In his typical gritty style, New Zealand Group 1 winner Desert Lightning (Pride of Dubai - Isstoora by High Chaparral) won the $222K 1500m So You Think Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday, defeating Group 1 winners Moira and Attrition.
The half-brother to the progressive Per Incanto sprinter Oak Hill, who ran well without much luck in the Group 1 feature at Moonee Valley, Desert Lightning was a $150,000 purchase from LA’s 2021 Karaka Book 1 draft by his previous trainers Peter and Dawn Williams.
Desert Lightning and Oak Hill were bred by German based Kiwi breeder Wes Van Der Scheer. Wes has retained a 3-year-old full sister to Oak Hill, who is currently in work with Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos. Named Shiya, she looks to have some of the family's ability going by recent Raceform track work reports out of the Hastings Centre.
Owned by Chris and Sarah Green, and Ger Beemsterboer, Desert Lightning, a.k.a. Ernie, has won 7 times and placed on 9 occasions from 27 starts for stake earnings of $1.63 million. The 6-year-old gelding is likely to head next to the Group 1 1800m Underwood Stakes on 20 September.
Former LA stallion Time Test has started the new season in the way he finished the last, siring a treble at Otaki on Saturday.
My Ferrari, for trainer Gerald Innes, franked his good form with a well-deserved maiden win in the 3-year-old event over 1200m, while impressive last start winner Testwin, for trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos, finished powerfully to register his 3rd win from 9 career starts when successful in the rating 65 1200m.
Rounding out the treble, diminutive mare Bella Timing put consecutive wins together to land the rating 75 1200m. For good measure, Time Test supplied the quinella, courtesy of an excellent fresh up performance from David Woodhouse's quality mare Connello.
