King Of Light tipped to shine bright in the WA Guineas
Having previously been compared to a “surfer dude”, it is entirely fitting that King Of Light (Earthlight) is currently riding the crest of a wave as the unbeaten three-year-old heads into this Saturday’s WA Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) as the raging $1.75 favourite.
The only Earthlight (Sharmadal) in trainer Dan Morton’s Ascot stable, King Of Light has dazzled with a pair of luminous home track performances this campaign, in the process becoming his sire’s second stakes winner in Australia after Ash and Amy Yargi’s filly Petit Artiste.
Having launched from near last to collar his rivals in the Belgravia Stakes (Listed, 1200m), King Of Light subsequently ran down down smart colt Heeza Phoenix (Grunt) from an improbable position in the Fairetha Stakes (Listed, 1400m) a fortnight ago – covering the final 600 metres in a slick time of 34.47 on both occasions.
Given his unblemished record from four starts and the dynamic manner of those dual triumphs, bookmakers aren’t prepared to take any chances on the handsome chestnut who will resume his fruitful association with Willie Pike, the riding wizard chasing a sixth WA Guineas success.
It was Pike who first drew the comparison between a surfer and laidback customer with King Of Light, a $120,000 purchase by Morton from the Amelia Park draft at last year’s Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
As a physical specimen Lot 141 was, according to his buyer, a thing of beauty and his progress since arriving at Morton’s yard has been nothing short of prodigious.
While reluctant to heap more pressure on his young charge by labelling him the best three-year-old he has ever put a saddle on, Morton concedes King Of Light is “right up there” and a fifth successive victory on Saturday would surely set him up for a potentially lucrative raid on Melbourne’s autumn carnival next year.
“I’m a bit surprised he’s come up so short in the market but he clearly deserves to be favourite,” Morton, whose only previous victory in the WA Guineas came when Man Booker (Discorsi) was on the right side of a photo–finish ten years ago, told ANZ News.
“It’s still early days in his career but he’s done everything right so far. It will be a big challenge for him on Saturday, but he’s tracking really well so I’m very happy with him. He’s never run over the mile before but given the way he finished off the race over 1400 metres last time, I would expect the extra distance to suit him.
“Having said that, I also expect the mile to suit quite a lot of horses in the race, there’s good depth in the three-year-old ranks in WA this year so I don’t think it’s a case of turning up and winning. It seems like most trainers have at least one good three-year-old in their yard, so he’ll be up against a very competitive field but his wins this prep have obviously given us a lot of confidence heading into the race.
“He’s got a great turn of foot but his casual demeanour is probably just as important. He’s got all the attributes you need to be a very good horse, we’re still feeling our way with him so we’re not sure where the ceiling is just yet but I’m pretty excited to find out.”
Morton also saddles up outsider My Authoritah (Playing God), the only runner in the race sired by Western Australia’s leading stallion, and Buthelezi (Smart Missile), who is chasing a picket fence having also compiled back-to-back victories – albeit in a much lower grade than his more celebrated stablemate.
The gelded son of Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) currently occupies the third line of betting, with Rock Fest (Awesome Rock) – who finished third in the Fairetha – sandwiched between Morton’s pair of stable companions.
Unlike King Of Light, who drew perfectly in barrier four, Buthelezi will start from out wide but Morton is hopeful it won’t prove too big a hindrance as the three-year-old bids to become the 28th stakes winner for his evergreen sire, who stands at the Tait family’s Twin Hills Stud for the relatively modest fee of $13,200 (inc GST).
“He’s a beautiful strong type and he goes there in great form, so I give him a good chance,” Morton said.
“His work on Tuesday morning was particularly good and Brad [Parnham] is pretty bullish about his chances, so that’s good enough for me. Unlike King Of Light he’s really stepping up in grade from the races he’s been competing in, but he couldn’t have been any more impressive this time in so we thought he deserved the chance to take his place.
“The field often gets strung out in the Guineas, so hopefully he can get in at some point from the wide gate but even if he’s two or three deep with cover, it wouldn’t be a huge problem because he’s a rangy horse with a big stride on him. If he’s close enough coming to the home turn, hopefully he can slingshot out of it and run over the top of them.”
It could be a big day for Morton and also his wife Carol, who holds small shares in King Of Light and the stable’s leading Railways Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) contender Super Smink (Super One).
Having registered her sixth stakes win as the race favourite in the Lee Steere Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) last time, Super Smink has her tail up but connections’ confidence levels were perhaps lowered when she was assigned barrier 15 – ironically the same gate she jumped from in the Railway 12 months ago when third.
That prompted most bookmakers to push her out to $10 but if regular rider Chris Parnham can take up a handy enough position in the run, those odds might be made to look generous in the extreme given her remarkable race record.
With nine black type placings in addition to the six wins to her name, the mare is Mrs Consistent and Morton is confident she can again figure in the finish, having launched from the rear of the field to get within 0.75 lengths of last year’s Railway Stakes winner Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready).
“Her last win was terrific and she also ran really well first-up, so she’s certainly trending in the right direction,” Morton said.
“It’s obviously not an ideal draw but she should come in a couple after scratchings, so as long as there’s a solid tempo on and she gets a bit of luck in running, I think she’s definitely a live chance in the race.
“We’ve got her nominated for the Winterbottom, the Northerly and the Gold Rush, so we’ll sit down and map out a plan after Saturday but we’ve got plenty of options with her because she’s so versatile. She’s just a good honest mare who puts in every time she goes to the races, which is all you can ask for.”
Super Smink was chased home in the Lee Steere by stablemate In Good Order (American Pharoah), who will be hoping to turn the tables when he re-opposes in the Railway Stakes.
That rousing return – albeit at the eye-popping odds of $101 – would suggest the five-year-old is in for another prosperous preparation, a sentiment his trainer clearly shares.
“He started at big odds last time but it was no surprise to anyone in the stable that he ran so well behind Super Smink,” said Morton.
“When Shaun O’Donnell jumped off him this morning he said he’s probably the happiest horse in the whole of Perth, so as his name suggests he is in good order and I think he’s capable of making his presence felt on Saturday.”