‘Fit as a fiddle’

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 31

‘Fit as a fiddle’

By

JEFF SCOTT

“He’s as fit as a fiddle,” said the Melbourne horseman, Jim O’Sullivan, of his outstanding four-year-old, Lightning Blue, as the Lonero gelding was given light exercise at Jeff Whittaker’s Wigram Lodge stables yesterday morning. (My) Lightning Blue, as he Is known in Australia was rated an unlucky third, by O’Sullivan, to Bag Limit in this month’s Winfield Cup after the race developed into a sprint home.

The former New Zealand pacer has run second in three big races in Australia already this season according to O’Sullivan, including the JPS Miracle Mile won by Master Mood which got out late to run down Lightning Blue close to the finish. “He could have earned an extra $200,000 if he had won all three,” said O’Sullivan of Lightning Blue, which was purchased for $40,000 by millionaire businessman, Alan Hunter and associates, as a two-year-old from Mike Berger’s Morrinsville stable.

Lightning Blue has won $150,000 to date this season and has a career tally of $250,000. He won the $50,000 Australian Derby last season. ’ O’Sullivan intends running his fine stayer at the Addington trials tomorrow, but his stablemate, the 16 hands entire, Quite Famous, will not be produced until the opening round of the series on Saturday. Quite Famous, also owned by Mr Hunter, was just beaten by Village Kid in a heat of the Winfield Cup but did not contest the final.