With the G3 Thoroughbred S. winner Thikriyaat (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) running below-par, this renewal looked up for grabs and Lightning Spear built on solid recent efforts at a higher level to register a long-overdue first black-type success. Third in the G1 Queen Anne S. on his first start for David Simcock since former trainer Olly Stevens retired at Royal Ascot June 14, the chestnut was not disgraced when subsequently sixth in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 27 and ninth in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 14, a race in which he had been fourth 12 months previously. Held up last of the quintet early by Oisin Murphy, he was travelling best of all but needed a gap in midstraight as his 2015 G2 Summer Mile conqueror Arod maintained the pressure from the front. No sooner had Zonderland mastered the long-time leader than Lightning Spear was on his case after finding daylight and he was able to rush by with 100 yards remaining en route to an authoritative success. “A lot of the credit has to go to David Simcock, whose wife Jenny rides him every day and they were keen to run,” his rider commented. “That will be a confidence-boost, as it's been a while since he got his head in front and hopefully he's a group 1 miler.”
Simcock is looking at the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot Oct. 15. “It's a massive relief, as we think the world of him,” he said. “He was brilliantly nurtured by Olly Stevens who brought him along steadily and we've just picked up the pieces. We were so pleased with his first start in the Queen Anne and we knew it had gone wrong in his next two races, but we knew he was very good. I'm not one to hype horses, but I think he'll show that at the end of this year and next. Everything will be aimed towards Ascot now and we'll have a good go at the Queen Elizabeth. I'm not a great fan of the 3-year-olds and [Royal] Ascot proved he goes on soft ground.” Lightning Spear is out of the Listed Sirenia S. winner Atlantic Destiny, who was a multiple stakes winner during her career in the States and also produced three other black-type winners headed by the Listed Newmarket S. winner Ocean War (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}). She is a half to Make No Mistake (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), whose wins included the G2 Royal Whip S. GIII Arlington H., GIII Bougainvillea H. and G3 Meld S. and who was also third in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup. Also from the family of Be My Guest, she has an as-yet unraced 3-year-old filly by Oasis Dream (GB) named Atlantic Drift (GB) and a 2-year-old full-brother to the winner named Naishan (GB).
Saturday, Goodwood, Britain
DOOM BAR CELEBRATION MILE-G2, £109,400, GOO, 8-27, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:35.96, g/f.
1–#@LIGHTNING SPEAR (GB), 130, h, 5, by Pivotal (GB)
1st Dam: Atlantic Destiny (Ire) (MSW-US & SW-Eng, $220,899), by Royal Academy
2nd Dam: Respectfully, by The Minstrel
3rd Dam: Treat Me Nobly, by Vaguely Noble
(260,000gns Ylg '12 TAOCT). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-David Simcock; J-Oisin Murphy. £62,041. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng & GSP-Ire, 12-5-1-2, $336,719. *1/2 to Ocean War (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}), SW-Eng. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zonderland (GB), 124, c, 3, Dutch Art (GB)–Barynya (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (70,000gns Ylg '14 TATOCT). O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Clive Cox. £23,521.
3–Arod (Ire), 130, h, 5, Teofilo (Ire)–My Personal Space, by Rahy. (€170,000 Ylg '12 GOFORB). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-Kabansk Ltd & Rathbarry Stud (IRE); T-Peter Chapple-Hyam. £11,771.[bullet ad=”irt-shell”]Margins: 1 3/4, HD, 3 1/4. Odds: 4.00, 2.75, 10.00.
Also Ran: Toormore (Ire), Thikriyaat (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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