RICHARD LIM TAKES PRIDE IN FIRST IPOH WIN

As a jockey, winning races around all the tracks in the MRA circuit was second nature to Richard Lim, a top rider in his days.

Who can forget his success on King And King in the 2006 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kranji for which he received the winning trophy from Her Majesty in person.

Winning his first race at his hometown Ipoh today as a trainer in a lowly Class 5A race over 1100m may not hold a candle to that, but it was a source of great pride to Lim.

“I am very happy to win my first race in Ipoh,” said Lim, who was granted his trainer’s licence in 2022, after welcoming Salamence back to the winner’s circle.

Lim took over the Foxwedge gelding after John Sundradas rode him to sixth place in a Class 4 1400m race in 2022 and the jockey was subsequently disqualified 12 months and fined S$20,000.

(After serving his settence, John’s application for a licence to ride in Singapore was knocked back after. However, he was granted a licence to ride by Selangor Turf Club recently and landed his winner on Eternal Romance last Sunday.)

Lim managed to win back-to-back races with the gelding in late 2022 but it was downhill for the horse from there until late last year when he showed up with two minor placings.

Salamence was one of horses Lim brought to Kuala Lumpur after the closure of Kranji.

After three barrier trials last month, Lim entered him for his first outing in the country today.

The nine-year-old, ridden by Lim Shung Uai, overcame his widest barrier (12) to lead on settling down and never surrendered that advantage, going further and further ahead as the race progressed. At the post he was 5-3/4 lengths clear of the rest.

It was a close fight by rank outsiders Straight N Arrow and Golden Show for the minor placings. 

It’s now eight wins in 71 starts for Salamence, who was originally purchased by Dan Meagher for NZ$150,000 at the Ready To Run sale, since making his debut in 2018.

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