Plenty in-store for Extremely Lucky heading into Lightning Stakes

[Wandering Eyes]

Kayla Crowther returns to the mounting yarn after finishing second aboard Extremely Lucky in Heat 8 of the SA Sprint Series at Morphettville on April 23. The three-year-old is the $4.20 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Lightning Stakes at the same venue today.

It’s not easy settling back in the field over a sprint distance before igniting the after-burners late in the race.

But that is exactly what Extremely Lucky is capable of doing with comfort in the $107,250 Lightning Stakes over 1050m at Morphettville today.

Indeed, the favourite’s winning odds of $4.20 with Palmerbet appear generous according to trainer Will Clarken’s race programmer, Lachie Weekley.

“He’s got an electronic turn of foot off a fast tempo and he’s a real athlete. We’re not really sure where his bottom is,” he told horsebetting.com.au.

“He takes it all in his stride and does it so easily, which is a pretty good sign that he’s a good galloper.

“He does things like they’re a walk in the park for him.

“He gets back in his races, and when you get back over those short trips in high-quality races it’s always hard to win.

“But he’s got a lot of ability.”

Big things will be in store for the naturally-gifted three-year-old if he impresses the Clarken stable today.

“He’s obviously a very talented horse. It’s been well documented that whatever he does (in the Lightning Stakes) he’ll improve on,” Weekley said.

“There are a few options for him. We’ve got the Carlyon and McEwen at Moonee Valley. They are lead-ins to the Moir Stakes (on September 23).

“We’d like to think we could get to a race like that. Hopefully – we think he’s got that sort of talent.”

When pressed on Extremely Lucky’s range of skills, Clarken did not hesitate to list them.

“He’s got an amazing action and he can run very, very quick sectionals and hold that for a long while,” he said.

“We’ve galloped him with the best horses we’ve got, and he’s always been better than them.”

Clarken’s only concern is his exciting young sprinter could be a little underdone first-up after his spell, easily winning his last start by four lengths.

That was a Benchmark 72 over 1050m with Jamie Kah aboard at Morphettville on May 21.

“I’m very confident. In my opinion the horse is the best horse in the race,” he said.

“But he’s just not quite wound up. He’s going to be back and spotting the leaders a long way.

“If he was top three we’d be rapt going into the spring.

“They walked in the Euclase (re-named the Tobin Bronze Stakes, finishing fifth on May7). He was back and he still had the audacity when they went slow to try and find the line against the slow pattern of that day.

“When he won with Jamie on him they went helter skelter, but he broke the clock.”

Another challenge for Extremely Lucky – with two wins from four starts – will be the fact he will carry 59kg today.

“He’s on the same weight as Kallos, who is a 92-rater and won the Danehill,” Weekley said.

“And he’s got to give a couple of kilos to Scorched Earth, who’s a really good horse as well.

“So it’s no walk in the park. But regardless of where his fitness is at and where we think they’ll be heading, he’ll certainly be running well.”

Odds for Extremely Lucky in the 2022 Lightning Stakes

Race 8 – #5 Extremely Lucky (12)

3yo Gelding | T: Will Clarken | J: Todd Pannell (59kg)

$4.20 with Ladbrokes

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