2022 Lightning Stakes Day Tips & Preview
Scorched Earth will take beating in the Lightning Stakes. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

2022 Lightning Stakes Day Tips & Preview

The Listed Lightning Stakes headlines Saturday’s nine-race program at Morphettville in South Australia.

I’ve run the rule over every galloper and race, and you can find my complete Lightning Stakes Day Tips below.

Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap (1050m) – 12:22pm AEST
No. 2 Nishikado

Nishikado was an impressive winner on debut and can record another on Lightning Stakes Day.

The Invader gelding showed promise at the trials prior to debuting and put the writing on the wall with a nice win at Gawler.

This is harder, but he boasts plenty of upside and has options from the rails draw.

Thomas Farms Maiden Plate (1100m) – 12:58pm AEST
No. 6 Awen

There isn’t a lot of form to study ahead of this race either, but I thought that Awen’s debut effort was quite good, and he rates as a winning chance this week.

Awen raced greenly at Murray Bridge, but finished off well to fill the minors behind Kova.

With improvement for that experience, she can fight out the finish again.

Furphy Handicap (1800m) – 1:33pm AEST
No. 3 Gate Crash

Some decent interstate raiders will contest this race, including Gate Crash.

Gate Crash kicked off his prep with consecutive wins at Pakenham and Sandown, and after a couple of fair efforts in BM78 company, he was an impressive third over 1700m last time out.

This looks an ideal Saturday race for him and I don’t think that he’ll be faced with a better opportunity to strike.

Spring Carnival At Morphettville Handicap (1100m) - 2:08pm AEST
No. 1 Tequila Time

Tequila Time hasn’t been seen at the races since January, but his fresh form is nothing short of outstanding, and this looks a great launchpad for him.

The Stratum gelding’s first-up record currently reads 6:4-0-1, and he recorded three wins from four starts last time in, with his only miss being a still credible fourth in the Listed Kensington Stakes.

He gets some relief on the weights under Teagan Voorham, who has options from the rails draw.

The Junction Handicap (1600m) – 2:43pm AEST
No. 3 Angelic Scent

I think that Matt Laurie could be in line for a decent weekend, and he can saddle a winner in Adelaide with Angelic Scent.

Angelic Scent was a smart winner in BM64 company first-up this time, and she was last seen finishing fifth behind the likes of It’s True over a mile at HQ.

Fitter third-up and dropping in class a little, I think this looks her race.

Dominant Handicap (1600m) – 3:23pm AEST
No. 2 Knight Batchelor

Knight Batchelor will step out for just the third time at Morphettville on Saturday and I think he can record his second career win.

The Team McEvoy-trained gelding did plenty wrong and didn’t show a lot on debut at Bendigo last month, but took big improvement into a bullish five-length win last time out.

Fitter third-up, he’s ready for a crack at Saturday metro company.

each way
Grand Syndicates – Join Team Grand Today! Handicap (1050m) – 4:03pm AEST
No. 2 Arroance

She hasn’t managed to place in two starts back from a spell, but I thought that there was enough improvement shown by Arroance at her second-up start to suggest that she could be ready to peak this week.

The four-year-old mare finished down the order at Cranbourne when resuming, but worked home well to finish fifth in BM64 company last time out.

Fitter third-up and drawn ideally, we can have an each-way play at around the $10 mark.

Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) – 4:43pm AEST
No. 6 Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth is the one that I want to be with in the final black type race of the season.

She hasn’t been seen at the races since February, but Scorched Earth did find her best last time in, winning her first two back and only just missing in the Kevin Hayes Stakes.

She was last seen filling the minors in the Typhoon Tracy Stakes, and a repeat of any of those efforts would see her into the finish of this.

each way
Zilzie Wines Handicap (1200m) – 5:20pm AEST
No. 1 Modear

This isn’t the easiest way to end the day from a betting perspective and I’m going to have a small each-way play on one at a big price, Modear ($23 at publish).

Modear did take plenty of improvement into a credible fifth placing at her second start back, and the winner of that race has since franked the form.

She will need some luck in running as a backmarker, but I’m happy to give her a chance at the price.