Spear on target with glory at Goodwood
DAVID SIMCOCK has set his sights on Queen Elizabeth II Stakes glory with Lightning Spear after he returned to form with a comprehensive victory in the Doom Bar Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
The five-year-old had not struck gold since June 2015, but he showed he could be a force to be reckoned with this autumn as he came from last to first to secure a length-and-threequarters success in the Group Two event.
Sent off a 4-1 chance, Lightning Spear benefitted from a fine Oisín Murphy ride as he was switched wide to challenge and duly powered home from Zonderland with Arod back in third.
Simcock is now planning to head to Ascot on October 15 for the Group One mile event on Champions Day. He said: ‘We’ve always known what a good horse he is but things haven’t gone right for him.
‘I feel sorry for the horse because he has so much talent, but he’s only really been let go twice. He didn’t show up in the Sussex and at Deauville, it was a messy race run on tacky ground.
‘I will aim him towards Ascot now and it will be the QEII. I’ve always said he’s the best miler we’ve had.’
The Mark Johnston-trained Kilmah had earlier made every yard of the running for a game success in the Group Three Prestige Stakes while Platitude impressed when claiming a five-length verdict in the Listed Lewis Badges 1832 March Stakes for Michael Stoute.
Alpha Delphini emerged the winner in a thrilling finish to the totescoop6 Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes at the East Yorkshire venue.
Always prominent in the hands of Connor Beasley, Alpha Delphini was one of six in with a shout in the final furlong, but he kept finding all the way to the line to triumph by a neck.