LIM'S KOSCIUSZKO, THE DAN MEAGHER STABLE ... AND BACK STORY OF A TOUGH TWELVE MONTHS

By Graham Potter | Friday, November 28, 2025

Lim’s Kosciuszko … twelve months ago, when he was making big waves in Singapore, that name would have struck fear into the opposition … but all these months later there is hardly a trickle of support for the champion who won ten Group 1 races in Singapore, who claimed the Singapore Horse Of The Year multiple times and who relocated to Australia at the end of last year with a race record of twenty-two wins from thirty starts.

Trainer Dan Meagher is the first to admit that Lim’s Kosciuszko is nearing the end of his career and that the 1100m of the Listed Doveton Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday is likely to be too short a distance for Lim’s Kosciuszko, but once the back story is taken into account, punters might not be so quick to write Lim’s Kosciuszko off moving forward.

The decision by the Singapore government to shut down racing last October hurt some more than others.

Imagine building your training business up over a long period of time and turning it into a very successful enterprise headlined by the performances of the stable stars … and then having it all pulled out from under you and your world turned upside down.

Imagine how hard it was to be forced to relocate and the stresses and strains involved in, essentially, trying to save your career and set up a system anew and a structure which would lead to giving you the best chance of replicating the success achieved in Singapore.

Well, Dan Meagher and his family did not have to imagine it. They lived it … and the horses they brought with them from Singapore to Australia were not immune to the negative effects of the unwanted change of scenery and circumstances.

To say that Meagher settled in Pakenham would not be correct. He loved the facilities offered at Pakenham and was happy to choose that as his base in Australia … but ‘settle’ … that was a different thing altogether.

“We’ve really had an horrendous time,” admitted Meagher. “In the first half of the year I was thinking about everything too much … I was overthinking it and not getting some things right.

‘I basically had to back off and review what I was doing. That was the correct thing to do, but it was still hard to do, because you have got to swallow your pride a bit and go, ok, I’m getting this a bit wrong. How do I go about getting it right?

“I remember Cliff Brown (who went through something similar previously) saying to me when I came back … he said, it will take you three years before you feel like you are going alright … and he was talking from experience.”

As far as the horses Meagher brought back with him are concerned, Lim’s Kosciuszko had his first run in Australia in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington in May.

That run came after a seven-and-a-half month time away from race action, a time which included having to cope with all of the formalities and protocols required to facilitate a change of country, and he did well enough finishing third to Title Fighter, so there were no immediate signs of concern.

But, following another two runs, that assessment changed quickly.

“His last two runs after a really good performance … well, he wasn’t the same horse,” said Meagher.

“He never really acclimitised through winter … and I probably made a few mistakes training him as well as I tried to work out what was needed in a new place. It was a mixture of a bit of both.

“The Winter came and he didn’t look good in the coat and he didn’t cope. Same as his trainer didn’t cope with the Winter.

“So, we gave him a spell … gave him a nice break … a nice bit of pre-training and he came back into work at the right time, and he is doing super.

“It’s the best he has looked and I’m really happy with him.
“The 1100m trip is probably going to be a bit short for him on Saturday, but it is a great starting point for him.

“I expect him to show us something. He is as good as them on his day. I can allow that his best days are probably past, but I think he can still run well.

“It is a disappointing that people have just dismissed him because of his last two runs in Australia and forget what he has actually done. Hopefully he can give them a reminder on Saturday.”

Lim’s Kosciuszko is currently a distant $34 chance for the Doveton Stakes.

Meagher brought two Singapore champions back with him when he returned to Australia and he confirmed it was pretty much the same story with Lim’s Saltoro, who last raced in July.

“He had completely had enough and needed the break,” said Meagher. “So, he’s had a break and he is just a couple of weeks behind “Kossie’, but he looks in great condition.

“He is a very smart horse.”

While Meagher has only served one year of the three year ‘penalty’ that Cliff Brown suggested he might have to endure, that, at least, is one year down … one winter survived … and heading into summer could, hopefully, be described, as the light at the end of the tunnel for the Meagher stable, who certainly has that important mix of expertise and experience on their side and the perseverance to make it all pay off.

“I completely understand that it could have been better and I take full responsibility for what went wrong over this period of time. I don’t blame anyone. I don’t blame the horses. I just have to put my hand up for that. I didn’t get it right,” said Meagher, “but I am very confident that we are back on track and ready to make a full fist of it.

“We won every big race in Singapore with all types of horses … old, young, sprinters and stayers … so I know I have the ability to be better than how my first year went and I’m now starting to feel we are on the right track to be successful.”

And there is no small measure of thanks for the loyalty owners have shown to the stable during this testing time.

“I’m so very appreciative of the support of people like Mr Lim, What a owner he is,” enthused Meagher. “But he is more than that to me … he is like family. Amazing man!

“Also, Marty Heran, Clint Rom, Eric Koh and all the other owners, new and old, who have kept the faith and stuck solid. As I said, that is very much appreciated.”

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