Homebred Lightening Quick wins Naas Gr. 3

Three-year-old filly Lightening Quick, a daughter of Gr. 1 winner Lightening Pearl, won the Gr. 3 Athasi Stakes at Naas on Monday.

Lightening Quick had made a winning debut (pictured) in what proved a strong maiden at Leopardstown last September and, after not running up to form in the Gr. 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket next time, she bounced back with a determined win in the Gr. 3 Coolmore Mastercraftsman Irish European Breeders' Fund Athasi Stakes at Naas.

With Colin Keane back in the saddle, Lightening Quick was prominent in the chasing group behind clear leader Xenobia for most of the way, before overtaking that filly - who held on for second - inside the final furlong. Lightening Quick responded generously to her rider's urgings and hit the line three quarters of a length in front.

Trainer Ger Lyons said after the race: "It's great to win that with a Frankel filly out of a Group 1-winning mare. That's what it's all about. She is in the Irish Guineas but on that run Colin said she wouldn't be going any further."

Ger also trained Lightening Pearl to win the 2011 Gr. 1 Cheveley Park Stakes. She carried the Pearl Bloodstock colours and was Sheikh Fahad's first Gr. 1 winner. Lightening Quick is the mare's second foal after Lightening Fast (also by Frankel), who is BHA-rated 96. Lightening Pearl was purchased by David Redvers for €125,000 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale.

Lightening Quick's success brings Frankel's tally of Group winners up to 17.

All Lightening Quick's three starts so far have come over seven furlongs. Her dam won over seven before dropping back to six furlongs, and didn't stay the mile in the 1,000 Guineas, for all her pedigree suggested she might (out of a mile winner, from the family of St Leger/Gold Cup winner Classic Cliche). Lightening Pearl's full brother Satono Crown has since won the Hong Kong Vase.

It's safe to say Lightening Quick will be a very valuable addition to the Qatar Racing broodmare ranks when she does retire, but hopefully that's a long way off and she can win more races.