The presence of two-year-olds Boomwaa and Bugatty has added another dimension to the Lightning Stakes but Snitzerland’s trainer Gerald Ryan believes the form lines can be found elsewhere.
Ryan says the task of taking on the more seasoned sprinters offsets the obvious weight advantage the youngsters have with 46kg, 8.5kg less than three-year-old filly Brilliant Bisc one of the outsiders in the Group One sprint.
“I think there’s a big question over whether two-year-olds are strong enough,” Ruam said.
“They have speed and I know it’s a 1000 metres not 1200 but Peggy Jean beat Boomwaa in the Inglis Classic and she wouldn’t get near Snitzerland.
“Samaready is the favourite and the one to beat along with John O’Shea’s three-year-old (Bernabeu).
“But I’m very happy with my mare. She is as strong as she has ever been. Her barrier trial was good and Brenton has been pleased with her this week.”
Race jockey Brenton Avdulla has been in Melbourne for the past couple of days to give Snitzerland her final work-out and also to put her stablemate and leading Blue Diamond contender Rubick through his paces.
Samaready is the $3 favourite for the Lightning ahead of Snitzerland at $4.40 and Bernabeu at $6.
The Mick Price-trained Samaready will be having her first start since her Manikato Stakes failure after which she was found to have had an internal haemorrhage.
Before the Manikato she stamped her authority on the Moir Stakes field in September which was a disaster for Snitzerland who pulled up with a respiratory ailment that derailed her spring.
She recovered well and was given her chance in a Listed sprint at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Snitzerland was beaten a nose after a battle with another Price-trained runner, Lankan Rupee who backed up nine days later for a Group Three win.
He returned last Saturday to post another impressive win and stampe himself as a leading Oakleigh Plate contender.
The Lightning field has been reduced to 12 with the scratching of Thermal Current with a temperature, leaving Peter Moody with just outsider Brilliant Bisc as the trainer tries to win the race for the fourth consecutive year after three wins by Black Caviar.
One of the great mare’s owners, Neil Werrett, is also aiming for his fourth-straight win as a partner in Snitzerland.
