LIGHTNING STRIKES AT LAST
LIGHTNING SPEAR shed his nearly-man tag when bursting clear for a lengthanda- half win in the £ 1million Qatar Sussex Stakes.
Victory from Expert Eye was a first in a Group one race for the oisin Murphy-ridden 9-1 shot at his 16th attempt and one that those close to the seven-year- old, despite their claims otherwise, must have feared would remain elusive.
David redvers, racing manager to owner Sheik Fahad, conceded he had advised retiring the son of Pivotal to stud at the end of last season.
that will now happen at the end of this season, probably after a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in November, but with lightning Spear’s stallion c.v. considerably enhanced.
trainer David Simcock had been left deflated when lightning Spear, ridden out at Newmarket every morning by his wife Jennie, was beaten a short head in the lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May. Since then lightning Spear had finished third to accidental agent in the Queen anne Stakes at royal ascot. But emotional scenes in the Goodwood winner’s enclosure were not only caused by relief of victory. Simcock’s father Michael had died on Monday. Simcock said: ‘ lightning Spear has probably had his knockers, slightly unfairly i feel, so it’s great to win a Group one. he has been placed in six Group ones and never really let us down.’ having also won his first Classic with teppal in the French 1,000 Guineas, 2018 is turning into Simcock’s most successful campaign since his outstanding sprinter Dream ahead won three Group one races in 2011. it is also a career best year for rising star Murphy (below), Sheik Fahad’s retained jockey. last month he won his first domestic Group one on the Sheik’s John Gosden-trained roaring lion in the Eclipse Stakes.
No rider, not even reigning champion Silvestre De Sousa who was a 15-length winner of the two- and- a- half mile Goodwood handicap on Neil King-trained 11-4 favourite lil rockerfeller, can match the 120 wins ridden by Murphy since January 1.
lightning Spear started his career with trainer olly Stevens, who trained in nearby Chiddingfold. the stable is now the base for George Baker, trainer of Feel Glorious, the 125-1 winner of the Victoria racing Club Fillies’ Maiden.
Feel Glorious had shown little in two races, but Baker, celebrating his 53rd birthday, said: ‘i am not saying in any way that we thought she would win but i thought she would run a good race.’
the Gimcrack Stakes at York on august 18 is now the target for richard Spencer-trained 5-1 Molecomb Stakes winner rumbleinthejungle.