Last year’s WA Guineas winner King Of Light began his charge towards a lucrative $10 million eastern states campaign with an effortless victory at Monday’s Lark Hill trials.

Taken back to a conspicuous last in the five-horse heat by William Pike, the newly turned four-year-old was brought to the outside by his jockey upon entering the home straight.

Under little to no pressure, the Earthlight gelding ranged past his rivals with 100m to go and stormed away from Six Shooter to score by almost two lengths.

The chestnut had been hemmed in limited room when trialling at the circuit two weeks earlier and trainer Dan Morton was better satisfied with Monday’s hit-out.

“The last trial, he didn’t see a lot of daylight, so we didn’t gain much out of the gallop, really,” Morton said.

“But today, it was all about giving him a good blowout on the grass and it was nice.

“Pikey was happy. He gave him a great feel, so onwards and upwards.”

King Of Light has not raced since disappointing as a warm favourite in last year’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes, though he did complete a maintenance trial at Ascot three months ago.

“He looks great. He’s filled out nicely,” Morton said.

“He had a good, long spell and then we gave him a preparation block going back two or three months ago.

“He’s coming on, he’s maturing. We’ll get through this next start over here and if he’s still looking the part, we’ll look at going east with him.”

The flashy conveyance will begin an ambitious preparation in Listed $125,000 Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m), which is run at Belmont under weight-for-age terms, on August 22.

However, while other WA gallopers are solely dedicating themselves to the Pinnacles carnival later this year, King Of Light will be targeted towards Sydney’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) on October 31.

“That’s been the aim. That’s why we’ve got him in at this time,” Morton said.

“At the end of the rainbow is the Golden Eagle, which is a huge race.

“We’ve got our timing that if he’s going to keep on the same trajectory, then he will go there.”

+ Expressions of interest are now open for 2027 Western Trilogy slot holders across the three racing codes in the $5 million Quokka, $1.25 million Nullarbor and $600,000 Sandgroper.

With New Zealand’s harness slot race dissolved next year, which had previously clashed with the Nullarbor, it presents an opportunity to lure pacers such as Leap To Fame and Captains Mistress for the April event.

+ Now You See Me ($2.05f) will bid to preserve a faultless regional record in the Broome Sprint (1300m) on Tuesday having landed wins at all three of his track starts.

However, he has been a month since his last-start five-length success after being scratched when kicked 18 days ago.

Cruise To Victory ($3.70) chased vainly in second place at their last meeting and meets him on equal weight terms after scoring subsequently.

Last year’s victor Border Control ($12) has again hit form at his past two starts but carries two kilos more than his 2025 win.