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Lightning Spear doubles up in Celebration Mile

Darryl Sherer - Sunday Aug 27

Cox Plate nominated Lightning Spear landed Saturday's Group II Celebration Mile for the second time at Goodwood but would appear to be an unlikely traveller to Australia.

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Lightning Spear winning the 2016 Celebration Mile. Photo: Goodwood Racecourse

Oisin Murphy delivered the David Simcock-trained Lightning Spear (Evens fav) halfway up the straight and five-year-old entire quickened up to defeat Zonderland (9/2) by a nose.

The pair finished first and second in the race in 2016.

David Redvers, racing manager to Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing operation, told the Sporting Life Lightning Spear has targets closer to home rather than Moonee Valley.

"We sponsor the race at Ascot (QEII), but I imagine the Foret (at Chantilly) is a strong possibility," Redvers said.

"I believe he has a Group One in him and we've always believed he has."

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is over one mile at Ascot on October 21 while the Prix de la Foret (1400m) is on October 1.

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