KEY POINTS:
Trainer Mick Mair is unsure if Melbourne's heatwave will be an advantage for Queensland's Lightning Stakes hope Swiss Ace at Flemington on Saturday.
Swiss Ace, last year's Brisbane winter discovery, is set for a showdown with Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler and defending champion Apache Cat in the 1000-metre group one feature that has captured public imagination.
But Melbourne is in the grip of one of its driest and hottest Januaries in more than a century and temperatures of 40C-plus have been forecast for the remainder of the week.
Swiss Ace is coping well with the heat but Mair would prefer cooler weather for his underrated 4-year-old.
"I'd prefer it to be cooler for all the horses but my bloke seems to be handling the heat well," Mair said.
"He's a Queenslander and is more accustomed to hot weather."
Swiss Ace arrived by float in Melbourne last week and was given his first serious test in an 800-metre jumpout at Flemington on Tuesday.
"He went well and won the jumpout but there were only three in it," Mair said. "I'm not sure of the exact time he ran but it was pretty quick and he beat Target and Swick who are good sprinters."
The son of Secret Savings hasn't raced since finishing 15th to Mr Baritone in the group one Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm last June.
Despite his Stradbroke failure, Swiss Ace emerged from restricted ranks during the Brisbane winter carnival when he won three consecutive races in group company.
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Victoria's extreme weather conditions claimed the last two races at yesterday's Geelong meeting as well as today's Ballarat fixture due to excessive heat.
Geelong stewards ruled it was too hot for jockeys to ride.
- AAP
