Some of the country’s best sprinters are set for the Group One Lightning Stakes and Sydney trainer Marc Conners is hoping speedy mare Super Too can upstage them.
Conners has had Saturday’s weight-for-age Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in his plans with Super Too since the spring.
The mare is yet to win a stakes race but ran second to Snitty Kitty in the Group Two Caulfield Sprint at her most recent start in October.
“Since that day I always had in the back of my mind to target this race first-up,” Conners said.
“I know we are taking on the big boys and it’s the best of the best sprinters, but I just think it’s definitely the type of race where we can have a throw at the stumps.
“She’s a horse that runs very fast and this is probably her pet distance. I’d rather take them on at our distance.
“She’s a mare and if she can win or run a place in a Group One then it enhances her value.”
Super Too has won two Sydney barrier trials over 800m in preparation for the Lightning and Conners believes the mare is stronger this preparation.
“The form around her has been pretty good. In that Caulfield Sprint she actually broke the race record even though she ran second, so there’s things saying she’s capable of doing it,” he said.
“I know we need things to go our way but she’s there to try and win the race if we can.”
Star sprinter Redzel, winner of his past six starts including two at Group One level and the $10 million Everest, headlines the 13 nominations which also include defending champion Terravista and Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior.
“At the moment Redzel’s the best sprinter in Australia,” Conners said.
“So I think he’s definitely the one we’ve got to be beating, that’s for sure.”
Stephen Baster has the ride on Super Too and partnered her in her most recent trial.
“I was looking for a Melbourne rider and I just thought he had such a great spring and he’s a good senior rider who knows what’s got to be done in these types of races,” Conners said.
“I thought he was the go-to man so hopefully he can get the job done for us.”
