It was all smiles in the Daniel Meagher camp with Lim’s Lightning and Lim’s Kosciuszko all set to head into the $100,000 Class 1 race over 1400m next Saturday.

Horse of the Year Lim's Lightning and the promising Lim's Kosciuszko  were both given a good blowout by regular partner Danny Beasley in heat No. 3 and 4 of the barrier trials on Thursday morning. It was in preparation of their lead-up race ahead of the main target - the $1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile on May 21.

Lim's Lightning  pressed forward and camped outside noted speedster Lucky Jinsha (Manoel Nunes), before striding out on his own to run third under the pelting rain. Fellow Kranji Mile nominees Lucky Jinsha and Rocket Star (Jake Bayliss) ran 1-2.

On the other hand, Lim's Kosciuszko, who took out his eighth career victory in as many starts last month, looked full of running as he cantered down the middle to finish fifth behind Proof Perfect (Jerlyn Seow) in the last heat.

Meagher expressed satisfaction for the duo after the trials, but reckoned the younger Lim's Kosciuszko might just have the upper hand this time.

"We're very happy with them and they're ready to go," said the Australian handler.

"They will both run in the Class 1 race next Saturday. I am confident with them, but Lim's Kosciuszko is race-fit and he's carrying 53.5kgs.

"He's (Lim's Kosciuszko) on his way up, so hopefully, he keeps winning.

"Lim's Lightning is the better horse, but he's on 59kgs this time. When it comes to the weight-for-age in the Kranji Mile, that's when Lim's Lightning will come to the fore."

In 10 wins over trips ranging from 1200m to 2000m, the six-year-old son of Lope De Vega has proven himself to be an excellent all-rounder. He also swept three Group 1 races, namely the Lion City Cup (1200m), the Raffles Cup (1600m) and the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) last year.

The Lim's Stable's star is resuming since his last-start win in the Singapore Gold Cup in November. He has had five trials, and four were completed this year.

"He's well. We'll run him next week and then in the Kranji Mile," said Meagher.

"We took our time with Lim's Lightning to make sure he gets back to form. He's had a pretty tough season and he was at the top of his game for about seven months.

"The main aim is to try and win the Kranji Mile. So he didn't have to go too early in the season, so those were just conditioning trials for him.

"He's done what no other horse has ever done. He doesn't owe us anything."

Fellow Australian jockey Danny Beasley shared the same sentiments with Meagher about Lim's Lightning.

"I'm very happy with him. He's coming right at the right time," said Beasley, who steered the rejuvenated Lim's Lightning to five wins in six rides last season after he came back from a shortlived career in Australia.

"He has done everything we asked of him last year. Whatever is to come this year would be a bonus.

"That was a nice trial. Daniel's done a great job.

"The first trial (March 24) was okay, second one (April 7) was a bit better, and I'm very happy with this. He's still got a lot of improvement in him.

"We probably won't see him at his best next week, but I'm pretty confident he will run well both next week and in the Kranji Mile."

Beasley, who will ride Lim's Lightning next week and in the Kranji Mile, would know his "opponent" Lim's Kosciuszko like the back of his hand having ridden the four-year-old son of Kermadec to six of his eight wins thus far.

"He's shown that he's improved a lot since his last win (Kranji Stakes A race on March 26) and he is relaxing really well now," said Beasley.

"He's starting to mature. He was a little fresh last start, and we both thought he wasn't at his best then.

"(Wong) CC (Chin Chuen) will be in the pilot's seat, but I think he will have many options next week.

"If they don't go quick, he goes in front, but if you have horses like Lucky Jinsha in that race, he will be very comfortable to sit off them.

"They could be in for a bit of a shock should he be relaxed and switched on. I ride him in work and when he's relaxed in his work, his turn of foot is amazing.

"It's no surprise where he's got to, eight from eight.

"He's still very lightly-raced with only eight races, though he's turning five in a few months (Southern Hemisphere-breds turn a year older on August 1).

"Daniel's really looked after him and (owner) Mr Lim (Siah Mong) has been very patient with him.

"I'd love to be riding him next week, but I owe it to (Lim's) Lightning."

The hotly-contested lead-up race to the Kranji Mile will also feature other Kranji Mile hopefuls like Katak, Minister and Lucky Jinsha, but Beasley reckoned it has to be the Kranji Mile that will tell who will be the "king" or the "prince".

"We've got Lim's Lightning, the "king", and Lim's Kosciuszko, the "prince" at the stable," quipped Beasley.

"I don't think the race next week will tell the 'true story' of who's the best one, but the Kranji Mile will.

"Lim's Lightning would probably need the run next week, but when he goes second-up in the Kranji Mile and is at his peak, that's when we'll see who's the king at the stable."