The Group I VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday features $1million in prizemoney, so is a nice enough prize to win, but from a bloodstock perspective this race has the potential to be pivotal.
A field of 12 have accepted for this WFA contest and without wanting to disrespect the older horses engaged it does look a race that will be won by one of a trio of highly talented three year-old colts and they represent three of the most powerful entities in world bloodstock, not just Australia.
Switzerland was on fire winning the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring - image Grant Courtney
Race favourite is Snitzel colt Switzerland who was bred by Arrowfield Stud and sold at Inglis Easter to Tom Magnier for $1.5million. He runs in the Coolmore navy blue for an ownership group headed by Coolmore and their various partners and has won five of seven starts earning $1.8million.
Last seen winning the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes in the spring, Chris Waller has him well tuned for a first up tilt with James McDonald to ride him in preference to Cox Plate queen Via Sistina (IRE), who resumes in Sydney in the Group II ATC Apollo Stakes…. that probably is a tip in itself.
Growing Empire tested older rivals in the spring, but is still chasing his first G1 win - image Grant Courtney
Yulong cut a swathe through the spring racing and their star three year-old colt was Growing Empire, who finished his spring with three G1 races finishing second beaten a whisker in the MVRC Manikato Stakes to Southport Tycoon, third to Bella Nipotina in the ATC The Everest beaten a length and a half and then third in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, when he race a little tired to my eye.
A $750,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Yulong from Vinery Stud, the son of Zoustar has four wins and four placings from eight starts earning $2.9million and unlike Switzerland is yet to win a G1, so has that box to tick.
Both Switzerland and Growing Empire have siblings entered for Inglis Easter this year.
Arrowfield Stud will offer a full brother to Switzerland as Lot 76 and Vinery Stud will offer a full sister to Growing Empire as Lot 58.
Traffic Warden won the G2 Run to the Rose - image Steve Hart
A homebred for Godolphin, Traffic Warden is a rung below the top two colts on exposed form as a two time Group II winner with two G1 placings, but has shown flashes of brilliance and has beaten Switzerland twice in races where that colt under performed. Traffic Warden won the Group II ATC Run to the Rose in which Switzerland ran ninth and he was also fourth in the Golden Slipper in which Switzerland ran eighth.
By Anamoe’s sire Street Boss (USA), Traffic Warden is a documented bleeder, so would be managed accordingly and you can’t help thinking this colt will be as ready as he can be for this assignment, albeit coming off the worst run of his career in the Coolmore Stud Stakes when he was lacklustre to say the least.
Three year-olds have won two of the last three runnings of the Lightning Stakes with mighty mare Imperatriz the winner last year, so let’s take a look at those fields when victory went to 3YO colt Home Affairs in 2022 and 3YO filly Coolangatta in 2023.
The big question is are Switzerland, Growing Empire and Traffic Warden as good as the 3YO's above?
