Dubai: UAE trainer Doug Watson has declared his Singapore Airlines International Cup contender Limario “fit and ready” for Sunday’s big race, but hopes he can measure up in class to his top Asian and European rivals.
A four-year-old bred in Germany, Limario raced twice under Watson’s tutelage during the Dubai World Cup Carnival, where he finished ninth in the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) and only a neck behind African Story who would go on to win the Dubai World Cup (G1).
In his ensuing start on Dubai World Cup night, March 29, Limario ran a respectable sixth to South African Horse of the Year Variety Club in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile.
Watson believes that his trainee has improved since then and is ready to deliver a big effort at Kranji Racecourse on Sunday.
“I missed his first few days of preparation here but since I got him in December, this is by far the best he’s been,” said former UAE champion trainer
“Let’s hope he’s in the class of these other guys. He’s a Group 3 winner [twice] in Germany and he ran well in Dubai.”
Watson also believes Limario has to deal with the outside barrier (12) which he acknowledges is “not ideal.”
“We just have to deal with the cards we’re dealt. I just hope he [Limario] is not running four wide on the first turn and he’s able to save some ground. If we can do that then we can go from there.”
“It’s not ideal, but he’s a horse with speed.”
With prize money of S$3 million (Dh8.8 million) on offer, the 15th renewal of the 1,800m contest, has attracted a high-quality field led by Hong Kong raider and defending champion Military Attack.
The European challengers is headed by Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mull Of Killough and Andrew Balding’s Side Glance while Pascal Bary runs French raider Smoking Sun.
Today’s action also includes the ten-runner S$1,000,000 KrisFlyer International Sprint (Group 1) where last year’s winner Lucky Nine hopes to defend his title.
