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By Ray Hickson

The 15 day turnaround between Kiwi galloper Lightning Jack’s local debut and the Group 3 $160,000 Schweppes Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick is the only variable trainer Annabel Neasham isn’t sure about as he chases back-to-back wins on Sunday.

Trainer Annabel Neasham (Pic: Grant Guy)

Neasham played a conservative hand with the gelding two weeks ago when she elected to miss the Group 2 Villiers Stakes and run in a Benchmark 88 instead and it proved a masterstroke.

Now she’s seen something of what he can do, and he did run faster time in winning than the Villiers, she can be more ambitious.

“He’s only a small horse, a light framed horse, I don’t think he wants racing regularly,’’ Neasham said.

“I’m still learning about him and spacing his runs might be better. If the race looks like it’s going to shape well for him then we’ll have a go.”

Lightning Jack has backed up to win within two weeks in the past in New Zealand, he did back in October, and Neasham said everything she’s seen since his December 11 win has been positive.

There are no regrets from the Warwick Farm trainer about taking the low road and with five wins at a mile there’s every chance another shot at 2000m isn’t beyond him – his only previous attempt was in a Group 3 race at Riccarton in April and he finished midfield.

“I didn’t know much about him and it’s hard to line up South Island New Zealand form against Sydney form,’’ she said.

“I didn’t want him to be out of his depth. I wanted him to have a confidence boosting run.

“Whilst it wasn’t a surprise that he won it was a learning curve for us and just reiterated the owners did the right thing by sending him over.

“This is another step up but he deserves his chance and if he does it again he’s doing the job they sent him over for.”

The gelding was a $4.80 second favourite in the Summer Cup with TAB on Wednesday and apprentice Tyler Schiller retains the ride, but won’t be able to use his claim.

Lightning Jack went to the beach for the first time recently and Neasham said he seems to have bounced through his win with no issues.

“It takes a while to get to know a horse,’’ she said.

“He’s very fit, he’s deep into a prep so it has just been a case of ticking him over. I’m just lucky to have him while he’s ready to win.”

After $1.8 million colt Man In the Mirror kicked off his career with a Warwick Farm win on Wednesday, Neasham produces another Not A Single Doubt colt in Narnia in the Drinkwise Plate (1100m) at Randwick.

This youngster was a $600,000 purchase and Neasham has been patient with him, giving him a trial back in September and his latest on December 16 where he finished a close second over 809m.

That trial, under James McDonald, told the trainer that Narnia is ready to go to the races.

“He was a little bit soft going into the trial,’’ she said.

“I said to J-Mac to ride him where he’s happy but he trialled a bit more forward than I thought so we decided to go off the one trial.

“He’s on speed, straightforward and looks a readymade two-year-old.”

Narnia was scratched from Wednesday's race won by Man In The Mirror and Neasham said a win could see him join stablemate Soaring Ambition on a Magic Millions mission next month.

Lightning Jack wins at Randwick on December 11

“I didn’t want to run him against the other colt and I wanted to get another gallop into him,’’ she said.

“He’s a Magic Millions horse and while it is late in the piece if we could get him qualified for the race he’s that sort of horse.”

Meanwhile, Neasham’s headline acts are about to return to her stable to prepare for the autumn carnival.

She said Group 1 winners Zaaki and Mo’unga along with star imports Laws Of Indices and Top Ranked will be back from pre-training on Monday.

Zaaki, last start Mackinnon Stakes winner, is the $8 all-in favourite with TAB for the $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Star Championships.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Randwick meeting