New Zealand trainer Peter Williams adamant Desert Lightning has the potential to win a big race in Australia
NZ trainer Peter Williams is adamant Desert Lightning has the potential to win a big race in Australia – whether it is the All-Star Mile remains to be seen.
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New Zealand trainer Peter Williams could be an All-Star Mile away from retirement.
Williams, this year celebrating his 50th season as a trainer, has Desert Lightning in the $3.75m main event at Caulfield.
The rise of New Zealand Group 1 and Karaka winner Desert Lightning, a $21 outsider with TAB on Saturday, has struck out two of three Williams’ retirement triggers.
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“I’d been talking about retiring and my wife said ‘you’re not going out a loser, I want you to win a Group 1, Karaka Millions and a big Group 1 in Australia’,” Williams said.
“So I’ve done two of them this season (with Desert Lightning), then she said ‘you can retire’.”
Williams, who trainers in partnership with wife Dawn, has enjoyed “a lot of memories and a lot of good times” five decades in the game.
While the All-Star Mile is not technically a Group 1, “it will do”, the old school horseman quipped.
Desert Lightning won the $1m Aotearoa Classic on Karaka Millions day two starts back, where he defeated 2023 Australian Guineas-winner Legarto by 1¾ lengths.
Last start he finished third behind La Crique in a 1600m Group 1.
Desert Lightning has settled into Melbourne seamlessly.
“His season over there has been very competitive, he’s a horse that tries,” Williams said.
“He deserves a go, but whether he can win or not we find out Saturday.”
• Mr Brightside will be in striking distance of All-Star Mile threat
Williams’s last trip to Caulfield was in March 2005 when he won a three-year-old handicap with Fiscal Madness.
Trainer Peter Williams discusses the chances of Kiwi raider Desert Lightning in the All-Star Mile. pic.twitter.com/ukP5bzSQ0R
— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) March 14, 2024
Williams is proud, albeit in the twilight of his career, to witness a rejuvenation of NZ racing.
He, like many others, previously was often forced to sell good horses to Australia and overseas to make ends meet.
Increased prizemoney and corporate support has NZ racing airborne the past 12-18 months.
Williams, an Auckland Cup-winner, sold arguably his best horse, Richfield Lass to legendary trainer Bart Cummings.
Cummings won the 1991 VRC Oaks with the filly, raced as Richfield Lady in Australia.
Three decades on, Desert Lightning is on a trajectory to the top of the Williams’ honour roll.
“He is good enough to win a Group 1 in Australia,” Williams said.
“He is good enough. Whether it is an All-Star Mile, I don’t know.”
Originally published as New Zealand trainer Peter Williams adamant Desert Lightning has the potential to win a big race in Australia
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