Home Affairs Takes on Elders in Lightning Stakes

The Coolmore syndicate behind star 3-year-old Home Affairs does not underestimate the mammoth challenge their flourishing colt faces in the Feb. 19 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1) at Flemington, but believes the potential upside of landing a blow to his more seasoned elders by far outweighs the risks of defeat in taking on Australia's best credentialed sprinters.

Home Affairs, who as a juvenile won the Iron Jack Silver Slipper Stakes (G2) on this weekend's corresponding Rosehill card a year ago, trailed five lengths behind his stablemate and today's race favorite Nature Strip  when taking on his elders for the first time in The Everest in October, but duly responded when back against his own generation to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1) down the Flemington straight on Oct. 30, a win that secured his berth on Coolmore's prestigious roster.

"We're under no illusions how difficult the task is in taking on those champion horses that have been very consistent over the last three years," said Coolmore's racing manager Rob Archibald. "If we can pull it off, it would mean a huge amount to Coolmore."

Coolmore knows the required traits in an aspiring 3-year-old colt to claim the Lightning Stakes, but you have to go all the way back to 2005 to find it, with the last 3-year-old to prevail in Victoria's premier weight-for-age five furlong sprint being their stud stalwart Fastnet Rock .

Since then, the race has been dominated by high class females and geldings, including three-time winner Black Caviar , while 2019 winner In Her Time breaks up the winning streak of triumphant geldings, which includes on its honor roll Chautauqua, Terravista, Redkirk Warrior, and most recently Gytrash and last year's winner Nature Strip.

Following Fastnet Rock's neck success over Alinghi in 2005, 35 3-year-olds have tried and failed at weight-for-age level in the Lightning, including the likes of Snitzel , Starspangledbanner, and Brazen Beau, while last year's contest saw 3-year-old fillies September Run and Swats That fill the placings.

"We're hoping we can draw on some of that luck (with Fastnet Rock) and you've obviously got to be a very good horse to win it as a 3-year-old. We've had Fastnet Rock and let's hope Home Affairs can get the same result," Archibald said.

"Of course, there's an element of risk to it, but at the same time there's a huge amount of upside and we wouldn't be going there if we didn't think he could run well.

"All you're trying to do as his owners is enhance (his value), and I think there's limited downside, only upside to taking on these seasoned sprinters. I think the market appreciates where they're at and where their ability is at. As long as he can perform at some stage this preparation in one of these big group 1s that would be OK.

"I think he's already put himself as an extremely commercial stallion prospect after his Coolmore victory, but if you go and win at weight-for-age over 1,000 meters at Flemington he would certainly be one of the most desirable prospects to go to stud in a long time."

Archibald said the decision was left to trainer Chris Waller as to Home Affairs' starting point this autumn campaign, with Victoria's premier group 1 sprint handicap in the Newmarket (G1) and the TJ Smith Stakes (G1) back at weight-for-age remains on the agenda, while a subsequent trip to Royal Ascot has also been mooted.

"It was really left up to Chris, and he felt that this race was the right preparation for Newmarket and he's really happy with the way he's returned. Chris felt this was the way to get the best out of him," Archibald said.

Home Affairs is set to be ridden by James McDonald, with the champion jockey electing the colt over his more fancied rival Nature Strip, who McDonald steered to a first Everest success in October.

McDonald was in the saddle for his second trial ahead of this preparation in which he finished second at Rosehill over 900 meters.  

"His two trials have been great and he jumped out well down the straight. It's obviously a huge task taking on the field that he has to, but he's run well down the straight over 1,000 meters before and Chris felt this was the best way to start his campaign and all the owners have faith in that," Archibald said.

Home Affairs will jump from barrier eight in the nine-runner field, for which he is a AUS$6 chance behind Nature Strip ($2.70) and Eduardo ($4.40), with William Reid Stakes (G1) winner Masked Crusader and 2020 Lightning Stakes winner Gytrash also among the market favorites.