Qatar Racing’s Lightning Spear strikes at Glorious Goodwood

LONDON: Ridden by Oisin Murphy in the colours of Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing Ltd, Lightning Spear powered to an impressive victory in yesterday’s feature race of the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, to end his Group One hoodoo.

The winning horse scored at 9/1, beating Expert Eye (4/1) and Lord Glitters (10/1) by one and a half lengths and half a length.

The David Simcock-trained Lightning Spear had run in G1 company 15 times before yesterday, with notable efforts including a short-head second to Rhododendron in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May, 2018.

The seven-year-old son of Pivotal, a dual winner of the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood (2016 & 2017), travelled smoothly in fourth in today’s mile contest and once finding room in the home straight, quickened up smartly to score by a length and a half.

Simcock, who has also enjoyed Classic success this year with Teppal in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp, France, was effusive in his praise of the seven-year-old entire’s performance.

Lightning Spear had run previously in 14 top-grade races, and frequently been placed, including when third in the Qatar Sussex Stakes last year. His CV also includes two other Goodwood wins in the G2 Celebration Mile (2016 & 2017).

David Redvers, racing and bloodstock manager to Sheikh Fahad, said: “From some time ago we felt this was his race, and the way he has been running this year we knew he had a fine chance. The way the race was run suited him.

“There was a moment when I was worried, but he needs riding like that [covered up] because he has such a turn of foot. He’s seen too much daylight on occasions in races, but fair dues to the Simcocks [David and his wife Jenny, who rides the horse each day] because they have the key to him. They and the boss were patient and it has paid off.”

Redvers confirmed that Lightning Spear would join the Qatar Bloodstock roster of stallions at his Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire, adding: “He’s one of the best-looking horses in racing, he’s won a stallion-making race and he’s by Pivotal.”

Jenny Simcock, fighting back tears of joy, said: “That means everything. I’m spoilt and ride him every day, and he’s a gentleman, a very expressive horse, and he leads the string.

Murphy said: “The pace was slow, but he relaxed, and I got a little bit of cover off James Doyle (on runner-up Expert Eye).

“I never ever get nervous before G1s - before the Derby and that I like making fun of the other jockeys - but I was nervous today and down at the start I was trying to hide it. I am over the moon - what a horse! And what a training performance. He deserves to win a major G1 and at seven years of age, it is outstanding.

“I always reflect on races and I possibly left a G1 behind me this season on this lad. I am lucky I have a good boss in Sheikh Fahad and a supportive trainer in David Simcock.

“I wanted to ride him as I did because he loves to travel behind heels. I was sure Expert Eye was going to fade away at some stage, bearing in mind this is a mile and his best form is over seven. I had a G1 winner on Benbatl on Sunday, but to get a second G1 for Sheikh Fahad (after Roaring Lion’s G1 Eclipse Stakes win) is unbelievable. This will mean a lot to Qatar Racing, Sheikh Fahad and his brothers.”

Earlier, Rumble Inthejungle won the £75,000 G3 Markel Insurance Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs.

Last year, Richard Spencer trained the winner of a top two-year-old race at Royal Ascot, when Rajasinghe landed the G2 Coventry Stakes, but a win at the Qatar Goodwood Festival confirmed he is no one-hit wonder.

The (Arabian G1) Qatar International Stakes, run over a mile and worth £400,000 in total prize money, was won in runaway style by six-year-old Muraaqib, carrying jockey Jim Crowley.

Trained in France by Francois Rohaut, the winner scored by one and a half lengths and two lengths from Ebraz (9/4f), who was following up his second place in the same race last year, and Lightning Bolt (5/1).

There is a £1m bonus for any horse who wins the Arabian Triple Crown, comprising yesterday’s race plus legs at Longchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Sunday in October, and at Doha in Qatar in February, but Rohaut does not expect Muraaqib to take in the French race, which is over 2,000 metres (about 10 furlongs).

Rohaut said: “He has been in my yard for four years now and in my eyes has always been a champion. He is the best Arabian horse I have trained and probably right now he is the best in the world, certainly at a mile.

Under The Covers (16/1) trained by Ron Harris, won the Chelsea Barracks Handicap under P J McDonald, beating El Astronaute (11/2) by three lengths, with Boom The Groom (14/1) back in third of the 13 runners.

Lil Rockerfeller secured the £50,000 Matchbook Betting Podcast Goodwood Handicap under Silvestre De Sousa. He made the running and ground his rivals into a long submission, scoring as the 11/4 favourite by 15 lengths and half a length from Altaayil (28/1) and Imphal (7/1).

Local trainer William Knight landed his first winner of the 2018 Qatar Goodwood Festival with the victory of 20/1 shot Soto Sizzler in the 12-furlong Move Over To Matchbook Handicap.

The Mick Channon-trained Caravela (11/1) captured the EBF Breeders’ Series Fillies’ Handicap under Andrea Atzeni, the sixth race on day two.

The Qatar Goodwood Festival, also known as the Glorious Goodwood, continues today.