Moody hopeful Lightning can strike again in Stradbroke
Proud Queenslander Peter Moody would love nothing more than to win another Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) and Kiwi gelding Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) will provide the champion trainer with a solid chance in the state’s greatest race on Saturday.
Desert Lightning finished eighth in the Gr.1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago, beaten less than two lengths, and Moody, who trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman, has ensured the six-year-old has been kept up to the mark since.
“He is in great order and he worked super this morning at Eagle Farm,” Moody said.
“He has got to find a length or two but I probably left him a bit soft after his win in the Goodwood (Gr.1, 1200m) and he peaked on his run here the other day. He is 110 percent and we’ve just got to be good enough.”
It has been 12 years since Moody's Mid Summer Music upset Buffering and Happy Zero to become the first mare since 1936 to win the Stradbroke.
“It’s Queensland’s iconic race day, it’s tremendous,” he said. “12 years ago I won the Cup, the Derby and the Stradbroke all in one day so it’s probably my biggest day ever on a racetrack.
“It’s just a special day. I love getting back up here and of course us blokes from the southern states, it’s 17 or 18 degrees here at trackwork this morning and with a pullover on I’m nearly sweating.”
Raced by Barneswood Farm, Desert Lightning has drawn perfectly in barrier 5 and will again be ridden by stable stalwart Luke Nolen.
“He loomed to win the other day,” Moody said. “He followed Jimmysstar into the race and I thought Luke probably presented him a bit early and I gave him a little bit of a spray for that.
“He turned around and said I presented him a bit soft in condition, so he gave me a bit of a spray for that.
“We will probably ride him a length more patient and hopefully I have got him fitter.”
Desert Lightning finished fourth in last year’s Stradbroke Handicap won by War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) and after some rain this week, should get footing to suit.
“If it’s a 4 or 5, as long as it's not like a road, he is happy under those conditions,” Moody said.
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 original trainers Peter and Dawn Williams for $150,000.
The gelding made his way to the Moody-Coleman yard as a Group One winner in his native New Zealand after the Williams retired from training, and the 33-start veteran has been a great money spinner for connections, with A$2,239,317 in prizemoney to his name.
