It didn't carry Black Type, but the $200,000 MVRC So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley was packed with intrigue and G1 winners with spring aspirations.
Former Kiwi galloper Desert Lightning landed a deserved victory in the feature race for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, digging deep to stave off the challenge of high-class Canadian mare Moira.
The six-year-old Pride of Dubai gelding has been unfortunate not to greet the judge first since winning the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) nearly 12 months ago but has hardly gone a bad race in that time.
A Group One winner for now retired trainers Peter and Dawn Williams in New Zealand, Desert Lightning transferred across the Tasman last spring.
Given a perfect ride by comeback jockey Luke Nolen, Desert Lightning sat outside the leader Glint Of Silver before finding the front before entering the home straight and after a strong challenge from Moira had a neck to spare on the mare, with Attrition three lengths away in third.
“It’s pretty special,” Coleman said. “We’ve got Chris and Sarah Green here from New Zealand, the owners of Desert Lightning and it's just really rewarding to get the win on the board.
“He's a very special horse to their family, and we've got a jockey that's pretty special to our family on board as well.
“It's fantastic to see both of them back in the winner’s stall.
“It was a tough performance from him. He's a really genuine horse and the Yulong horse (Moira) probably had the softer run than he did and was sort of cruising up on his outside. Our old boy had to really fight hard, so it was great to see.”
Desert Lightning, who won a Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) as a three-year-old, is now likely to step up in distance.
“We're thinking that we might look to stretch him out a little bit more this time round and maybe we look to go to an Underwood Stakes (Gr.1, 1800m), but we'll see how he comes through today and go from there,” Coleman said.
Desert Lightning was bred by German native Wessel Van der Scheer under the Mahoenui Partnership and is by Pride Of Dubai out of the High Chaparral mare Isstoora.
Presented by Little Avondale Stud as a yearling at Karaka, Desert Lightning was purchased by Peter and Dawn Williams for $150,000 on behalf of Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer.
Desert Lightning is a half-brother to quality sprinter Oak Hill, a seven-time winner that caught the eye when charging through the line in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m), also at The Valley on Saturday.
His sire Pride of Dubai is arguably the best value sire in the Hunter Valley this spring priced at $27,500– NZ Racing Desk
