LIGHTNING STRIKE READY TO GO BOOM OVER 1,00M

Fairly new Fitzsimmons-Curatolo pairing likely to gain traction if Derby hope scores

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Should Lightning Strike hit the target on May 25, the Tim Fitzsimmons-Ryan Curatolo pairing might just become a more common sight in the coming months.

With no regular stable rider, Fitz- immons tends to book whoever is available, unless he flies in big-race jockeys such as Mark Zahra and Chad Schofield, like on Kranji Mile day on May 18.

The Australian trainer has noticeably been using Curatolo more since March, with the Frenchman having already repaid him twice with Mt Niseko on March 23 and King Of Sixty-One on April 27.

But Lightning Strike is by far Curatolo's highest-profile combination with the 2022 Singapore champion trainer up to now.

It is not a first link-up, though.

Curatolo partnered the Singapore Derby hopeful at his comeback race on March 30, running third to deadheaters Aniki and January in a Class 3 1,400m event.

That defeat aboard the Impending four-year-old still taught him few precious lessons, which he was keen to implement.

Not just yet, though, given Schofield was in town on April 21 and, as half-expected, took over.

Lightning Strike ran a closing fourth to Sabah Ace in a Class 3 1,600m contest.