Australian champion Weekend Hussler and star sprinter Apache Cat as expected spearhead a classy list of 17 nominations for Saturday's Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington.Weekend Hussler, the winner of 12 of his 17 starts including seven Group One successes, hasn't started since he was found wanting at the distance when a fading 12th to All The Good in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.Trainer Ross McDonald has reported him to be in prime shape for his first-up tilt at the weight-for-age
Australian champion Weekend Hussler and star sprinter Apache Cat as expected spearhead a classy list of 17 nominations for Saturday's Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
Weekend Hussler, the winner of 12 of his 17 starts including seven Group One successes, hasn't started since he was found wanting at the distance when a fading 12th to All The Good in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October.
Trainer Ross McDonald has reported him to be in prime shape for his first-up tilt at the weight-for-age $500,000 Lightning (1000m).
Six-time Group One winner Apache Cat has been off the scene since his tenacious third to Inspiration in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on December 14.
The Greg Eurell-trained six-year-old won last year's Lightning Stakes first-up and went on to win four more Group Ones in succession - the Australia Stakes, TJ Smith Stakes, BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000.
Other Group One winners nominated for the Lightning are Let Go Thommo, the Bart Cummings-trained Swick, Typhoon Zed, Undue and former South African entire Seventh Rock who is now prepared by David Hayes.