Waikato hoop Vinnie Colgan will trek down to Otaki on Saturday to partner exciting four-year-old Desert Lightning in the Group 1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m), and he is hoping his charge can live up to his favourite’s tag.
The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained gelding has been a standout this season, winning all but one of his four starts, including the Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m) at Trentham in December and the inaugural $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie last month.
Bookmakers have the Pride Of Dubai gelding as a $2.50 fixed-odds favourite, with last start Group 1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) victor Puntura on the second line of betting at $5.
Colgan has been aboard Desert Lightning in all four starts this season and has been impressed with the way he has developed since his three-year-old term where he posted a solid record of a win and four placings from nine starts, including victory in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and placings in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), and Group 3 Manawatu Classic (2000m).
“He was a nice three-year-old and still ran well in the bigger races last season, but this year he is just a different horse. He is so much stronger and his manners (are a lot better),” Colgan said.
Colgan rode Desert Lightning in an exhibition gallop at Ellerslie last Saturday and is pleased with the gelding ahead of his Group 1 assignment.
“He had a really nice gallop at Ellerslie on the weekend and galloped brilliant. I am really looking forward to this weekend,” he said.
“As long as there is a bit of speed in the race, that will help him out a bit. He is definitely the horse to beat.”
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