Chilled Heatherly Well Poised In Lightning

For Damian Lane the key to Heatherly claiming her first G1 in Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000 m) at Flemington is her new found attitude.

Or, more succinctly, she’s lost her fired up, aggressive, ‘I’ll do it my way’ antics.

As Lane, who will be riding in his first Lightning, noted Heatherly has proved her own worst enemy in the past.

Lane recounted how Heatherly previously had spent so much nervous energy early in her races that left her vulnerable at the business end.

But, this daughter of Lonhro from the Danzero mare Dancing Heather, has displayed a relaxed demeanor this preparation.

It was certainly evident when co-trainer Mat Ellerton took her to the Cranbourne trials on February 6 where she edged out Flying Artie, who many consider the horse to beat in the $750,000 Lightning.

Heatherly broke 46 seconds, something rarely done, in her Cranbourne trial win against Flying Artie.

“I’m really, really confident that she will run well,” enthused Lane.

“The field is very competitive without Astern coming down (from Sydney) and Chautauqua running last week. I think it really opens it up.

“I think it is going to be a great race and she is one of the leading chances. I think she is going to be more than competitive.”

The new-look chilled Heatherly gives Lane more confidence that the Lightning is well within her scope.

Lane noted that when he won on Heatherly first-up last campaign in a Listed Race at Moonee Valley she may have looked to have done it comfortably, but she was “running on empty” over the final 100 metres.

“She always did it upside down,” Lane said.

“For her to be relaxing the way she did in her trials … well, if she brings that on race day it just means I can ride her however I want.

“If there is not enough speed I can lead. If they are going quick, I can take a sit. it just means that she is no longer one dimensional, she is going to be pacing herself and finishing off the races a lot better than what she has done.

“I’m really excited to see how she will go. I think she will go great.’

What Lane was less than pleased about was the fact that Heatherly, a mare that he’s won four races on, drew gate three.

“I was spewing when I saw she drew three,” Lane candidly admitted.

“I just hate drawing in down the straight. It’s not necessarily the way the track plays but just the way you have to ride from the inside.

Lane gained comfort from the fact that Flying Artie is drawn to Heatherly’s immediate outside while Star Turn has drawn to his inside and next to Star Turn is Flamberge .

He said with speed around Heatherly the Ellerton and Simon Zahra-co-trained mare can gain a nice sit then explode when required over the concluding stages.

While Lane does not ride Heatherly in track work the reports are encouraging that the four-year-old has progressed well since her impressive trial win at Cranbourne 10 days ago.

Heatherly is an $8.50 chance in the market that has Flying Artie a $4 favorite.

– g1x.com.au

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