LIM’S SALTORO (inner), the brilliant son of SHAMEXPRESS and rising star of Singapore racing, did what few people thought possible by holding off reigning Horse Of The Year LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO to win an exciting $300,000 Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m) at Kranji on Sunday.

It was a remarkable feat given LIM’S SALTORO, the last-start Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) winner, was having his first attempt in the weight-for-age Group 1 race.

Furthermore, his stablemate and two-time Raffles Cup winner LIM’S KOSCIUSZKO, was undefeated in four starts this year and was sent out as the raging favourite.

But the Onyx Thoroughbreds-bred LIM’S SALTORO has also built a formidable winning reputation of his own, now being the winner of 10 of his 11 starts and nearly $925,000 in prizemoney including making a clean sweep of the 4YO series and accordingly he was sent out second favourite in the elite 10-horse field.

“They’re both great horses and LIM’S SALTORO is a wonderful horse”’ commented Daniel Meagher, trainer of both the winner and runnerup.

When asked about the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on 7 September being LIM’S SALTORO’s next assignment, Meagher concurred but also had one eye on the Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on 5 October.

“That’s the plan but the Gold Cup will be the main race for him,” he said.

Successful sire SHAMEXPRESS has begun the new season where he left off from the previous one and he also enjoyed domestic success at the weekend with Open class galloper DUSTY ROAD winning again at Te Rapa to continue his progress towards Group-level targets. Trainer Graeme Cameron referenced the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa in three weeks as an immediate target.

SHAMEXPRESS has already sired four winners in the first twelve days of the new season to continue on from a great 2023/24 season. He was Leading Sire of 3YO’s in Hong Kong where his son KA YING RISING swept all before him in his age group to be crowned Champion Griffin at their recent 2023/24 Hong Kong Jockey Club Champion Awards.

Also last season, the progeny of SHAMEXPRESS scored 102 wins with 52 individual winners while he enjoyed international success including Group winners GRINZINGER BELLE and MARACANA in Australia, Gr.1 performers EXPRESS YOURSELF and SHAMUS in New Zealand and further promising gallopers including multiple winners Highlighter, Blue Sky At Night, Global Harmony, Winexpress, December, Sterling Express, Grace ‘n’ Glory, Mislead and Shameless Boy.

SHAMEXPRESS enjoys an excellent Stakes Winners to runners ratio of 5.9% and represents outstanding value at a service fee of $8,000+gst.