Kinglike to reign in Lightning

A blistering barrier trial win has convinced Kinglike’s trainer Gerald Ryan he can get his spring campaign back on track in the Listed Lighnting at Randwick.

The four-year-old sprinter won two races for the now-retired Peter Moody including the Group Two Danehill Stakes.

Moody thought enough of him to run him in the Group One William Reid Stakes earlier this year but Kinglike finished unplaced after over-racing.

In his two runs for Ryan, Kinglike has finished a close fourth behind Japonisme in the Arrowfield Sprint in April but was disappointing at his next Group Two race when unplaced in the Bobbie Lewis Quality at Flemington last month.

Ryan brought him back to Sydney and he was given a solid hit-out by Josh Parr in a trial over 807 metres at Warwick Farm on Friday to confirm a start in the 1100m-race on City Tattersalls day.

“He trialled really well and Josh will ride him on Saturday,” Ryan said.

“He over-raced in Melbourne but I have been pleased with him since.

“We will see after Saturday whether he goes back to Melbourne. He is entered for the Darley Classic but we will have to see how he goes and whether he is up to that.”

Stablemate Inz’n’out is also likely to run in the Lightning which also signals the return of exctiing sprinter Spieth.

Trained by Bryce Heys, Spieth, the winner of four of his seven starts, hasn’t raced since June when he won an 1100m-straight race at Flemington.

The Ryan-trained Suspenders, who has put together two recent midweek wins including one at Canterbury last Wednesday, will be entered for Saturday’s Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m).

“She will be entered and I’ll just see how she is during the week.” Ryan said.