A poor barrier draw may delay the planned kick-off to the campaign of Desert Lightning at Mornington.
Desert Lightning has drawn the widest barrier in the 17-horse Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) on Saturday in which he has 60kg and will be ridden by Luke Nolen.
The field limit is 15 on Saturday with a further two emergency acceptors.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained galloper is first-up on Saturday having not raced since the spring in the Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley last October.
Coleman said a decision would need to be made whether to accept the challenge of running from the wide draw on Saturday or holding off for another day.
“He’s really just there first-up for a fitness run, so we’ll have a good look at the race and see whether we save him for another day,” Coleman said.
“It’s not the end of the world.”
Coleman said the way Desert Lightning’s campaign was shaping he was likely to return to Queensland for the Winter Carnival.
Desert Lightning finished fourth in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm last June, and it is a race that is on the radar of his trainers again this year.
Coleman said for an older horse, Desert Lightning was preparing nicely for the winter ahead.
“He’s trialled really nicely this time,” Coleman said.
“He’s nice and fresh, he seems in a good headspace for an older horse. He’s really enjoying his work.
“Whether he runs first-up on Saturday, or whether we wait another day, we’ll make that decision, but I think he can run well if we decide to go there.”
Stablemate She’s Got Pizzazz scraped into the field of 15 and has drawn barrier 8 in which she will be ridden by Linda Meech.
Coleman said any give in the Mornington track would be a plus for She’s Got Pizzazz who has had two runs back from a break, both at 1100m.
The Mornington track was rated a Soft 5 at acceptance time on Wednesday.
“She’s ideally looking for 1400 metres now, but she needs another one at the 1200 (metres) to bring her on fitness wise,” Coleman said.
“She needs soft ground as well to see her at her best, so we’ll be on weather watch a little bit there as well.”
