Lingani in great shape ahead of Sir John Monash Stakes after overcoming autumn injury
The talented sprinter finished fourth behind Sir Now at Morphettville last month, her first race since running ninth in the Wylie Handicap last September.
Lingani returned to trackwork in December, eager to build on a sole stakes win, but a tweaked hamstring ruled her out of an autumn campaign in Melbourne.
'It wasn't very bad, but she did need three months off,' trainer Peter Blanch, who trains in partnership with wife Belinda, said.
'Like any footballer, she needed some time for it to heal, she's come back and it hasn't bothered her at all.'
The mare hit the line strongly first-up over 1000m, and the performance gave Blanch confidence an interstate test was next on her radar.
'She got some fitness out of it which she needed. Her work on Tuesday was good - we'll head over,' he said.
'She is a stakes winner, we are reasonably high in the ratings her in Adelaide, so it's time to see where she sits.
'She's had that run under her belt and come through it really well - she looks great.'
Lingani from the clouds! 😮 @domjock nails the ride & wins the Lightning Stakes! ⚡� pic.twitter.com/GInMKUrdPA
— Racing.com (@Racing) July 27, 2024
•
While injury temporarily derailed Blanch's plans with Lingani, it has also provided the mare time to physically mature.
'Sometimes it (time off) can be a blessing, she was only early in her four-year-old career, and she's had a really nice grow and fill out,' he said.
'She likes wet tracks, she goes on either, but she doesn't go any slower on a wet track.
'Horses are taking longer to get to their peak maturity, she's there now, it's her time to see how good she is over there.'
Lingani will be ridden by Group 1-winning jockey Paul Gatt on Saturday.
'I'm really keen to see where we lob after it, if she performs well, it opens up that early part of the spring for her,' Blanch said.
'I thought her run the other day was better than it looked, her sectionals late were very, very fast, it's good to see her back on track.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
11 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Noah Answerth's misfortune could lead to an AFL debut for Luke Beecken
As 'irreplaceable' as Noah Answerth is in Brisbane's defence, his season-ending injury could open the door for the impressive Luke Beecken to make his AFL debut in the Lions' clash with the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba on Friday night. Answerth is facing at least nine months on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Brisbane's 37-point win over Carlton last Thursday night. 'We've certainly got replacements, but Noah's almost irreplaceable with the attitude and the effort that he puts into his game every week,' Lions veteran Dayne Zorko told SENQ Breakfast show. 'He's hard to replace, but we've certainly got players there that can come in and help us out.' Star half-back Keidean Coleman has made a timely return from injury in Brisbane's VFL team, however his attributes are different to those of Answerth's. 'He played a really good game in the VFL on the weekend,' Zorko said of Coleman. 'I wouldn't be surprised if they give him a few more games there (in the VFL) and then look to get him back in for the last few rounds of the AFL season. 'We've got some really good players in the VFL that are going superbly, especially on that half-back line. 'We've got Shadeau Brain who also played a few (AFL) games last year, and we've got another young kid named Luke Beecken, who I've been working really closely with, that's having a really breakout season in the VFL.' Beecken, 24, joined the Lions in last year's mid-season rookie draft from SANFL outfit Woodville-West Torrens. Lions triple premiership-winning star Alastair Lynch said Friday's game would be a good chance to blood Beecken at AFL level, and that there was no rush to bring Coleman back after having played only one game of top-flight football since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in March last year. 'It's all about how can they get (Coleman) right because he hasn't been right so far,' Lynch said. 'He hasn't had a good run at it, so give him a couple of more weeks (in the VFL).' The Lions will also need to replace in-form midfielder-forward Zac Bailey, who has been suspended for one match for rough conduct following his bump on Carlton's Nick Haynes last week. Lynch suggested that the versatile Bruce Reville loomed as a good option to replace Bailey in Brisbane's 23. The second-placed Lions are chasing a fourth successive win.
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Grafton, Kembla best bets, inside mail for Thursday, July 17, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and analysis of the quaddie legs at Grafton and Kembla on Thursday. • â– â– â– â– â– GRAFTON TIPS BEST BET Race 7 No.7: QUIETNESS Good in both Australian starts. Up to her right distance. NEXT BEST Resumed with a nice win and drawn to go back-to-back. VALUE BET Race 1 No.6: SO ROSIE Handy run last star after being hampered. Extra distance suits. QUADDIE Race 5: 3, 5, 10, 17 Race 6: 4, 5, 13 Race 7: 1, 7, 13 Race 8: 2, 3, 4, 6 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW With a solid book of rides, ASHLEY MORGAN will be popular in the TAB Jockey Challenge. GRAFTON INSIDE MAIL PORT ERIN (3) has been forced to go back to near last from wide gates before closing strongly when a length fourth at the Gold Coast and coming long the fence when third at Eagle Farm. Can settle closer from the inside gate. BOAMBEE BEACH (10) raced three-wide with cover and ran on nicely for a three-quarter-length Tryanza over 1175m here 11 days ago. Drawn better this time and meets him 3kg better. TRYANZA (17) carried 54.5kg after the claim when he led all the way. Up to 59.5kg here. BET: PORT ERIN to win. RACE 6: COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 6 SHOWCASE PLATE (1175m) EMPEROR (5) was 25 days between runs when he came from last to be fourth behind Taltarni Fields under 61.5kg at Ipswich on June 6. Was bumped at the start and settled back before storming home to win over 1110m at Eagle Farm. GODFATHER (13) was held up rounding the home turn when a length third to King Yoshi at the Sunshine Coast first-up. Jockey stopped riding the last 50m in restricted room when fifth at Eagle Farm last start. BRAVELY (4) dropped back in grade to win at Murwillumbah last start. BET: EMPEROR to win. QUIETNESS (7) was doing her best work late when third to Loch Eagle over 1600m at Randwick at her Australian debut. Stepped up to 2100m when a length second to Miss Joelene in the Listed Tatts Gold Crown at Eagle Farm. Her best European form was between 2300m and 2400m. DILLIAN (13) will find this a little easier than his recent assignments. Has been unlucky in his last three starts and could have finished in the placings in a couple of them with fortune on his side. Won smartly over 2400m at Eagle Farm in April. BELEVEDERE BOYS (1) and BEAR ON THE LOOSE (5) have strong claims. BET: QUIETNESS to win. BURNING BELL (3) resumes off two good trials. Has a win and three placings from four first-up runs. Is a winner here. TWO YA GOT (2) won nicely over 1200m at the Gold Coast on June 7 before dropping back to 1000m when second there two weeks later after racing wide with cover. Boxed on for third there last start. OUTISHKA (4) has been freshened since her Gunnedah win. Blinkers go on. BET: BURNING BELL to win. â– â– â– â– â– KEMBLA TIPS BEST BET Race 8 No.3: CROSS TASMAN Appreciated a step up in trip to win last start. Go close again. NEXT BEST Runner-up when resuming last campaign. Can go one better first-up here. KEMBLA INSIDE MAIL RACE 5: MIDWAY 3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m) FIREWORK (1) resumes from a spell off a handy second in his Hawkesbury trial. Kicked off last campaign with a second to Fly Scotty Fly at Wyong before a second to Money Team. DENIAL (2) makes his NSW debut for a new stable. Runner-up at Horsham at his last run in April. Sat outside the leader before racing away to win his July 1 Kembla trial. INITIATE (5) chased home Divo at Wyong before a third to Capital Jacinta last start. BET: FIREWORK to win. ZARAGOZA (4) was good winning over 1000m here on May 17 on a Soft 7. Followed up with a second to Be Quiet and a third to Romeo's Choice in BM72 at Warwick Farm on heavy ground. Back in grade and gets a firmer track. THE EXTREME CAT (3) went back from a wide gate before making ground when ninth behind Motoscafo in a Midway at Rosehill first-up. Will appreciate a drop back to provincial grade and can get back to form. IRISH BLISS (6) is first-up for a new stable. Goes well fresh. BET: ZARAGOZA to win. SUPER SUGOI (7) was OK in his first two runs over shorter distances. Went back from a wide gate before working home for third to Dubai Warrior over 1600m at Wyong. Will give a bold sight from the inside gate. AUTUMN DREAM (3) returned with a third to My Mate Kate at Newcastle before a three length seventh to Heaven Bound at Hawkesbury. Blinkers on for the first time and will make her presence felt. SACRO CATINO (2) is much better than his last start failure at Randwick. Don't dismiss. BET: SUPER SUGOI each-way. CROSS TASMAN (3) battled away when fourth to Duke Of Arrakis on debut on the Kensington. Took improvement from the experience and appreciate a step up in trip with a nice win over Cinsault at Hawkesbury. DIMITROV (1) placed in four of his first five starts before breaking through with a big win from Pasima over 1400m at Warwick Farm on Jan 26. Will give a big sight first-up. LA BELLA BONDI (10) raced very well last campaign with a fourth and three consecutive placings before ending her preparation with a handy win at Newcastle. Nice third to In Flight in her July 1 Kembla trial.
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Blake Shinn battles illness to extend lead over Craig Williams in Melbourne jockeys' premiership
Blake Shinn won't be at his best at Flemington on Saturday but he could end Craig Williams 's hopes of beating him in the Melbourne jockeys' premiership race. Shinn finished second to Damian Lane in last year's Melbourne jockeys' premiership and his hopes of going one better this season slumped when he ruled himself out for the remainder of the season after sustaining a foot injury in May. Shinn suffered heavy bone bruising to his left foot but recovered quicker than expected, enabling him to return riding at Sandown on July 9. But Shinn was off-colour at Wednesday's Sandown meeting despite booting home a treble in the first five races. 'I don't feel that well inside but I'm putting on a good face,' he said. 'I'm fit but I'm battling a virus so I don't feel the best. 'I came back from a hot climate in Singapore and Phuket and coming back to the cold winter, I've picked up a bit of a bug. 'I don't feel the best at the moment but hopefully I can shrug that off in about a week or so. 'I'd like to be feeling a bit better but that's part and parcel of and you've got to keep turning up.' Shinn started Wednesday's meeting four wins ahead of Williams but ended the day seven ahead after the latter failed to notch a victory on the eight-race card. However, Williams has a numerical advantage over Shinn at Saturday's Flemington meeting at which he has picked up a maximum eight rides. It's @blake_shinn 's world, we're just living in it 🙌 He brings up a treble on the Hillside track as Kira breaks her five-race placings run with a super finish ðŸ'° @FreedmanRacing — (@Racing) July 16, 2025 As senior riders, Williams and Shinn are ineligible to ride in Saturday's Rising Stars Final, which is restricted to apprentices. Williams's book includes three opening favourites, including the odds-on pick Duchess Zou in the ATA Trust/TAB We're On (1400m) and the $4 elect Muktamil in the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m). Bookmakers rated Mr Verse ($3.80) and La Fracas ($3) as Shinn's best chances of success at Flemington in the VRC Member Gerald Jongebloed Trophy (1700m) and VRC Member Colin Gilson Sprint (1200m) respectively. Shinn said he had enjoyed battling with Williams but said he was looking no further ahead than his next ride, rather than the premiership. 'It's a good battle,' Shinn said. 'I've been back a week now and it's going to take a little bit to build the rides back up but I knew I'd be strong at the back end of the season. 'We all love Craig and what he does for the industry. 'He's a great jockey and it's good for the sport. 'It's going down to the wire but my focus is on one meeting at a time and focusing on the job at hand.'
