Tiger Tees A Possible Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Starter

Trainer Joe Pride has revealed that Tiger Tees is a chance of contesting the 2015 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 21.

Tiger Tees beat Royal Descent and Criterion to take out the 2014 Warwick Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Tiger Tees beat Royal Descent and Criterion to take out the 2014 Warwick Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart

Tiger Tees was sent to the spelling paddock after he failed to impress when he finished at the tail of the field in a barrier trial at 800 metres at Warwick Farm on September 26, but has returned to trackwork to begin preparations for his autumn campaign and Pride told Racing Ahead that he was thrilled with the physical condition of the seven-year-old.

The Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight later were expected to be the early autumn targets for Tiger Tee, but Pride said that he would hesitate to send the Dubawi gelding to Melbourne for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes if there was any rain leading into the Group 1 event.

“Tiger Tees is in great order and he may come down for the Lightning,” Pride said.

“I will have him ready to go at that time, but I will probably want a bit of give in the track and if we can’t get that he will stay here at home and we will concentrate on the Challenge.

“I couldn’t be happier with him and he looks in fantastic order.

“All he needs in the autumn is some soft tracks.

“He will probably just have one trial if he goes to the Lightning.

“The Lightning is on the in the middle of February and going through to the end of this month and early next month he will be asked for a little bit more.”

Tiger Tees failed to fire in five race starts during 2013, but he returned to winning form when he took out the Listed Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm in February last year and he went on to record his maiden win at Group 1 level in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 before he finished fourth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 and third in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at the same venue a fortnight later.

The veteran sprinter started his autumn campaign with a tough win in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on August 9 and he scored an impressive win in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 23, but he had his winning streak snapped by Lucia Valentina in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on September 6.

Tiger Tees has recorded 13 race wins from his 30 career starts and has accumulated well over $1 million in prizemoney for connections.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.