Lightening Quick lives up to her name on debut
Lightening Quick, a daughter of Frankel and Lightening Pearl, looked smart in making a winning debut on Irish Champions Weekend...
Trained by Ger Lyons and ridden by Colin Keane, Lightening Quick (pictured) showed both a striking turn of foot and a most willing attitude when winning the Ballylinch Stud Irish European Breeders Fund Fillies' Maiden over seven furlongs at Leopardstown on Saturday. Eight of the 18 runners had run previously, including the clear runner-up who had finished fourth in a Gr. 3, so it was a very notable debut performance from Lightening Quick.
As her name suggests, Lightening Quick is out of Sheikh Fahad's first Gr. 1 winner Lightening Pearl, who carried the Pearl Bloodstock colours to victory in the 2011 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Lightening Pearl's first foal was Lightening Fast (also by Frankel) who has won twice as a 3-year-old this year and has an official rating of 96. Lightening Pearl is currently in Japan having foaled a filly by Deep Impact this year. Lightening Quick was born and raised at Tweenhills Stud and, with her Gr. 1 entries in the Cheveley Park Stakes (Sep 30) and next year's Irish 1,000 Guineas, we're excited about her prospects.
Qatar Racing also had another potentially smart 2-year-old win on Friday when Roaring Lion took his unbeaten record to two in the 32Red On The App Store/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes over a mile at Kempton. He powered away from his rivals late on, winning by six lengths despite still looking green, and he has very much earned his place in a Stakes race now. Roarion Lion holds an entry in the Gr. 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on Sep 30 and, being by Kitten's Joy, he will stay at least a mile and a quarter next year.
Our colours were also carried to Gr. 3 success on Saturday when the admirable Chemical Charge overcame trouble in running in the toteplacepot September Stakes over a mile and a half at Kempton. After finishing third in the Gr. 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, he thoroughly deserved his first Stakes success and his options now include the Gr. 1 Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine on Oct 15.