breednet.com.au

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.

Advertisement
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.

Advertisment
More Reading...
2027 Golden Slipper Entries – Sortable Sale Mail – Find Out More
The new season is nearly upon us and that means all over the country a new crop of rising two year-olds are taking baby steps in the best stables in the land with the Australian Turf Club announcing this week they had received 1881 entries for the 2027 Golden Slipper, so who is in the race?
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 10
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Frankel Heads Juddmonte Euro Roster at £350,000
Fresh from siring outstanding young stayer Point of Law (GB) to win the $10m Group I VRC Melbourne Cup, champion sire Frankel will again top the roster at Banstead Manor Stud for Juddmonte.
Remembering Sunline – The Queen of the Cox Plate Before Winx
From our vantage point in 2026, we can look back at modern Cox Plate history and marvel at how quickly the years are passing.
Racing Industry Mourns Much Loved Izzy Neale
The thoroughbred racing industry is devastated tonight following news that apprentice jockey Izzy Neale, aged 22, has tragically died as the result of a race fall at Warren on Sunday.
Inglis Digital Purchase Iron Hawk to Tackle G3 TAB Mile
Harness racing trainer Barry Purdon bought Iron Hawk last year with New Zealand Cup Week in mind, and now the moment has arrived, with the stakes performer set to tackle the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) at Riccarton on Wednesday.
One to Watch – Mornington
A homebred for Seymour Bloodstock with an intriguing pedigree opened her account with a stylish win at Mornington on Tuesday.
Remembering Northerly – The Greatest Caulfield Cup Winner This Century
It's Caulfield Cup week, and what better moment to revisit the life and times of one of the greatest - if not the greatest - Caulfield Cup winner of the modern era.
Unraced First Season Sires Trial Report
It’s been a pretty steady start to spring in terms of 2YO races and we are still waiting to see a first season sire post a winner, but there has been action aplenty at the trials which would indicate the pre-Christmas period is set to ignite.
Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week is Out of the Gate!
Celebrating 140 years of racing and thoroughbred culture, Southern Highlands Thoroughbred Week presented by GROW Southern Highlands will span three weekends, from 19th November to 6th December.