Samaready on track for lightning return

Last year’s Blue Diamond winner Samaready is on track to resume in the Group 1 $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday week after winning a jump out at Caulfield today.

Samaready

Samaready will resume racing in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Samaready, who has been away from the racetrack for more than six months, has continued to improve over the last couple of weeks and today’s jump out win followed a similar display at Cranbourne last week which  impressed jockey Craig Newitt.

“She feels like the two-year-old we knew last year,” Newitt said last week.

And trainer Mick Price is also excited that his top line filly is finally ready to compete again.

“She did a good job and ran good time so we’re very happy with her,” Price said.

“The track was a bit choppy, especially after they got to the fifth trial of the morning.

“She’ll go into the Lightning Stakes in good order. Of course, it’s going to be very difficult for her but she’s in good shape for it.”

Price was referring to the fact that rival Caulfield trainer Peter Moody has earmarked the race named after his mighty mare Black Caviar also as the race her return to the racetrack.

Samaready hit the spotlight in the Autumn last year when she went into the Group 1 $1m Patinack Farm Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 25 undefeated from two starts and won as she liked as a short priced favourite.

Price then turned his attention to Sydney and Samaready scored just as impressively in the Group 2 $300,000 Jacobs Creek Reisling Slipper Trial (1200m) at Rosehill on March 24 and was installed the Golden Slipper favourite.

Newitt, who had partnered the filly in all her races, had to bring Samaready from worse than midfield on the home turn before running home to finish third to Pierro in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7.

Samaready only made one appearance in the Spring before Price sent her back to the spelling paddock when all was not well after the filly was a well beaten fourth to Elite Elle in the Listed $120,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

Price is undecided where Samaready will go after the Lightning with the Group 1 $1m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 9 an option or he could turn his attention to the sprints over the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Price suggests that the Group 1 $350,000 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 30 would be a suitable race for the More Than Ready filly.

“She’s shown already that racing on her Sydney leg is no problem,” Price said.

“A race like The Galaxy could be a good one for her. Under handicap conditions, that race might turn out to be her best chance of winning another Group I.”

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.