Lightning stepping stone for Shamexpress

Wednesday 13 February 2013, 5:54pm

As good as this season has been for Glen Boss, the champion jockey realises a Lightning Stakes win is pushing it.

Boss, a clear leader in the Melbourne premiership and winner of the Cox Plate on Ocean Park, will ride against Black Caviar in Saturday's Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington which has this year been renamed in the sprinting great's honour.

Boss, who will partner smart three-year-old Shamexpress, has seen enough of Black Caviar to know what he's up against.

"You're dreaming to think you can beat that mare the way she's going," Boss said.

"But he (Shamexpress) is in great shape and he won't disgrace himself. He's one of the leading chances to fill the top three placings."

Boss knows what it's like to be associated with a public idol of Australian racing.

But when it comes to Black Caviar, the man who rode Makybe Diva to three Melbourne Cup wins has to settle for just being a fan like everyone else.

When Black Caviar made her first public appearance since her Royal Ascot victory in an exhibition gallop at Caulfield last Saturday week, Boss made sure he was in the mounting yard having a good look at the mare strut her stuff.

"You go and watch them. Because they are not here for that long," Boss said.

"She looks like she's just in the zone at the moment. Which is a bit scary."

Black Caviar, to be ridden by her regular jockey Luke Nolen, will have seven rivals in the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and is at odds of $1.05 to win it for the third-straight time and take her record to 23 from 23.

Her Group One-winning stablemate Moment Of Change is next in the market at $13 with Shamexpress $16.

Danny O'Brien is taking Shamexpress to the Lightning as he believes it is the best lead-in to the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m) next month.

Boss rode Shamexpress to a soft first-up win at Moonee Valley on January 25 in the colt's first start since he finished third to Nechita in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in the spring.

Peter Moody's third runner is Golden Archer who'll be ridden by 22-year-old Daniel Stackhouse.

Stackhouse won his first Group race at Caulfield last Saturday and added another Listed win on Wednesday at Mornington.

He expects Saturday to be another highlight, riding in a Group One against Black Caviar.

"It will be amazing," Stackhouse said.

"I think he's a good chance to run in the first three ... well, second or third."

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– AAP

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