Lingani in great shape ahead of Sir John Monash Stakes after overcoming autumn injury

Speedy mare Lingani has put injury behind her and is ready to produce her best in the Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Lingani winning the Lightning Stakes at Morphettville last year. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

A hamstring injury wiped out her autumn, but SA mare Lingani is thriving ahead of Saturday’s Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

The talented sprinter finished fourth behind Sir Now at Morphettville last month, her first race since running ninth in the Wylie Handicap last September.

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Lingani returned to trackwork in December, eager to build on a sole stakes win, but a tweaked hamstring ruled her out of an autumn campaign in Melbourne.

“It wasn’t very bad, but she did need three months off,” trainer Peter Blanch, who trains in partnership with wife Belinda, said.

“Like any footballer, she needed some time for it to heal, she’s come back and it hasn’t bothered her at all.”

The mare hit the line strongly first-up over 1000m, and the performance gave Blanch confidence an interstate test was next on her radar.

“She got some fitness out of it which she needed. Her work on Tuesday was good - we’ll head over,” he said.

“She is a stakes winner, we are reasonably high in the ratings her in Adelaide, so it’s time to see where she sits.

“She’s had that run under her belt and come through it really well - she looks great.”

Lingani from the clouds! 😮@domjock nails the ride & wins the Lightning Stakes! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/GInMKUrdPA

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While injury temporarily derailed Blanch’s plans with Lingani, it has also provided the mare time to physically mature.

“Sometimes it (time off) can be a blessing, she was only early in her four-year-old career, and she’s had a really nice grow and fill out,” he said.

“She likes wet tracks, she goes on either, but she doesn’t go any slower on a wet track.

“Horses are taking longer to get to their peak maturity, she’s there now, it’s her time to see how good she is over there.”

Lingani will be ridden by Group 1-winning jockey Paul Gatt on Saturday.

“I’m really keen to see where we lob after it, if she performs well, it opens up that early part of the spring for her,” Blanch said.

“I thought her run the other day was better than it looked, her sectionals late were very, very fast, it’s good to see her back on track.”

Originally published as Lingani in great shape ahead of Sir John Monash Stakes after overcoming autumn injury