MEAGHER WANTS MORE GOLD CUP FIREPOWER

Hopes for Pacific Bao Bei and Lim’s Smythe to sneak into Grand S’pore Gold Cup line-up

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At first glance, the $50,000 Class 4 race over 2,000m in the 10-race meeting at Kranji on Aug 18 looks inauspicious at best.

But, with three of the seven runners Pacific Bao Bei, City Gold Farewell and Lim's Smythe among the early nominations for the Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2,000m) in the final meeting on Oct 5, the race is a must watch for connections and punters alike.

Pacific Bao Bei, a five-year-old Sea The Stars progeny, and Lim's Smythe, a Saxon Warrior fouryear-old, are prepared by Daniel Meagher while 54-point rater City Gold Farewell, a five-year-old son of Snitzel, hails from the Steven Burridge yard.

On ratings, the trio would all have to win a race or two to even be considered in the final field.

But Meagher will be hoping one of his two potential Grand Singapore Gold Cup runners, in 62-point rater Pacific Bao Bei and Lim's Smythe (53), can start their journeys in Race 5 on Aug 18.

This would be a big ask but, adding another runner or two to an arsenal that includes last year's winner and two-time Singapore Horse of the Year Lim's Kosciuszko and freshly crowned Group 1 Raffles Cup (1,600m) winner Lim's Saltoro, is like a free throw at the stumps for the Australian handler.