite.

But Lim’s Saltoro had also built a formidable winning reputation of his own as his only defeat in 10 starts before Sunday was a narrow second to Lim’s Kosciuszko in the EW Barker Trophy (1400m) on 21 April, hence the five-year-old son of Shamexpress was sent out as the second favourite in the elite 10-horse field.

On settling, Lim’s Saltoro rolled forward from gate six to pressure the leader. Lim’s Kosciuszko slotted in easily from his good barrier four to sit on his stablemate’s back in third while Cavalry settled fourth on his inside.

Things got interesting upon turning for home after jockey CC Wong pushed the button on Lim’s Saltoro and took the lead at the 350m, but there was still ample time for Marc Lerner to show why Lim’s Kosciusko is the reigning Horse of the Year in Singapore.

With 100m to go, there was still a gap of one length between the duo and under hard riding by Wong, Lim’s Saltoro proved tough to pass.

But champions do not give up easily. Lim’s Kosciuszko made stacks of ground and an epic finish loomed with both horses locked together and the winning post nearing.

To the naked eye, it looked like a dead-heat on the line with Lim’s Kosciusko lunging late and Lim’s Saltoro refusing to lie down. However, the photo finish showed the younger Lim’s Saltoro got up by a nose in the last edition of the Raffles Cup.

The winning time was 1 min 34.03secs for the 1600m on the Short Course. Lim’s Saltoro’s 10th win, and his second at elite level, took his prizemoney to just under S$750,000 for the Lim’s Stable.

It was also Wong’s third Raffles Cup win in a row. The Malaysian jockey ironically won on Lim’s Kosciuszko in the two previous running of the race.

“I’m very happy that I can take this race (Raffles Cup) three times in a row,” said the Kedah-born hoop, who was at his first meeting back in Singapore after a five-month stint in South Korea.

“And it’s the last time! Today, everything just worked out well. The horse proved himself at weight-for-age scale.

“With 58kgs against (Lim’s) Kosciuszko, the best horse, it’s not easy. Today, he proved it again and just gave me everything at the race.

“That was my first sit on him. Marc rides him every day. He (Lim’s Saltoro) has a big character and is difficult to ride in the morning, so Daniel decided to let Marc continue riding him (in trackwork).

“I have to thank Marc. He shared a lot about the horse’s character and everything else he knew. As a team, I have to thank him (Marc) very much.

“Thanks very much to Daniel who always gives me good rides and believes in me.”

Meagher, on the other hand, had mixed emotions after the race.

“He’s a wonderful horse, isn’t he?” said Meagher, who was at his fourth Raffles Cup win after Lim’s Lightning also won it in 2021.

“It’s very emotional because we haven’t got many (races) left and it’s (Singapore racing) been a big part of our life.

“Little Kosi’ got beat and he doesn’t deserve it. He ran great. Marc rode him fantastically and I felt for Marc a little because he’s done the work on both these horses. But who do you pick?

“They’re both great horses and (Lim’s) Saltoro is a wonderful horse. CC (Wong) was lucky to get on him after Marc has done so much work on him.”

When asked about the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on 7 September being Lim’s Saltoro’s next assignment, Meagher concurred but also had one eye on the Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on 5 October.

“That’s the plan but the Gold Cup will be the main race for him,” he said.

“He’s (Lim’s Saltoro) a superstar and he kept rising to the task.

“’Kosi’ getting beaten by a nose hurt a little because he’s such a wonderful horse. We are just lucky to have both of them.

“I’m very proud of the boys who have done all the work. It’s a wonderful day.”

Bred by Onyx Thoroughbreds, Lim’s Saltoro won two barrier trials while trained in New Zealand by Glenn Old.