Vital trial for Lightning Stakes contender
A trial at Cranbourne on Monday will give trainers Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans a glimpse of where they stand with valuable colt I Am Unstoppable leading in Saturday week’s Group 1 Lightning Stakes.
The Lightning Stakes at Flemington will be I Am Unstoppable’s first start since Widden Stud and others bought into the three-year-old in what is understood to be a seven-figure deal.
I Am Unstoppable will trial against brilliant Kiwi mare Imperatriz and the Ciaron Maher-trained Group 1 winner Bella Nipotina in an 800m heat on Monday morning.
Yeomans said the hitout would be a crucial part of I Am Unstoppable’s build-up to the Lightning Stakes.
“Then I believe we’ve got time for one more gallop then it’s into the Lightning,” Yeomans said.
“We’re pretty excited for the preparation ahead and hopefully we can tick off that Group 1 for Widden Stud.”
I Am Unstoppable was unbeaten in two runs as a twoyear-old last season but finished in the minor money in all four runs as a spring three-year-old, including three outings down the Flemington straight course. I Am Unstoppable has not raced since his second to Ozzmosis in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud
Stakes on Victoria Derby Day.
But Yeomans said the son of I Am Invincible was much fitter this time in than at the same stage of his last campaign.
“So far, it has all gone to plan and he’s very fit and well,” Yeomans said.
“He didn’t have long off. We only gave him three weeks off and he’s at his racing weight.
“It just took us a little while to get him fit last prep but he’s held a lot of that residual fitness.”
Yeomans said I Am Unstoppable would be fit enough to win the Lightning Stakes but the stable was looking forward to running the talented sprinter over 1200m second-up.
“Although we’re going to have him firing for the Lightning, and he is much more forward at this stage of the prep than he was last prep, we do think the Newmarket is going to be more his target race,” Yeomans said.
“He should be very well weighted in the Newmarket.”