Racing: Lynds hoping for a Telegraph start

Awapuni trainer Jeff Lynds is prepared to raise the bar to a lofty level for his sprinter Thien Ly.

He produced the six-year-old for a first-up victory at Trentham yesterday and he's got his fingers crossed that performance will give the Stravinsky gelding a shot at a group one prize later in the month.

"If we can sneak into the field then we might have a crack at the Telegraph," Lynds said.

Thien Ly posted his fourth career win in the Southern Rangitikei Veterinary Services Premier, his first race day appearance since he beat Lewis Caroll, who has subsequently won two races, at Te Rapa last April.

A lack of recent racing didn't hold Thien Ly back at Trentham where he was given the most economical of rides by Rosie Myers behind the pace.

"Rosie had ridden him in jump-outs and it's always nice to have her on," Lynds said.

The front-runner Smashing stuck grimly to her guns in the closing 400 metres to take second money ahead of Lucyinrio. The favourite Whispering beat only one runner home.