Australian Group One glory for Desert Lightning in Goodwood

Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride of Dubai) is now a Group One winner on both sides of the Tasman after prevailing in a nail-biting finish to the A$1 million Sportsbet Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.

Raced by Barneswood Farm’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer, Desert Lightning was guided through the early part of his career by the highly respected and now retired trainers Peter and Dawn Williams. He won five races for them including the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m), and he placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO Classic (1600m).

Subsequently transferred into the stable of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Desert Lightning has won the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) and the So You Think Stakes (1500m), along with a second in the Gr.2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and fourths in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Stradbroke Handicap (1600m).

That CV had already earned Desert Lightning a special place among the many star racehorses who have carried Barneswood Farm’s tangerine and white colours over the years, but Saturday’s Goodwood triumph lifted him to a new level.

With Sarah Green and her husband Chris on course, Desert Lightning and jockey Luke Nolen launched a powerful finish out of the pack.

Coming into the final 100m, more than half a dozen chances were lining up across the Morphettville track to take their shot at Group One glory in a grandstand finish to the Goodwood. Desert Lightning and the favourite Extragalactic (Deep Field) edged ahead of the others in the final few strides, and after a head-bobbing battle, Desert Lightning landed an $18 upset by a half-head.

“He's such a tough horse and he's such a character,” Coleman said. “He's a genuine stable favourite. You know, we just all adore him. His owners, Chris and Sarah Green, they've travelled from New Zealand all the way to Adelaide today to be here for this. He's a part of their family and it's just so special.

“We thought he was going to be a horse that would stretch out over ground, but he seems to be best when he's fresh and happy and bouncing, and that's how he is today, so it’s great. It was a fantastic ride from Luke Nolen as well.

“He's an older gelding – normally they're the quiet ones that know their job and they don't cause too much fuss. Well, he carries on out there like a two-year-old colt most mornings and upsets other horses on the track and bounces around the stable.

“We share the duties there. I ride him a bit, and our stable apprentice Emily Pozman rides him too and adores him. He's a horse that everyone in the stable just loves.”

Desert Lightning has quickly become a favourite for Nolen too.

“He's been flying at home,” he said. “He had a tough run when he was fourth with 60 kilos on his back first-up in the Hareeba (Listed, 1200m). The camp and myself had genuine hopes that he could win the race here today. He had a winnable weight and an economical run in the race. I presented him to win the race, but I just wasn’t sure on the line whether we’d got it or not.

“The horse has been going really well, so I think the next port of call is Queensland for another go at the Stradbroke. He sprinted well today on soft ground, there's a lot of options for him, so I'll leave it in the camp's capable hands the way he goes off the back of it, but I'll be joining him wherever he goes.

“The Greens, they come over from New Zealand and watch him run every time. They keep reinvesting in the camp at home as well, so they're very good people, and they've never pressured us with this horse at all.

“He came across from New Zealand with very nice form, and they just allowed Peter and Katherine to do their thing. And they're just wonderful racing fans, and it's great to see connections like this rewarded with good races.

“It was good to see him turn that confidence we've had at home and in his work into winning a Group One here in Australia.”

From a 32-start career, Desert Lightning has now recorded eight wins, five seconds and four thirds. He has earned over A$2.2 million in prize money.

Desert Lightning was bred by German native Wessel Van der Scheer under the Mahoenui Partnership banner 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.

Desert Lightning is a half-brother to quality sprinter Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto), whose eight wins include the Gr.2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m). Another half-brother is Oak Lightning (NZ) (Per Incanto), a two-year-old whose only start to date was a second in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield last month.

Both Oak Hill and Oak Lightning are by Per Incanto, and Isstoora now has a weanling filly by the Little Avondale Stud stallion. She went to him again last spring. - NZ Racing Desk