Horse racing: Get set for Desert storm as forgotten star flashes back

while Desert Lightning will be racing well short of his best that doesn’t mean he can’t win.

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.

“It won’t be his best distance tomorrow but he won well at the trials and fresh-up he can win.”

Desert Lightning will be aided by the small field and roomy Pukekohe track and carries just 54kg.

Safely through tomorrow, it will be decision time as Desert Lightning is still in the market for the Couplands Mile at Riccarton, a race he would get into beautifully as he goes into tomorrow just a 78 rater.

“We won’t make any decision one way or another on that until after Saturday,” says former South Islander Williams about a trip home.

What he will commit to is what shapes as one of the races of the season, the new $1 million Aotearoa Classic on Karaka Millions night at, hopefully, Ellerslie on January 27, if the new track is ready.

That could bring together Legarto, Prowess, Sharp ‘N’ Smart, Pier, Wild Night, Desert Lightning, rising star Adam I Am and possibly even Tarzino Trophy winner Skew Wiff.

The Williams stable have only 22 horses but they will start rolling more out now the tracks are drying and Williams says Volare could be one for punters to watch tomorrow.

Volare (R7, No.13), part-owned by former Prime Minister Sir John Key, was a close up third to Desert Lightning in their recent trial and has won at Pukekohe before.

●Legarto warmed up for her trip to Sydney for next week’s A$10 million Golden Eagle with an exhibition gallop at Rotorua yesterday.

She looked fit and well and will travel by air to Sydney on Tuesday afternoon for the four-year-old race at Rosehill on Saturday week with Mick Dee to ride.