Counterattack fit for Lightning but one eye on Newmarket Hcp

Counterattack
Counterattack is in good shape ahead of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos.

Chris Waller has declared Counterattack ready to go ahead of the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The star sprinter is yet to salute in anything better than a group 3, but showed positive signs last start after reverting back to a sprinting distance in the Group 2 Tab.com.au Stakes in October, where he finished second behind Illustrious Lad.

The start prior to that Counterattack raced over a mile in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap, but he failed to stay, forcing Waller to rethink his plans. But fresh off a spell he is confident the 4YO is in for a big preparation.

“He doesn’t get a mile, we made a mistake there,” Waller said.

“He’s a very frustrating horse – he should have won the Theo Marks (Stakes) first-up at Rosehill and we thought he was the perfect horse for the Sir Rupert Clarke (Stakes) but he had no luck there where he was sixth.

“We stepped him up in trip to the Toorak (Handicap) but it was an error.”

Counterattack is an outsider for the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at $31 with Crownbet and around a similar mark with other bookmakers, but Waller believes his horse has the potential to win a group 1 race.

“It’s a good horse – hasn’t won a group 1 yet, but he’ll win one,” he said.

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“The Newmarket will certainly be better than the Lightning on Saturday – 1200m up the straight but he’s come back in good shape.”

In a surprisingly quiet day for Waller at Flemington, he will only saddle up one more runner, Hursley in the Benchmark 84 Ascot Racecourse Trophy.

Hursley was unlucky in a BM84 on February 4, over the 2000m, when his run was blocked and Waller declared the $6 shot was a strong chance of recording a fifth career victory, from 20 starts.

“Hursley should have won last start – he’s still trying to get out,” he joked.

“He’s trained on well and drawn a bit wider on Saturday – Craig Williams again in the saddle – 2000m will suit and the track is better.”

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