Emirates Stakes An Option For Lightning Spear

Racing Manager David Redvers has revealed that the 2015 Emirates Stakes could be an option for promising miler Lightning Spear.

Oisin Murphy partnered Lightning Spear in his past two race starts in the United Kingdom. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Oisin Murphy partnered Lightning Spear in his past two race starts in the United Kingdom. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Lightning Spear was included in the nominations for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) that were released last Tuesday, but Redvers – the Racing Manager for Qatar Racing founder Sheikh Fahad – said that the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) could be the more appropriate target for Lightning Spear if he runs well in a race like the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois (1600m) at Deauville in France on Sunday.

“He (Arod) and Lightning Spear are our best milers and he’s a very good horse in his own right,” Redvers said.

“There is a possibility he could run in the Marois, even though it’s a big step up for a horse who was second in a Group 2.

“Sheikh Fahad likes to have runners in Australia and he could run in something like the Emirates Stakes.”

Lightning Spear started his racing career under the care of Richard Beckett and he made his racing debut with a narrow victory in the British Stallions Studs Maiden Stakes (1408m) at Kempton Park in August of 2013.

The Pivotal entire was transferred to the care of Olly Stevens before he returned to racing over a year later in the 32Red Casino Handicap (1678m) at Nottingham on October 29 last year before he was sent for another lengthy stint in the spelling paddock.

Lightning Spear returned to racing with a win in the Titanbet.co.uk Handicap (1610m) at Lingfield on April 29 and he scored another impressive win in the Molson Coors Handicap (1609m) at Salisbury on June 24, which convinced connections that he was worthy of a start at Group level.

The four-year-old was entered for the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes (1609m) at Royal Ascot on July 11 and he chased home Arod – who is also owned by Qatar Racing – to finished a credible second.

Arod is also set to contest the Prix Jacques Le Marois and his performance in the Group 1 event will likely dictate whether the entire makes the trip to Australia to contest the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 24.

Lightning Spear is currently available at 2015 Cox Plate odds of $34 with Ladbrokes, while Arod ($9) is a narrow favourite from two-time Group 1 winner Contributer ($10), Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Criterion ($12), The BMW winner Hartnell ($14), Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec ($15) and Doomben Cup winner Pornichet ($15).

 

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.