Supido on target for G1 Lightning assault

Trainer Mick Kent is renowned for his patience with horses and Supido is a case in point.

Kent bypassed the spring carnival after the sprinter felt the effects of a scintillating victory at Flemington last May before running third in The Goodwood in Adelaide two weeks later.

A sparkling trial at Cranbourne on Tuesday, when the now five-year-old won in the second-fastest time of the morning, has Supido ready for his racetrack return.

That comes in Saturday’s Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, the same course and distance Supido was successful over last year.

“I had to give him a long break after I ran him at Flemington,” Kent said.

“He ran 31.74 (seconds) and came out of the race terrible.

“We cuddled him into the Goodwood. Four days before the Goodwood we weren’t going, then two days before he got better in his action, so off we went.”

Kent said Supido had bulked up since he last raced and was progressing nicely for his return.

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“He’s definitely thickened and strengthened up,” Kent said.

“He’ll have a piece of work on Tuesday and that should see him right.”

Kent said Supido was likely to run in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 11 before going to Sydney for the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick during The Championships.

After being defeated at his first two starts, Supido went on to record six-straight victories before his last-start third placing in Adelaide.

Supido only raced twice in 2015 because of a foot abscess and pharyngitis and returned early in 2016 to record four-straight wins from January through to May before his Goodwood placing.

Luke Nolen, who rode Supido to victory over 1200m at Flemington last April, will ride the five-year-old on Saturday.

Of the 16 horses nominated for the Group One weight-for-age contest only Flamberge, Flying Artie, Terravista and The Quarterback have been successful at the highest level.

Other nominations include last week’s Cranbourne trial winner Heatherly, Fell Swoop, Illustrious Lad, Spieth and Star Turn.