Undefeated filly set for stakes test

Undefeated filly Cicala is set to take a major step up in class at just her third race start, with the promising youngster targeting the Listed Lightning Stakes at Morphettville later this July.

The sprint race, open to two- and three-year-olds, has a history of producing elite performers, with previous winners including Group 1 stars Nature Strip and Viddora. Co-trainer Will Clarken is no stranger to success in the event, having claimed two of the last four editions.

Cicala, by Tamasa, burst onto the scene with a dominant debut at Gawler before repeating the effort in the city last weekend, winning stylishly over 1100m.

“She’s a very unassuming little filly,” said Clarken, who shares training duties with Niki O’Shea.

“I saw her about a month ago and she looked a bit light, so we dropped her back to the farm and she’s really strengthened.

“Rochelle (Milnes, winning rider) galloped her last Tuesday and basically declared her, I wasn’t as confident! But she rode her like that.”

The Lightning Stakes, contested over 1050m, is expected to be run on testing ground due to winter conditions. Clarken remains confident that won’t be an issue for his progressive filly.

“I think we’ll go five weeks between runs,” Clarken said.

“She’s a three-year-old filly and she gets through the mucky going, all you can do is win.

“Lightly raced, we know she gets through the ground, why not?”

Punters keen to follow Cicala’s rise into stakes company in the Lightning Stakes can explore competitive odds and early markets at the best betting sites Australia has to offer.