South Australian sprinter Gytrash has previously been a giant killer in the Lightning Stakes and his co-trainer thinks he can cause another upset at Flemington.
Gytrash won the 2020 Group 1 sprint as a $21 outsider, relegating the $1.45 favourite Nature Strip to fourth place and defeating home Redzel and Loving Gaby.
That edition of the Lightning was a small but keenly contested affair, and Saturday’s race is regarded as one of the best fields ever assembled.
The field of nine has collectively won 40 black type races, 12 at Group 1, 10 at Group 2 level, and collectively won over $37 million in prize money.
Gytrash is a $12 chance with TAB to claim a second Lightning win. Nature Strip is the $2.60 favourite to follow his victory in last year’s race ahead of Eduardo ($4.20) and Home Affairs ($6.50).
Richards, who now prepares Gytrash with Damien Moyle, is confident Gytrash is set to run a big race down the Flemington straight where he has three wins and a third from four starts.
“First-up is his best runs by far,” Richards told RSN.
“I think he likes the straight track and the one where he missed out, he ran third in the Newmarket.”
After a three run Sydney campaign which was a little sub-par compared to previous trips north, Gytrash was given a break to prepare for the autumn.
As part of his preparation, Gytrash trialled at Gawler last week, finishing second in the 1000m heat.
Richards said Gytrash has never been a great trackworker, or produced outstanding form in trials, preferring to show it on race day.
“The times stacked up against the rest of the morning and Ryan (Hurdle) didn’t knock him around all that much,” Richards said.
“I would have preferred drawing in the middle of the bunch, but he won this race from this barrier and he’s in the race.
“You can only run against what’s around, but I think he’ll run well.”