New purchase Lethal Steps remains unbeaten

Lethal Steps made his first start carrying the Qatar Racing silks a winning one at Killarney on Monday evening.

Two-year-old Lethal Steps was purchased privately by Qatar Racing after making a winning debut at Leopardstown in mid-June, and he doubled his tally in style in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Stakes at Killarney.

As his name suggests a son of first-season sire Lethal Force, Lethal Steps had got up on the line over six furlongs first time out and he had no problem with the step up to a mile at Killarney, streaking clear of his four rivals in the final furlong to win by six lengths.

He was ridden by Colin Keane and trained by Ger Lyons, who said after the race: "I didn't want to step him straight into a Stakes race because he is still very raw and is one that we will give plenty time between runs. Colin said he was doing nothing in front so he only hit him a couple to let him know it was more than being at home.

"He is a horse we like and put Sheikh Fahad onto him, and it was either do this or head straight to the Tyros (Stakes) which I don't like doing and we've a couple of others for the Tyros so we'll go baby, baby with him instead and let him mature."

Lyons also won the Killarney race 12 months ago with Boyfriend Brian, like Lethal Steps a winner of his sole start beforehand, and Boyfriend Brian finished second to future Irish Derby winner Capri in the Listed Canford Cliffs Stakes at Tipperary next time.

Lethal Steps is out of the Alhaarth mare Tanda Tula, who is a half-sister to the British-trained winner of a Gr. 2 sprint in Germany, Stormont. He's an exciting horse to have in the Qatar Racing team.