Greased Lightnin Strikes At Addington Raceway

Northern raider Greased Lightnin (NZ) (Vincent) made his southern trip worthwhile at Addington Raceway last Friday when securing his first stakes victory in the Listed Sires’ Stakes Sophomore Classic (1980m). 

From his outside draw on the front row, Greased Lightnin was taken back to settle towards the rear of the field for driver Zachary Butcher, who kept a cool head and didn’t advance until 600m to go when hopping on the back of an improving Tact Teva three-wide.

Their run only got tougher when pushed four-wide by Zoom X (NZ) (Bettor’s Delight), and they entered the straight six-wide, but Greased Lightnin was still full of running, storming home late to grab Midnight Miki (NZ) (Always B Miki) on the line to win by a neck.

Butcher was rapt to get the win for trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, but said he was worried when his charge was so far back when entering the straight.

“I must admit, I was panicking a little bit there,” he said. “I thought the race changed complexion when Mark (Purdon, co-trainer and driver of Midnight Miki) got off the fence and I wasn’t too sure what was going to happen from there.

“All credit to the horse, it was a big effort to pick them up from where he was. He had to be fast and he showed how fast he was.”

Butcher said Greased Lightnin has a bright future ahead of him and he believes he has the ability to pick up an elite-level victory.

“I thought his run in the Group One last week was very strong, he got home very well and had some fast sectionals,” he said. “He is the sort of horse that if he gets a good run in a big race, he will pick one up one day. He has got the speed to hopefully beat those big ones, but he may just need the run.”

Bred by Alabar Stud, Greased Lightnin is out of two-win In The Pocket mare Motu Racy Girl, a half-sister to Group One performer Racy Rocket, and the dam of Group One performer Vanquished.

Greased Lightnin was offered through Alabar’s 2022 NZB Standardbred National Weanling Sale draft where he was purchased by Dean Shannon, under his Montana Park banner, for $23,000.

Entrusted to the care of Purdon and Phelan, Greased Lightnin has now won seven and placed in four of his 15 starts to date, and has accrued more than $120,000 in prizemoney.

Vendor	Alabar (NZ) Ltd
Purchaser	Montana Park P/L
Owner(s)	Montana Park Pty Ltd
Breeding	Vincent - Motu Racy Girl
Sale	2022 National Standardbred Weanling Sale ($23,000)
Breeder(s)	Alabar (NZ) Ltd