Lightning Field Strikes at Ellerslie

It had to happen, and no better place for Lightning Field (4 g Deep Field - Claudine, by Lonhro) to break through than Saturday at Ellerslie.

Deserved of a win, following five seconds from his last eight starts, Lightning Field had run the fastest last 600m (34.6) for second in the Maiden 1400 metres on 5 May at Ruakaka, and franked the performance when coming from well back under Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin (a3).

From tenth and standing the leader eight lengths at the 600m, Kamaruddin steered an uninterrupted path in the straight and Lightning Field was good enough to arrest the lead near home.

After presenting in good order, it was rewarding for owners in the Te Akau Fine Field Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM) and continued a super run for the jockey who improved his course strike rate to 5.7.

Competitive at both 1200m and 1400 metres, the trip looked perfect in the $10,000 Scope Painting Maiden 1300 metres and Lightning Field (2.30 & $1.40) clocked 1:18.1 on ideal Dead5 footing.

Champion trainer Jamie Richards was pleased with the outcome and although never finishing further back than fourth he had warned that the horse needed to deliver.

“He was running out of opportunities, had a few starts without being able to win one, but it was a really good win,” Richards said.

“We scratched him off a wide gate on Thursday at Pukekohe, tried the three-kilo allowance and Joe rode him well.

“He appreciated the nice track, was aided getting down to 55.5kg, and hopefully he gains confidence from the victory. It's a great result for the owners, who have been patient.”

Richards watched the race with Danielle Johnson, David Ellis and Joe Walls, on the Gold Coast, in readiness for the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale (1 - 3 June).

Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $95,000 at the Karaka 2018 Book 1 Sale, from the draft of Henley Park, Lightning Field is a son of highly regarded Group Two winner Deep Field, by ill-fated emerging stallion Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) - a huge loss to the Australian stallion ranks.

“He was the first foal from a mare by an outstanding sire and broodmare sire (Lonhro) and line-bred to some terrific sires: Sir Tristram, Mr. Prospector, and Northern Dancer,” Ellis said.

“I was really impressed with him when first inspecting at Henley Park, and although wonderfully consistent he's taken that extra bit of time to get a win on the board. To my eye, he's kept improving and been finding the line like a horse that enjoys his job.

“And, sometimes, horses like him that are always trying, and seem genuine, just require the physical strengthening to become winners.”

It was the 156^thwin this season for the stable, which leads the training premiership by more than double that of the closest rival and $5.9 million in domestic prize money.

In January, Richards completed the fastest training century in New Zealand, bettering the previous record by nearly three months. February saw the young trainer break the domestic stakes' record of 25 in a season, and in April he broke the national record of wins (143) in a season.

Richards ranks ninth in the TRC Global Trainer Rankings and Te Akau Syndicates 15^thin the TRC Global Owner Rankings.

In a phenomenal season, Richards has elevated a new stakes' wins record to 40, with victories in the: Northland Breeders' Stakes, Foxbridge Plate, Gold Trail Stakes, Bill Ritchie Handicap, Windsor Park Plate, Epsom Handicap, Livamol Classic, Barneswood Farm Stakes, Sarten Memorial, Welcome Stakes, 1000 Guineas, Counties Cup, Uncle Remus Stakes, Eight Carat Classic, Eclipse Stakes, City of Auckland Cup, Railway, Wellesley Stakes, Telegraph, Almanzor Trophy, Karaka Million 2YO, Concorde Handicap, Thorndon Mile, Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes, BCD Group Sprint, David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic, Futurity Stakes, Waikato Stud Slipper, Otaki Weight-For-Age Classic, Mufhasa Stakes, King's Plate, Sunline Vase, Sistema Stakes, Bonecrusher Stakes, Wellington Guineas, New Zealand Oaks, Sires' Produce Stakes, Manawatu Breeders' Stakes, NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes, and Anzac Mile.

Lightning Field was strapped by Hunter Durrant.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz