Foaled and raised at Newhaven Park, Lightinthenite fetched $77,500 at the 2008 Magic
Millions National Weanling Sale and was initially trained by John O'Shea.He showed good ability in his younger years winning the Group III MRC David Jones Cup and finishing fourth in the Group I ATC Epsom Handicap, but when his form plateaued Lightinthenite was moved along into new ownership.
Second in the Darwin Cup last year, he returned this year and went to the post a hot favourite with champion jockey Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Prepared to perfection by local trainer Gary Clark, Lightinthenite powered away to win by nine lengths and stopped the clock at 2:00.23, smashing the previous track record by more than a second.
"It's pretty tricky to get a horse ready first-up for a mile and then second-up to 2000 (metres)," Clark said.
"You're always nervous when you see them hit the front like that so far out but when you looked behind them and nothing else is chasing, he's just got to maintain to win but he didn't just maintain he hit the line full of running."
Lightinthnite has won eight of 33 starts earning over $622,000 and is the best of two winners from Tiffin, a Grand Lodge (USA) half-sister to stakes-winners Major and Happen.
Newhaven Park sold a yearling filly by Sepoy from Tiffin for $150,000 at Inglis Easter this year to Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds.
Tiffin did not have a foal last year but is due to foal this spring to Not a Single Doubt.
