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 Ever improving galloper Light Vision will be given his chance to be a lightweight Cups contender following a strong all the way win in the Voodoo Handicap (2000m) at Flemington today.
The in form front runner was sent out the favourite on the strength of the two impressive wins at Flemington over 2000 metres and Caulfield last time out over a mile. Trainer Robert Smerdon felt Light Vision had taken good improvement from his previous effort at Caulfield and was confident he'd be hard to beat today. "I think when you saw them in the yard he'd tightened up that bit and the three weeks between runs probably helped him," Smerdon commented.  He's been surprised at just how much Light Vision has continued to improve as he matures.
"As a late three-year-old a mile maiden was too short for him. And then last start he was winning a mile welter at Caulfield." "Every preparation he has come back a bit better than the one before. Smerdon said Light Vision was a delight to saddle up - knowing when he came to race he would put himself in the running and then be hard to roll over the concluding stages.  "If a horse can be ridden to advantage forward it keeps you out of strife."
Wet. Dry. It doesn't matter for Light Vision. "He handles that (wet tracks) too - there's a lot of positives. But the class will get better from now." Light Vision is among the entries for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups - but being down on the minimum he will need to win better races between now and then. "He's probably going to have to win a race that gets you into them. A race like the Winning Edge - we'll probably head that way."  "The JRA Cup next start I think - then the Winning Edge and see what comes out of those two," Smerdon added.
He praised jockey Ben Melham and said he and Light Vision had formed a strong partnership and the two would stay together during the spring. "Ben's put plenty of work in. He's ridden him a lot of work and he's clicked really good with him." Light Vision could be the horse who can give Melham plenty to look forward to in the spring. "He's furnished into not a bad horse," Melham said after the win. "All credit to Robert for having him racing in this form at the age he is."  "He makes my job pretty easy. He begins, he slackens off a bit mid race and then he picks up and produces some handy sectionals at the end."
"He's got good gears. He carried me a long way in the straight before I asked for him," Melham summed up. At the line Light Vision ($2.70-$3.20 fav) still had a length to spare over the fast finishing runner-up Gallopin ($5.50-$7). Testa Grande ($31-$41-$31) ran an improved race for the Kavanagh stable - winding up third, a short head from the runner-up. Light Vision is a well named gelding considering he was bred and is raced by prominent South Australian Rob Gerard.  A member of the family who founded the famous Clipsal brand in Adelaide in 1920, Rob Gerard wasn't at Flemington today - he's preparing for a game of footy.
Gerard will be heading to AAMI Stadium today to cheer on his beloved Adelaide Crows in their Elimination Final clash with Collingwood. A former number one ticket holder, Gerard is now a patron of the famous South Australian sporting outfit. Light Vision, by New Zealand based staying sire Zerpour, is one of four winners from four to race for the unraced Naturalism mare Switches. Switches in a daughter of Centaine mare Mrs. Brooker - a half sister to Mr Brooker - winner of five stakes races and third in Kingston Rule's record breaking Melbourne Cup. PICS - Quentin Lang.
© 2010 Published 06/09/08
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