A KOSI HIT-OUT 9 DAYS AHEAD OF KRANJI MILE

Lim’s Kosciuszko looks in mint condition at casual third in trial tune-up for May I8 date

- Michael Lee

Back to the set-weight conditions of the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1,600m), Lim's Kosciuszko looms as an almost insurmountable adversary on May 18.

After watching Singapore's arguably best horse since Rocket Man stroll around at his usual prebig race barrier trial on May 9, many may well drop the "almost".

Posted on the outskirts throughout, the seven-time Group 1 winner ambled around three wide, minding his own business.

It was only when eventual winner Ghalib (Manoel Nunes) upped the ante inside the last 200m that that competitive side in Lim's Kosciuszko woke up ever so slightly.

As Marc Lerner who will be bidding for a four-from-four on him in the $1 million Kranji Mile also gave him a niggle, he promptly pinned his ears back.

The familiar sight of a finishing line he has vanquished 19 times probably felt like "white line fever".

But Lerner resisted the temptation, saving the best for race day.

His champion may have won all before him, but Meagher still gets pre-race jitters.

The Australian could, however, sleep a little easier later that night after such a "stimulating trial".