Kranji still alive Down Under

The vestiges of the now-defunct 182-year-old Singapore horse racing industry have not resurfaced in just Malaysia, but also Australia - and at the top of the podium.

While the island continent is not a stone's throw away like Malaysia, Bukit Timah and Kranji were like a Little Melbourne or Little Sydney for decades.

Buying a one-way ticket home was the sensible thing for Australian expats to do when they had to leave upon the shutdown on Oct 5.

Arguably, the weight of expectations had been heftier on its highest-profile homecoming, big-race trainer Daniel Meagher.

He also brought along to his new Pakenham yard the biggest contributor to his haul of 16 Group 1 wins, Lim's Kosciuszko (10) and his heir apparent Lim's Saltoro (two).

Though Meagher started late, he was repaid for his patience with an early first winner - Cardone at Sandown on March 5, just two weeks after his inaugural runner Midori Mover ran a close second at Kilmore on Feb 21.

It did not take long for Kranji's second Victorian, Tim Fitzsimmons, to follow suit.

By coincidence, the 2022 Singapore champion trainer, who has chosen Bendigo as his new set-up, also launched on Feb 21, obtaining a fourth from Tesoro Mio for loyal Singaporean owner Eugene Yong at Moonee Valley.

Two runners later at Swan Hill on April 4, Cliff Brown's former assistant trainer got off the mark with ex-Kranji galloper Condor, also sporting Yong's famous yellow and red Gold Stable colours.

Unlike Meagher, who tasted success in Australia before, having trained in partnership with father John and brother Chris before moving to Singapore in 2017, Fitzsimmons was leading in his first winner on home soil.

"It's good to get it away. It's my first winner in Australia," said Fitzsimmons who has 15 horses in work, including stable banner, the 2023 Singapore Derby winner Golden Monkey.

"I've used this horse a bit as a guide for the Singapore horses. I think he can win a few more races."

Golden Monkey, who will soon race, being the benchmark that really matters is a no-brainer, but impatient Singapore racing fans will also be pleased to know that another star duo will soon hop on a race-bound float.

With Lim's Kosciuszko and Lim's Saltoro going through their final pre-debut jump-outs, Meagher is toying with an ambitious cross-border first-up Group 1 raid for both on May 10 - The Goodwood (1,200m) at Morphettville in Adelaide.

Interestingly, Morphettville is the venue of Singapore racing's biggest success story thus far, Bakeel.

A promising three-time Kranji winner for the Al-Arabiya Stable and trainer Steven Burridge, the Sioux Nation four-year-old has exploded on his new scene, even being dubbed South Australia's "most exciting horse".

He has already doubled his haul with a three-from-three, once at Murray Bridge and twice at Morphettville, where he will bid to stretch his unbeaten run to four in the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1,529m) on April 12.

Al-Arabiya's Mansoor Gandhi - who also sent Makin, Ghalib (also in The Goodwood), Asif and Ejaz to Angaston trainers Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor - is still pinching himself at Bakeel's dream run.

"Australia is one of the countries with top-notch racing, and to see Bakeel measure up there and win three in a row, it's a very pleasant surprise," said the Singaporean businessman.

"But I always knew he was a progressive sort who would get better and better as he matures. He makes me feel so proud, and also proves that Singapore had the quality to compete at that level.

"It'll be his biggest test this Saturday, his first race at Listed level, but Barend Vorster (Bain's racing manager) couldn't be happier with his condition.

"Barrier 11 is not really a concern as the speed map suggests it'll be a highly strung race and he can settle in midfield and hopefully, he can find his footing with cover."

As the cherry on top, Bakeel, like all of Mansoor's horses, has been ridden by his regular partner in Singapore, Brazilian ace Manoel Nunes.

The five-time Singapore champion jockey is another former Kranji expat who has made good in Australia, lying sixth in the Adelaide log on 25 winners.

manyan@sph.com.sg