Exciting prospect Lim’s Magic was meant to have gone for a break after the race he was aimed at on Singapore Gold Cup day was scrapped, but trainer Stephen Gray has decided to hold his holiday off for a while.

An impressive winner at his last two starts over 1400m, the Manhattan Rain four-year-old was going for a three-in-a-row in a Benchmark 67 race over 1400m on November 12, but it was unfortunately cancelled.

The paddocks were beckoning for Lim’s Magic, but when an identical race was featured at this Friday’s race meeting two weeks later, Gray could not resist the temptation.

Lim's Magic (Glen Boss) did not have things his way last time out, but still won, picture Singapore Turf Club

Lim’s Magic’s last win when three wide and still dominant in the way he despatched his Class 4 rivals came on October 22.

To Gray, the long gap between runs is not a concern. If anything, it should suit the Lim’s Stable-owned gelding down to a tee.

“We were supposed to spell him after the Gold Cup, but they cancelled the race,” said the New Zealander who is currently back home to attend the New Zealand Ready To Run sales for 2YOs.

“But then, we carried him on to this race. He had plenty of time since his last win, and still has natural fitness.

“He doesn’t show much in his trackwork and is a pretty quiet and unassuming type of horse. We’ve kept him ticking over for Friday, and (race-rider) Bossy (Glen Boss) who galloped him on Monday, said he felt really good.

“They can’t win every race, but he’s still a lovely horse to train. He’s got a motor, you don’t know if a horse has one until you try him out.”

From Day 1 (even after he ran a closing third at his debut in an Open Maiden race over 1200m), Gray has held high hopes for the horse he actually purchased together with one of his stable stars, Lim’s Cruiser.

“I bought him with two or three others at a racehorse sale at the time. One of them was Lim’s Cruiser and Lim’s Magic is obviously the other good one, while the other one was average,” said Gray.

“He will go on to become a pretty good horse. The way he won last start when he sat wide and still showed a turn of foot to win was impressive.

“We will be looking at the 4YO series for him next year. He will get 1600m and 2000m, and it’s all very exciting for the Lim’s Stable.

“Mr Lim is good to train for. He knows how to win and lose, he’s a real gentleman.”

Gray said he had not quite homed in on any potential buys at the New Zealand sales, but hoped to come back with at least one good catch.

“They’re quite a few nice sorts flying around. There are quite a few owners from Singapore who came,” said Gray who left Singapore after the Sunday races and will be back at the races this Friday.

“The sale doesn’t start until tomorrow. I’ve seen a few and there are some nice couple of horses, but we’ll see how it goes.”