Lightning Target for Son of a Missile

Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham and jockey Chris Whiteley have found the key to barnstorming sprinter Full Recognition in time for some rich winter plums.

In what has become a trademark style, Full Recognition ($3.9) stormed home from last to beat a classy line-up at Cluden Park yesterday in the Buy Your Tickets for Ladies Day Open Hcp (1000m).

Massingham now has the Talbot Heatley Lightning Hcp on August 6 well and truly in his sights for the Smart Missile gelding.

“He was pretty impressive today. We’ve worked out that you just have to let him find his feet and relax and with a hot pace he’ll storm home,” Massingham said.

“The horse won really well at the carnival last year over a 1000m in a fair field and we thought then he might be good.

“Early on he used to over race a bit. But we’ve e been teaching him to settle and that’s the key to him. You pretty much have to ride him cold. 

“I’ll go over the programs but the Lightning looks a nice race.”

Whiteley has established a strong bond with Full Recognition, winning six of his 10 rides on the five-year-old.

The pair were a conspicuous last on the home turn yesterday but unleashed a powerful finish to beat classy three-year-old and raging favourite Higher Realm ($1.7) by a neck.

In one of the runs of the day, last year’s Cleveland Bay Hcp runner-up Langhro ($9) finished third a half-length away under a massive 64.5kg in his first run from a spell.

The Jeff Caught-trained Fortification ($6) will be given his chance to shape up for the Townsville Cup after a strong win in the Brown Brothers Open Hcp (1400m).

Having his second run from a spell, Fortification ($6) ran down a fresh Live The Moment ($23) in the final strides to win by a long neck with Tennessee Boy a long neck away third,

Cup hopefuls Buster Block and Best Hoffa turned in eye catching runs to finish on the heals of the placegetters in fourth and fifth.

Wulguru trainers Bub Baker and Gary “Muttaburra” Dickson also visited the winner’s stall yesterday.

Baker’s Sepoy two-year-old It’s A Ploy ($15) lived up to early season trial form with a dominant win for Wanderson D’Avila in the TAB App 2/3yo Mdn Hcp (1200m)   

Dickson was cock-a-hoop after Temple Run ($10) won the Hygain Class 3 Hcp (1000m) with Nathan Thomas in the saddle.

Pictured: Booming finish. Full Recognition and Chris Whiteley mow down his rivals to win at Cluden Park yesterday Photo courtesy of Mike Mills Photography. 

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.