One of the forgotten stars of New Zealand racing returns to the track at Pukekohe tomorrow and while Desert Lightning will be well short of his best, that doesn’t mean he can’t win.
The four-year-old resumes in the open 1200m (R2) and takes on in-form proven sprinters in Petrucci and Winning For All but opened the $3.50 second favourite in his first race since April 1.
Desert Lightning was a genuine big-time player in a hot three-year-old crop last season, only just beaten in the 2000 Guineas and the Karaka Million 3YO, in which he finished third ahead of Legarto in fourth.
He went on to win the Avondale Guineas at Pukekohe over 2100m and finished eighth in the Derby but co-trainer Peter Williams thinks his best distance this season will be 1600m.
“We gave him a good long break because he had a long season but he is ready to go,” says Williams, who trains in partnership with wife, Dawn.