The Sportsbet Goodwood (Group 1)

DESERT Lightning prevailed in a thriller at Morphetville on Saturday to claim the Group 1 Goodwood over 1,200 metres.

Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman with Luke Nolen up, the Pride Of Dubai gelding came from midfield in the slow conditions as a line of five hit the line with less than a length separating them.

To the outside of the winner was the Deep Field filly Extragalactic, the pair closing late to share first and second as closer to the rail the Zoustar gelding Grand Larceny took third.

“He had a winnable weight and an economical run in the race,” said Luke Nolen. “I presented him to win the race, but I just wasn’t sure on the line whether we’d got it or not. The horse has been going really well, so I think the next port of call is Queensland for another go at the Stradbroke. He sprinted well today on soft ground, there’s a lot of options for him, so I’ll leave it in the camp’s capable hands the way he goes off the back of it, but I’ll be joining him wherever he goes.”

Desert Lightning ran fourth in last year’s A$3 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm, with this, his maiden Group 1, an eighth victory from 32 starts for the six-year-old who has earned over A$2.2 million.

Out of the High Chaparral mare Isstoora, Desert Lightning was purchased at Karaka in 2021 for NZ$150,000 by his original trainers Peter and Dawn Williams who won the 2,100 metre Avondale Guineas with Desert Lightning before an unplaced run in the New Zealand Derby.

“He’s such a tough horse and he’s such a character,” said Katherine Coleman. “He’s a genuine stable favourite. You know, we just all adore him. His owners, Chris and Sarah Green, they’ve travelled from New Zealand all the way to Adelaide today to be here for this. He’s a part of their family and it’s just so special.

“We thought he was going to be a horse that would stretch out over ground, but he seems to be best when he’s fresh and happy and bouncing, and that’s how he is today, so it’s great. It was a fantastic ride from Luke Nolen as well.”

Pride Of Jenni wows the Gold Coast

CROWD favourite Pride Of Jenni turned on a show at the Gold Coast on Saturday, leading by as much as 16 lengths in the Group 2 Hollindalle Stakes over 1,800 metres at her first visit to the course.

With Declan Bates in the saddle for Ciaron Maher, the eight-year-old Pride Of Dubai mare was running out of gas in the closing stages as the Irish-bred Birdman ran her to a half-length on the line with the result being greeted by rapturous cheers.

“We’ve just kept her fresh and when she stepped well, you know pretty quick whether you’re on. I thought, ‘oh, that was nice, we might be on today’,” said Maher.

Suit her style

The track, you’d think the Gold Coast would suit her style and it certainly did. She is sprinting flat out from the 1,000 metres. She is used to doing that, being off the bridle a long way out, but super from Dec (Bates). She is just a marvel. Have a look at her, she is just a beautiful mare, and she’s got a great constitution.”

First Oz win for Harty export

THE former Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained Simurgh won his first race in Australia landing a 10-furlong handicap named in honour of retiring photo finish judge Lynden Tymms at Caulfield on Saturday.

Seven-and-a-half months since winning his maiden at the Curragh with Jamie Powell up, Simurgh ran second on debut for Ben, Will and JD Hayes before stepping out on Saturday as a $2.50 favouirte. “There’s a lot more to come out of him in terms of distance ranges, experience, exposure, he’s a pretty exciting horse,” said Craig Williams of the Irish-bred Phoenix Of Spain four-year-old gelding.

“I had a really good, sharp, ready, alive horse for today’s race and it worked out really well.”

Sherry on a winning roll

TOMMY Sherry came within a length of landing a stakes race double on Saturday on the Gold Coast.

Second on the Lucky Vega filly Nepo Baby in the Group 2 Gold Coast Guineas, Sherry went one better in the following race, landing the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy over 1,200 metres aboard Cifrado for trainer Rex Lipp.

Last on the bend, Cifrado, by Encryption, came right down the outside to round up the field and win by a half-head on the line in a fashion that belied his starting price of $14.