A brief look at the support races on Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington.

Moroney mares overcome problems 

So You See has bounced back to record a second win in three starts taking out the Australian Childhood Foundation Trophy (1600m). 

Trainer Mike Moroney explained the mare had a high temperature after So You See scored at Sandown on January 7 and while the mare's blood picture and her work had been strong following that win, she ran below par at Sandown on February 4. 

"I know they reported that she had EIPH and all of that sort of stuff, but she wasn't (that bad) and we had our vets check her out," Moroney said. 

"I was pretty confident that they take one run when they've had something like that to get right and I told the owners that. 

"She's a very good mare on her day, as you saw today, and it was a good field taking the males on. Now that drives us to get black type with her." 

Moroney said the Group 3 Matron Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 11 may next be on the agenda. 

Meanwhile Moroney was forced to scratch Roch 'N' Horse from the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) with the trainer explaining the mare had some filling in a hind leg. 

"She must have hit the wall or something like that," Moroney said. 

"A bit of cellulitis, so we took her for a trot and canter, and she was fine, but it is too risky. It hadn't come right down so we went on the side of caution and scratched her. 

"All going well we'll see her in the Oakleigh Plate next week." 

Maharba takes out Talindert Stakes 

Success on the straight Flemington track in the Listed Talindert Stakes is likely to be beneficial for Maharba later in the year. 

New trainer Grahame Begg hopes the gelding may return to Flemington during Melbourne Cup week for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). 

Formerly trained by David Payne in Sydney, Maharba was transferred into Begg's care around Christmas and showed his potential when placed in a Cranbourne trial on February 6. 

Begg indicated Maharba may return to Sydney for the Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in April. 

"We've got two options," Begg said. 

"We either go to the Todman Slipper for wait and go to the Pago Pago and make him more of a Sires' Produce type of horse and be a fresh horse on the scene. 

"We'll work it out and discuss it with the owners. 

"We'll also have to discuss if they want to pay the late entry fee for the Golden Slipper, and that is a lot of money." 

Group 1 next for Annavisto 

Annavisto will head to Sydney for a Group 1 assignment after her first-up win in the Tony Bourke Memorial (1400m). 

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained mare registered her second win in the Group 3 race for fillies and mares, leading throughout. 

Annavisto was pressure early in the race by Wrote To Arataki but displayed a touch of class in her three-length victory over that mare. 

The Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 11 is next on the agenda as Annavisto attempts a first Group 1 win in her seven career wins. 

Annavisto ran second in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) at Randwick last April. 

"I thought she'd be a bit vulnerable first-up, but she does run above herself fresh," Kent Jnr said. 

"Hope she's not flat second-up. We're going to a Group 1 in three weeks' time." 

Scallopini tough in Elms victory 

Co-trainer Matt Hoysted admitted to midrace concerns as Queensland galloper Scallopini was eyeballed by Milton Park in the middle stages of the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m). 

But that early pressure mattered little for Scallopini who showed a turn of foot passing the 300m mark and then hold off the chasing pack. 

"I was worried when that horse was wanting to put a fair bit of pressure on him the whole race, so it was not as though he was able to get that soft-of-a-time of it really and get a few cheap sectionals. 

"He was made to keep on the job the whole way, so I think there is more credit to the win. 

"When he can get into a nice rhythm and keep rolling like that and go through his gears, he's effective." 

Saturday's win was Scallopini's second over the 1400m trip at Flemington and next up it will be on to the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap on March 11. 

"He has a love affair with Flemington, and it is a race we earmarked. Hopefully we can have a bit of luck there," Hoysted said. 

Quote of the day 

"We were hoping that Yendall wouldn't do that. Naughty boy there pushing her". Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr after the Dean Yendall-ridden Wrote To Arataki applied early pressure to the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Annavisto in the Tony Bourke Memorial.