What a sizzler! That was some gallop by Sparspangledbanner at Geelong on Wednesday. In fact, it was so good that trainer Leon Corstens admits he was stunned. It certainly means that the veteran has the Caulfield Guineas winner in perfect order for Sat week's Grp 1 Lightning Stakes 1000m at Flemington, a race that's shaping up as one of the 'superstar' clashes of the new year. Look at some of the names - Nicconi, Irish Lights, Headway, Burdekin Blues and American visitor Cannonball...they are all
What a sizzler! That was some gallop by Sparspangledbanner at Geelong on Wednesday. In fact, it was so good that trainer Leon Corstens admits he was stunned. It certainly means that the veteran has the Caulfield Guineas winner in perfect order for Sat week's Grp 1 Lightning Stakes 1000m at Flemington, a race that's shaping up as one of the 'superstar' clashes of the new year. Look at some of the names - Nicconi, Irish Lights, Headway, Burdekin Blues and American visitor Cannonball...they are all likely starters.
At Geelong, between races, Starspangledbanner worked from the 1200m on his own with regular race rider Danny Nikolic in the saddle. The colt went over 800m at a working gallop before quickening over the last 600m in a slick 32.76s. Leon Corstens says: 'Amazing work. I was very impressed by what I saw...'I think Danny was also pretty impressed and when I said to him we're going to the Lightning, he said no problems.'