Dan Meagher will chase his biggest success since moving from Singapore when Lim’s Kosciuszko plays at The Supernova in Pakenham.
Since the closure of racing in Singapore and the move to Pakenham, trainer Dan Meagher has admitted the challenge has not been easy.
Training against the likes of Laurie Laxon, Lee Freedman and Cliff Brown, Meagher more than held his own and when racing came to a halt in Singapore he was at the top of the tree.
Meagher brought champion Singapore galloper Lim’s Kosciuszko to Melbourne, one of his first runners and finishing third in a Stakes race at Flemington.
But Meagher himself admitted he ruined the rest of Lim’s Kosciuszko’s campaign, leaving the coach to question his own abilities.
“You think you have to change your ways and do things differently,” Meagher said.
“Winter hit, and I had never experienced winter before, and I did things differently.
“I rode him to 1400 meters on a patchy course and then I dropped him back to 1100 meters. It was a sign that a trainer was pushing him when he wasn’t ready.
“I was disappointed with the way I dealt with him, but he didn’t do that either.
“He didn’t look good in the coat and then winter hit, and it took its toll, but he’s really enjoying the warmer weather, you can tell.”
Meagher went back to doing what he knew worked, by not overcomplicating things after initially having to get used to the different tracks at Pakenham, weather changes, new staff, learning when to blanket horses and when not to.
“I learned to take care of myself and not think too much,” Meagher said.
“I had a lot of success in Singapore training against the likes of Laurie Laxon, Cliff Brown and Lee Freedman and I wasn’t impressed, but when you come back here to an environment you’re not used to, you start to doubt yourself.
“I had to remember that I was quite successful before I came here, so I just had to get back to what I knew and my last five runners have shown that.”
Meagher will have the chance to secure his biggest win since returning from Singapore when Lim’s Kosciuszko runs the $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday.
Lim’s Kosciuszko runs in the Moody Racing slot after finishing fourth at Caulfield over 1100 meters on November 29.
“I really appreciate being in Peter Moody’s position,” Meagher said.
“He called me and when he was asked by someone of his caliber to run my horse in his slot, it was very much appreciated and I hope it is a great boost for the stable.”
Meagher was ‘delighted’ with Lim’s Kosciuszko’s first performance and said the climb to 1400 meters on Saturday would be ideal.
“We were so close, yet so far away from the first win, but I was impressed with his run,” Meagher said.
“Because he was at the front until the last 100 meters, it was a great run and he came up great.
“I think at this stage of his life he’ll appreciate it at 4,000 feet to a mile and we’re right in the middle of it, which should suit him quite well.”
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