Russian Mint on target for second Lightning Handicap

By Glenn Davis

It may not be in the same place but trainer Lindsay Hatch is hopeful lightning does strike twice at Cannon Park in Cairns on Saturday.

Hatch claimed the Townsville Lightning at Cluden Park earlier this month with Russian Mint and is hopeful the same horse can make it back-to-back wins in the Lightning Handicap in Cairns.

Hatch had never won the Townsville Lightning until Russian Mint’s victory and believes the six-year-old is a strong chance of breaking his drought in the 950 metre Cairns feature.

“I won the Cairns Amateur Cup two years ago with Sayl but I’ve never won the Cairns Lightning,” Hatch said.

“Russian Mint is a very nice horse and he’s taken further improvement from the Townsville win so he should be hard to beat again against the same mob.”

Russian Mint was a $200,000 buy as a yearling for the Melbourne training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) before being sold to Hatch’s clients Ares Racing.

“He had a suspensory injury not long after his first prep with us but luckily we stopped his work at the right time,” Hatch said.

“We won five races with him before we sent him north and I expected him to win the Townsville Lightning.

“He ran second at Cairns at his previous start when he carried 61.5kgs and he dropped 7.5kgs for the Townsville Lightning.”

Apprentice Leah Martyn produced a copybook ride to win the Townsville Lightning on Russian Mint and has retained the ride.

“Leah did a great job and rode him well last time so she’ll be staying on,” Hatch said.

Hatch has also retained the Sunshine Coast-based apprentice for Blazerro in the Cairns Amateur Cup.

Hatch hopes to double handed in the Cairns Amateur Cup with Redwood Shadow.

But, his pair were named emergencies before Blazerro scrapped into the field following the early scratching of Rothesay’s Ruby.

Redwood Shadow needs another scratching to make the Cup field.

Blazerro is coming off an impressive win in a 2000 metre Benchmark race at Mackay last month.

Redwood Shadow was a last start sixth in a field of seven behind Ready Tiger in a similar 2000 metre Benchmark race in Townsville on August 9.

“Blazerro is racing well and he can’t do anymore,” Hatch said.

“He gets in well at the weights and the Cairns Amateur Cup will be a nice race to win again while Redwood Shadow is finding form at the right time.”