Lightning Spears Celebration Prize For Simcock
The big race on Saturday came at Goodwood with the Doom Bar Celebration Mile. Sir Michael Stout’s Thikriyaat was all the rage in the betting following a win over course and distance last time out, but in the end didn’t beat a single rival home.
It could pay to give that one another chance as he was found to have a fibrillating heart in the aftermath, but even on top form he may have struggled to live with the winner here. Thikrayaat might have started favourite but the best horse in the race, on official ratings at least, was the David Simcock runner, Lightning Spear.
Formerly with Olly Stevens, this one ran a cracker when third in the Queen Anne Stakes on his first start of the season before slightly disappointing in his two most recent outings. There was to be no disappointment here though as the son of Pivotal showed an impressive turn of foot to mow down Clive Cox’s Zonderland and win going away. This first Group level success marked a real return to form and if he continues in this vain he must rate a live threat in his next target the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, a race for which he is now a 14/1 shot.
The best card of the weekend came with Sunday’s offering from the Curragh. Three Group 3 contests provided plenty of class, but the feature event of the day was the big field handicapping action of the Irish Cambridgeshire. In a contest as fiercely competitive as ever the prize went to the Ger Lyons runner, Sea Wolf. The trainer of the winner seemed somewhat surprised, stating post-race that, “we had no confidence coming here but he’s done it well”. That lack of confidence was no doubt due to the son of Amadeus Wolf disappointing last time out and suffering burst blood vessels at Galway. There must have been at least a few believers that a return to form was imminent however, as Sea Wolf was one of only three horses in the race to go off at single figure odds.
Sunday’s standout performance came earlier on the Curragh card as Aidan O’Brien’s filly, Somehow, landed the Snow Fairy Stakes in emphatic fashion.
O’Brien said of his winner, “….it’s amazing what they can do when they start to come right.” Having been trounced in both the English and Irish Oaks and beaten by a lesser fancied stable mate last time out, to sprint right away from a decent Group 3 field and win by seven lengths, was pretty amazing. Whether she is a much improved performer, or was simply suited by this step down in trip, this rates as an excellent effort and she looks well worth another crack at Group 1 level on this evidence.
Looking ahead to the coming weekend we have another top class sprint contest on the agenda with Haydock’s Sprint Cup on Saturday. Commonwealth Cup winner, Quiet Reflection, July Cup hero Limato, Diamond Jubilee champ Twilight Son and the flying filly, Dancing Star, who waltzed away with this year’s Stewards Cup, all look set to go to post in a race that has the makings of a real thriller.
