G1 Lightning on radar for Gytrash return

Adelaide trainer Gordon Richards is planning an assault on Melbourne’s feature sprints with Gytrash.

After having his spring campaign cut short after one start, promising Adelaide speedster Gytrash is building towards a return in one of Melbourne’s feature sprints.

Gytrash was a luckless second in the Group Three The Heath (1100m) at Caulfield on August 31 before he was sidelined through injury.

Trainer Gordon Richards, who has fellow four-year-old Bold Star heading to Saturday’s Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington, said Gytrash was on a path towards a return in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 15.

“He’s been in work now for about five weeks and he’s heading towards I’d say the Lightning first and then the Newmarket, all things being equal,” Richards said.

“He jarred up pretty badly after The Heath and he needed to have a bit of a break to get him back on track.

“If we had given him just a short break and got him back racing then you’re in no-mans land. So we thought we’d tip him out then and have a break with the Lightning and Newmarket in mind.”

Gytrash beat Standish Handicap winner Halvorsen in a 1000m handicap for three-year-olds at Flemington last June before adding the Listed Creswick Stakes over the 1200m at the same track a couple of weeks later.

“He’s come back terrific,” Richards said.

The winner of six of his 14 starts, Gytrash is high in an early all-in market for the Newmarket at $15.

Group One-winning three-year-old colts Bivouac and Exceedance and triple Group One-winning five-year-old gelding Nature Strip head the market at $8.