Lovatsville | Lovatsville News 65817 Homepage Fierce Impact Barghests Best Is Yet To Come

Group 1 winning trainer Gordon Richards has seen his share of good horses, and a very good one that came in the shape of Lightning Stakes winner Gytrash.

South Australian Richards and his unlikely sprint star were pin up boys for an underdog success story as Gytrash beat up on the likes of dual Everest winner Redzel, Royal Ascot hero Nature Strip, and flying filly Sunlight.

Lightning might just strike twice for Richards who with training partner Daniel Moyle, have unbeaten Fierce Impact three-year-old Barghest shaping as a surprise Spring Carnival contender.

"I bought his older brother Gwyllgi (ex Outlaw Miss) because his mum is a half-sister to Gytrash. He has shown us plenty so when this horse (Barghest) came along it wasn't hard to buy him," Richards said.

Richards and Moyle have been rewarded for keeping the faith with their Gytrash connection, with Barghest - named after a monstrous dog from English folklore - looking a proper beast in two metro wins at Morphettville.

"He's a good horse don't worry about that, he's a real smooth operator," said Richards. "He surprised me a little because he's unassuming at track work and around the place but on race day you can see what he's capable of."

"My wife thought he would have won by more if the jockey let him go on debut, she's probably right."

Following last Saturday's 4.2-length romp at Morphetville, Richards' phone has predictably been running hot with overseas interest to buy Fierce Impact's fastest son, but the owners are inclined to see how far their horse can go on local shores.

"We've got Pretty Baby heading to the Jim Moloney at Caulfield on the 27th of September and there's an 1100m three-year-old race that looks perfect for Barghest. All going well he could go to the Blue Sapphire from there," the trainer said.

Already proven as a Stakes class source of speed with five-length two-year-old winner and Listed placed Zelia, brilliant metro winner and Group 3 placed Fine Star, along with Group 2 runner-up Eureka Rebel and Group 3 runner-up Yokozuna, Barghest may well take Fierce Impact to a new level this spring.