Lingani aims for first at Caulfield in 2025 Sir John Monash Stakes

Lingani will fly the flag for South Australia as she targets Stakes success in Melbourne for trainers Peter and Belinda Blanch this Saturday in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

The four-year-old mare will be out to deliver the Blanch stable their first Melbourne win while making history as the first black-type winner in the city to have launched her career with a maiden victory on Kangaroo Island.

Empress Waltz once came close to that feat, graduating from a Kangaroo Island win to Flemington success on Melbourne Cup Day in 2002, though she didn’t claim Stakes honours.

Lingani was dominant at her debut, winning by a huge margin, and Blanch believes the unique island setting played a valuable role in her development.

“I like taking young horses there that are still not there mentally,” Blanch said.

“We have two or three days over there. It’s a good experience for them, and I’ve done it with a lot of horses that have come back and won city races.

“She didn’t get under anyone’s guard over there either.

“I did have a big stable’s racing manager from Ballarat ring on the Sunday morning after she won just to inquire whether she might be for sale.

“So, someone was watching her.”

The stable star of their Morphettville base, Lingani already boasts a Listed win in last year’s Lightning Stakes and returns to Melbourne following a lengthy break due to a hamstring issue.

“She trialled up and was ready to race in January but just tweaked a hamstring in a jump-out, so we decided to give her some time off,” Blanch said.

“Sometimes a negative can be a positive because she has come back bigger and stronger.”

Her fourth-place effort last month at Morphettville Parks served as the ideal tune-up, and Blanch believes she’s peaking at the right time.

“She can’t be any better. She came through the run well the other day as she needed it,” he said.

“We rode her conservatively from the barrier, just to make sure she hit the line, and she did that.

“She had a good blow afterwards, but since then she’s come on, her coat has come on, so it’s time to have a look.”

Paul Gatt is booked for the ride, and the Blanch team will travel to Melbourne on raceday morning after staying near the airport with friend and harness trainer David Miles.

“It’s an expensive trip to come, but it’s worthwhile if you think you’ve got the right horse,” Blanch said.

“When we’ve got the right horse, we like to go, but a win has eluded us so far. We’ve had a few seconds, so fingers crossed.”

With solid form behind her, Lingani is one to watch for those exploring