Desert Lightning is poised to launch his new campaign with a potential path toward the Caulfield Cup.

The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained six-year-old will resume in Saturday’s Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, which now features ten runners after the scratching of Chris Waller’s Full Count Felicia.

This will be Desert Lightning’s first start since finishing fourth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June, just behind race favourite Private Eye.

Moody revealed the gelding enjoyed a stint in Queensland before returning to their Pakenham base last month. Formerly trained in New Zealand by Peter Williams, Desert Lightning joined the Moody-Coleman stable after contesting the 2024 All-Star Mile.

While he hasn’t raced beyond 1600m in their care, Moody says a step up in trip is possible this preparation, with nominations lodged for both the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Cox Plate (2040m).

“We may give him his chance to stretch out in trip this time around,” Moody said. “The Caulfield Cup, that’s all pie in the sky stuff at the moment, but we may give him his chance. He has won out to 2100 metres as a younger horse and I don’t think we’ve had him out past a mile since he’s been with us and that was in the Toorak last year.”

Drawn in barrier one, Desert Lightning will be partnered by Ben Melham. “Barrier one, it’s the shortest way home,” Moody said. “He enjoyed the benefit of a bit of Queensland weather on his back and he had a jump-out at Caulfield the other day and he seems in good order. It’s a very competitive race, as you would expect, but he goes into it in good order.”

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