Prominent syndicator Wylie Dalziel and Hall of Fame handler Peter Moody eyed Oak Lightning as a yearling in New Zealand, where a key family member caught their attention.
The Little Avondale Stud-bred Per Incanto colt is a half-brother to Desert Lightning, a Pride Of Dubai gelding that claimed Group 1 glory in New Zealand prior to heading to Moody and co-trainer Katherine Coleman at Pakenham.
This also positions him as a full sibling to Lindsay Park’s Group 2 victor Oak Hill, though an even more notable figure appears on the pedigree, carrying extra weight since Moody has opted to launch him in Saturday’s Redoute’s Choice Stakes at Caulfield.
The dam of Oak Lightning, Desert Lightning, and Oak Hill, named Isstoora, is a granddaughter of Twyla—a foal of Danehill and Shantha’s Choice—rendering her a full sister to Redoute’s Choice.
All involved in Oak Lightning’s purchase made him appealing at NZ$200,000 during the Karaka Yearling Sale, as per Dalziel.
“Moods obviously had Desert Lightning, so he took a line through him, and Oak Hill had only had a few starts (at the time) but looked alright and then when we came across him we thought, ‘what a nice colt this is,'” Dalziel recalled.
“There was enough in the pedigree, so we were happy we got him $200,000, fall of hammer,”
Redoute’s Choice and Desert Lightning represent merely two Group 1 triumphs on Oak Lightning’s lineage, joined by Al Maher, Platinum Scissors, Hurricane Sky, Gathering, Tom Kitten, and US Grade 1 hero In Italian among elite winners.
From this accomplished lineage, Dalziel welcomes Moody’s selection of the $175,000 Listed contest as the debut target.
The gelding completed a pair of Pakenham trials late last year plus two more recently, notably prevailing over 800m on March 24 despite racing wide yet closing powerfully with minimal pressure.
Dalziel and Moody first expressed concern over the barrier 10 draw in a field of 11 for the Redoute’s Choice Stakes, though by 1pm Friday the 1200m affair shrank to six runners following scratches.
“Moods doesn’t often throw his two-year-olds in the deep end like this, so he’s got a very good opinion of him, he just would have rather draw a good barrier to be a little bit more confident,” Dalziel said.
“It’s a two-year-old race, anything can happen. He might be back a bit, but he’ll hit the line hard.”
Linda Meech has the mount on Oak Lightning, the second-longest odds in a market led by Farnan colt Drumfire and Listed winner Gin Twist, a Home Affairs gelding.
Explore the Australian betting sites for top Redoute’s Choice Stakes odds.