SPEAR HAS IT SUSSED AT LAST
LIGHTNING SPEAR finally struck at the top level with an emotional success in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The seven-year-old, had been defeated in 15 previous attempts in Group 1 company and had been placed six times.
But yesterday the seven-year-old burst to the front at the furlong pole under Oisin Murphy to beat Expert Eye by a length and a half.
Trainer David Simcock, whose father Michael had passed away on Monday, was overcome in the winner’s enclosure.
“It is just getting it all to click, with that little bit of luck we haven’t had at times,” said the Newmarket trainer.
Lightning Spear has done very little wrong apart from win a Group 1 until now. But winning a Group 1 is not easy.
“This year, if we are honest, there is probably not an outstanding horse in the mile division and so it has been his time.”
Favourite Without Parole beat just one home to suffer his first career defeat, and his trainer John Gosden said: “There was no pace, and that is not his style of racing.”