LIGHTNING SPEAR gained just reward for earlier good efforts at the highest level when winning the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. David Simcock’s charge beat subsequent Group 3 winner Expert Eye and a below par Without Parole on that occasion and had finished well ahead of another of today’s rivals in Recoletos when runner-up in the Queen Anne at Ascot earlier. That form gives him leading claims in this as the latter has since finished in front of Intellogent when second in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville. The filly Homerique was narrowly beaten in the French Oaks before winning a Group 3 contest while Andre Fabre’s duo, Wind Chimes and Plumatic, also picked-up Group 3 races on their latest outings.
Royal Julius (IRE) 66-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 8f out until pushed along over 2f out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, 15 1/2l behind Poet's Word (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Oriental (JPN) (8-12) 6th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Potemkin (8-12) at Clairefontaine 1m 1f stks gd in Aug.
Recoletos (FR) (9-5) 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Alpha Centauri (8-9) at Deauville 1m stks gd in Aug.
Lightning Spear 9-1 (9-8) Held up in touch, closed going well over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out until gap opened inside final furlong, quickened to lead, ran on well, won at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Aug beating Expert Eye (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Plumatic 3-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, ridden to chase new leader and hung right over 1f out, led just inside final furlong ran on well, won at Salisbury 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug beating Oh This Is Us (9-2) by 1l, 6 ran.
Expert Eye Evensfav (9-1) Held up in last trio, steady headway on inside halfway, tracked leaders and switched left over 2f out, went 2nd 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ridden and stayed on well, won at York 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug beating Gordon Lord Byron (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Intellogent (IRE) (8-12) 6th of 11, 7 3/4l behind Alpha Centauri (8-9) at Deauville 1m stks gd in Aug.
Wootton (FR) (8-13) 18th of 20, 16 3/4l behind Polydream (8-10) at Deauville 6f Grp 1 stks gd in Aug.
Without Parole 14-1 (8-13) Held up in touch, tracked leaders over 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon lost place, no impression after, 6th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Roaring Lion (8-13) at York 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Wind Chimes (8-11) won at Deauville 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Aug beating Poetic Charm (8-11) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Homerique (USA) (8-11) won at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 3 stks gs in Jul beating Mascha (8-11) by 3/4l, 7 ran.