Avoid Lightning was included in the 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes field that was released this morning and jockey Tim Clark is thrilled with the condition of the talented mare ahead of the Group 1 event at Morphettville on Saturday.
Avoid Lightning scored a tough victory over Griante in the 2015 Sapphire Stakes and will have the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the Robert Sangster Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Clarke has developed a successful partnership with Avoid Lightning since she joined the stable of Les Bridge at the start of last year and the talented hoop was aboard the Blevic mare when she completed trackwork on the Kensington track at Randwick this morning.
Clark told Sky Racing HQ that Avoid Lightning had produced the best work of her autumn campaign to dare this morning and he is confident that she is going into the 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes in outstanding condition.
“There are not many fillies or mares only Group 1 events on the calendar, so you have to go where they are on,” Clark said.
“I am looking forward to getting to Adelaide.
“She raced early on in her career there and hopefully she can go back there and win a Group 1.
“I am really happy with her and I think that she has really come on since that win.
“It has given her a lot of confidence and she is top of the world at the moment and just in great heart.
“She is heading to Adelaide in really good order.”
Avoid Lightning started her autumn campaign with a third place finish behind Catkins in the Group 2 Millie Fox Quality (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21 and she failed to fire on a firm track in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at the same venue on March 21, but she returned to her best form with an impressive win in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.
Clark elected to settle Avoid Lightning right on the speed in the early stages of the Sapphire Stakes and he said that he was impressed with the toughness that the six-year-old had shown in the final stages of the race.
“It was probably the first time the other day that I have personally ridden her on the speed and I thought she was really brave there,” Clarke said.
“There didn’t look to be a lot of pace and the track was playing a little bit leaderish, so we had to be a little more positive on her and she handled no worries.
“I think that she has got a lot of confidence from it.”
Avoid Lighting is currently available at 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes odds of $7 and is on the third line of betting behind Miracles Of Life ($5) and Vain Queen ($5.50).
