Dan Morton’s King Of Light created a big statement on the weekend, making a faultless debut in the Tabtouch Place A Same Race Multi Plate (1300m) at Pinjarra on Saturday.
Adding another potential Ascot carnival contender to his team, Morton hopes King Of Light’s impressive first up victory is a sign of good things to come.
A WA Guineas (1600m) preparation is on his program after the son of Earthlight came from last with a barnstorming finish to knock off race favourite, Aberdeen Flyer.
Under William Pike, King Of Light sailed to the line untouched and scored by half-a-length to underline his status as a horse with a bright future.
Morton said it’s a small sample size but King Of Light’s first up win was the perfect way to kick start his career before aiming up big later in the year.
“Very pleasing and he’s been a nice horse all the way through for us,” Morton said on Tabradio.
“To get the job done first up over 1300m was really good.
“He didn’t have the tools early to know what he was supposed to be doing, but probably fortunate to lob following the favourite.
“I was hopeful he would find plenty, but I fought the Sean Casy horse (Aberdeen Flyer) would trump us with race experience.
“There was a lot to like about our guy.”
Against his usual planning, Morton said King Of Light would likely go out after his cameo showing at Pinjarra.
“Normally speaking I do like to give them a couple to cement their prep,” Morton said.
“Horses like him you would naturally aim up at a Guineas, we’ll work backwards from that.”
There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge before the WA Guineas in November, but Morton is optimistic King Of Light can reach feature heights.
“You aim there.” Morton said.
“They obviously have to keep on improving, come back, run a mile out strong and all the rest of it.
“I don’t see any reason why he’s not the type of horse that will try to.”
Julio Santarelli