Lightning Spear upset the odds to secure a stunning group one win at Glorious Goodwood on the opening day of August when beating Expert Eye to the Qatar Sussex Stakes. Despite going off at a generous 9/1 quote with bookmakers, the talented seven-year-old chestnut held on over the mile to beat a talented field of eight runners.
David Simcock’s charge – 4/1 at the off – was expected simply to make up the numbers in the midweek spectacle, but the team had other ideas and under the expert ride of jockey Oisin Murphy, he bettered Sir Michael Stoute’s runner-up by one-and-a-half lengths with James Doyle onboard. Lord Glitters (10/1) for the David O’Meara and Daniel Tudhope partnership completed the first three home after enduring a nightmare run to the line.

It may have come as a bit of a shock to many, but odds compilers weren’t in the mood to hang around and risk making the same mistake again, slashing Lightning Spear’s ante-post price in a number of races, including the Queen Anne Stakes run on June 19, 2019. Punters weren’t slow on jumping on, either, obviously impressed by the efforts around the West Sussex track against top-class company.

Victory in the Sussex Stakes took the likeable colt’s career record to six wins, three seconds and five thirds from 19 outings and he has now ended inside the top-three in each of his last three goes, following silver in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May and bronze behind Accidental Agent and Lord Glitters in the Queen Anne Stakes at Ascot earlier this summer.

There’s still much discussion over the price Lightning Spear should be in next year’s Queen Anne but all major betting firms were forced to drastically cut his odds, with the likes of Coral moving from 25/1 into 14/1. Others in the field have been a little less hasty, with bits and pieces of 16/1 to be found.

Without Parole went into the Sussex Stakes as favourite but was unable to match the success of his sire Frankel and bank the cheque; big shoes to fill, of course. The 7/4 jolly attracted floods of on-course money but ended a disappointing seventh of eight with only backmarker and 16/1 poke Orbaan worse off, a head the difference.
There’s still much love for Frankel’s three-year-old colt Without Parole amongst punters and bookies but there was no excuses for his efforts on the day. John Gosden’s eye-catching runner burst out of the stalls under Andrea Atzeni who asked for more at the business end, but the horse was unable to deliver and once passed two furlongs from the finish he appeared to be going backwards.

Traders have ignored the urge for a knee-jerk reaction and instead eased Without Parole from 9/1 to 11/1, making him second in the Queen Anne list behind Alpha Centauri who heads up the ante-post pile at a market-best price 8/1. There’s plenty more to come before that one’s sorted out.
 

Image Qatar Racing