Apprentice Chris Caserta will have his first opportunity in a Group One race after being booked to ride two-year-old filly Jedastar at the feather weight of 44kg in the Lightning Stakes.
Jedastar is trained by Lloyd Kennewell who has confirmed he plans to take up the challenge to run the juvenile in the 1000m weight-for-age sprint against older horses at Flemington on February 16.
Jedastar won at Flemington on debut against her own age and sex on January 1 over the straight 1000m-course before finishing a game second to Catch Me in the Blue Diamond Preview for fillies last Saturday.
The last two-year-old filly to run in the Lightning Stakes was Clever Zoe, who finished second to champion sprinter Schillaci in 1993.
Boomwaa and Bugatty ran in the race in 2014 as a two-year-old gelding and colt respectively carrying 46kg, and were both unplaced.
“She is a lovely filly and I am keen to give her every chance with 44kg,” Kennewell said on Twitter.
“Chris Caserta will take the ride. Love a challenge!”
The Lightning is likely to feature a number of star sprinters including Group One-winning three-year-old filly Sunlight who impressed in a jump-out win at Werribee on Friday morning.
Jedastar is a daughter of stallion I Am Invincible, the same sire as the Kennewell-trained dual Group One-winning sprinting mare Viddora.
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