When trainer Daniel Meagher joked with Super Team Stable’s owner Andre Lim about calling his next horse after him, little did he know the businessman would go through with it.
This Sunday, Super Dan debuts for the new pairing in the $75,000 Esplanade Park Stakes (1200m) for Restricted Maidens.
Lim is better known for 2013 Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy, 2015 juvenile champion Super One and to a lesser extent Raffles Cup winner Super Ninetyseven, all trained by ex-Kranji trainer Michael Freedman. He was once part of the Joy N Happiness Stable and has since set up new outfits under various names such as Super Team and Number One.
While still racing horses with Freedman’s successor James Peters, Lim does not keep all his eggs in one basket, having now diversified with current leading trainer Alwin Tan, and now Meagher.
The newly-licensed handler (since April 1) and youngest son of former Kranji trainer John Meagher said Lim had no prior link-up with the family, but they have hit it off well since he came knocking on his barn’s door.
Their maiden runner Fantastic Man has not quite given them a fairytale start, but Super Warrior came closer with an encouraging run last Sunday when second to Distinctive Darci in an Initiation race over 1000m. Super Dan is next while waiting for the one who has arguably set Kranji abuzz the most – Super Tycoon.
“First and foremost, it’s fantastic that Andre and his partners have come to me as we had no relationships before,” said Meagher who spent 11 years assisting his father with brothers Chris and Paul at Kranji before heading back to train in Gold Coast, Australia in 2011.
“He was one of my first clients here and we have built up a strong relationship in the past five months. They do their homework when they buy horses and they’re lucky to have a great bloodstock agent in Michael Wallace who bought Super Easy and Super One for them.
“I’m lucky enough to have four horses for them at the moment and we are looking to buy a few more very soon.
“Super Warrior had some issues a while ago but he put in a great run after 300 days last week.
“Super Dan is named like that after I joked about it and Andre really took me up on that!
“He is a big nice strong horse who is still a bit immature, but he’s improving – just like all Darci Brahma’s, they improve with racing. I think Cliff’s (Brown) horse, Sir Isaac, will be very hard to beat as he has run some good races.
“It’s only a small field and he will probably get his chance, but I think he will still need the run first-up.”
Super Dan will be ridden by Vlad Duric who was aboard at the gelding’s two barrier trials, winning his last one on August 8, and incidentally running fourth to his much-hyped stablemate Super Tycoon on July 26.
The three-year-old O’Reilly colt came out for a second barrier trial on Tuesday, running second to Kubera’s Chief (Glen Boss), and should make his Singapore debut very soon as well.
“Super Tycoon is an up-and-coming kind of horse and he trialled very well on Tuesday,” said the Australian trainer.
“I’ll do my best to get the results for them. James and I are two young blokes who are getting a great opportunity to train for such respected and experienced owners.
“They also travelled the world with their horses and I hope I can continue that success for them.”
– Singapore Turf Club
