Desert Lightning is on track for the Toorak Handicap following a decisive victory in the Sandown Stakes

A slashing Sandown Stakes success has Desert Lightning on track for a Group 1 Toorak Handicap tilt.

Desert Lightning took out the Sportsbet Sandown Stakes with Luke Nolen in the saddle Picture: Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Desert Lightning has earned a shot at the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in a fortnight after a solid Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) victory on Saturday.

The New Zealand Group 1 winner, now trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, made the most of an economical run to hold out the fast-finishing favourite Craig.

Craig settled too far back in the run and then hit traffic in the straight.

He eventually peeled off heels and let down sharply but could not run down the winner.

Desert Lightning put the writing on the wall first-up for the Moody-Coleman yard with a fighting third at The Valley under a big weight.

Jockey Luke Nolen gave the five-year-old gelding the perfect ride on Saturday, with cover behind the speed until they blended into the race in the straight.

He pinched a break on the field and maintained a strong gallop to the post.

“His work early this week suggested he bounced off that (first-up) run really well,” Nolen said.

“He’s still open to improvement too … that’s not his ceiling yet.”

Desert Lightning (NZ) ridden by Luke Nolen wins the Sportsbet Sandown Stakes at Sportsbet Sandown Hillside Racecourse on September 28, 2024 in Springvale, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Desert Lightning is a $21 chance with Ladbrokes for the Toorak Handicap (1600m) on October 12.

Desert Lightning sealed a Sandown double for the trainer-jockey combination after Aldolfito saluted first-up in a 1000m Three-Year-Old Handicap.

Coleman was pleased to get the result with Desert Lightning.

“Really nice to see him take that improvement from the first-up run, we still think he’s got a little bit more there to come which is really, really exciting,” Coleman said.

“He’s a really, really nice horse and incredibly thankful to the connections for putting him in our stable for this spring preparation.

“He’ll head towards the Toorak now and providing he takes the improvement we think he’s got to come we think he’s a pretty exciting prospect.

“He just looks like the mile is really his sweet spot, 1400m to 1600m looks like the ideal trip for him so it (Toorak) really stands out as the obvious choice.”

Originally published as Desert Lightning is on track for the Toorak Handicap following a decisive victory in the Sandown Stakes