Treble Complete & Looking Ahead ...

Completing the hat-trick for Walker on Friday night at Kranji, Lim's Regard (3 g Red Giant - Celtic Class, by Spectrum) was another educated and trialled by Te Akau Racing before heading to Singapore.

The common theme amongst his quiet trial outings in New Zealand was that he got well back over distances up to 1000 metres and worked home like a horse looking for further.

“He didn't really show much in his trials at home but he was well educated in New Zealand (main picture) and he's filled out quite a lot since he's been here,” Walker said.

“He's quite a big horse and he has only had three starts but has won twice and he'll go for a good break, now, too. He's had a really good first prep and he'll develop further with a month out.”

Ridden by Glen Boss, who famously guided Makybe Diva (Desert King) to three consecutive Melbourne Cup victories, and also rode her to win a Cox Plate, as too So You Think (High Chaparral) and Ocean Park (Thorn Park), Lim's Regard came from a trailing position behind the leader to win narrowly but well after working clear at the 400 metres.

Winning the $60,000 Class 4 1400 metres in 1:23.4, last 600m in 36.7, Lim's Regard returned irregular divvies of $3.10 to win & $5.40 for a place on the NZ TAB.

Lim's Regard was a $72,000 buy at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Totara Park.

Mark Walker also took a moment to discuss Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma), a three-year-old gelding bred by Greg Tomlinson at Nearco Stud, and purchased by David Ellis for $100,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Curraghmore Stud.  His six wins from twelve starts in Singapore have registered nearly $400,000.

“He's come through that win really well,” said Walker, referring to his thrilling victory on 23 July in the $250,000 Korea Racing Authority Trophy over 1200 metres on the poly track.

“Next Sunday (6 August) he's running in the Garden City Trophy. It's a Group Three race worth $250,000. It's run at weight-for-age, set weights and penalties, and because he's not a listed winner yet he gets in five kilos under weight-for-age so he's in beautifully at the weights.

“He's building up stake money very quickly, even though he's lightly raced and we've been pretty patient with him.

“He turns four next Tuesday (1 August) and he's going to be a quite a smart sprinter up here, and he could almost be favourite next Sunday I would think.”