By David Nagel
Pakenham trainers had a big say at headquarters on Saturday with Phillip Stokes and Peter Moody both training winners on the nine-race card.
Stokes kicked off the Flemington double for locals when his five-year-old gelding Lyrical Lad returned from a four-week freshen up with a dominant performance in the $130,000 BenchMark-84 Handicap (1620m).
Jockey Jamie Mott enjoyed a perfect sit throughout, before ambling up to the leaders and racing away to victory.
Lyrical Lad won by two lengths on the line, with Mott revealing the freshen up had certainly done the horse good.
“Really pleasing, I really enjoy riding this horse, obviously for the connections and Phillip Stokes, he’s done a super job with him and I think the extra time between his last run and today really showed, he really travelled great and showed a great turn of foot,” Mott said.
A tactical battle between champion jockeys Damien Oliver and Craig Williams played into Mott’s hands, who simply bided his time before striking.
“It opened up a nice run for me and I was confident as soon as I straightened, he really cantered into the straight well and showed a sharp turn of foot,” Mott said.
“When he races like that today, when he’s on song, he could definitely get to a 100-rating I feel.
“He still hasn’t put a foot wrong so who knows, he could even be better than that.
“They’re doing a fantastic job with him and hopefully he runs in a race next time that gets into my weight range.”
Moody and star jockey Jamie Kah capped off a great day for locals when Chain of Lightning scored in the last race on the Flemington program.
For once Kah was not the punter’s pal, storming down the outside to collar race favourite Fire on the line.
The Fighting Sun/Magic Art mare has now won all four career starts.
