This weekend's Listed Lightning Stakes has been given an extra touch of class with 29-time Group 1 winning jockey Tommy Berry in Adelaide to ride the Team Hawkes trained favourite, Ducimus.
Ducimus is already a Listed winner taking out this year's Talindert Stakes at Flemington and he followed that up with a second placing in the Group 3 Pago Pago at Rosehill.
The second elect in the market is Bandipur who will be one of James Cummings first Listed runners for Godolphin after taking over the reins on July 8. Local jockey Dom Tourneur gets the ride on Bandipur and is chasing his third Lightning Stakes after taking out the race in 2013 and 2014.
The Tony McEvoy trained colt Manuel is on the third line of betting at $4.80 after a strong trial win at Morphettville two weeks ago.
Strathalbyn based trainer John Macmillan will have four runners in Saturday's feature including last start winners Arkham Night ($26) and Yurilla ($126).
Lots of high quality horses have won the Listed Lightning Stakes including last year's winner Viddora who went on to run second in this year’s $1 Million Group 1 UBET Classic. Six of the last eight previous winners have gone on to win Group 3 races and Avoid Lightning and Wild Rain also ran placings in Group 1 races.
Historically favourites have dominated this race, with four of the last eight winners being favourites and six of the eight favourites running in the top three.
Seven of the last eight winners have either come off a last start win or have been first up in their preparation. Nine horses fit that criteria on Saturday including the $2.80 favourite Ducimus.
Previous Winners of the Listed Lightning Stakes
Year | Horse | Price | Last Run | Race Favourite |
2009 | Augusta Proud | $2.20F | First Up | Winner |
2010 | Streetcar Magic | $3.80F | 1st | Winner |
2011 | Kulgrinda | $5.60 | First Up | Fourth |
2012 | Avoid Lightning | $5.40 | 1st | Third |
2013 | Prettyhappyaboutit | $16.30 | First Up | Second |
2014 | Buddy Bundy | $1.90F | 1st | Winner |
2015 | Wild Rain | $2.60F | 2nd | Winner |
2016 | Viddora | $6.50 | First Up | Fourteenth |
UBET Listed Lightning Stakes Market
Ducimus $2.70
Bandipur $4.20
Manuel $4.80
Mystified $12
Showpero $13
Magnatti $15
Others 26+