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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Well-bred Lightening makes it 2 from 3 in the Athasi

Mon 7th May 2018, 17:02

Lightening Quick (noseband) leads home Xenobia in the Athasi Lightening Quick (noseband) leads home Xenobia in the Athasi
© Photo Healy Racing

Lightening Quick made it two wins from three starts, as she took the Group 3 Coolmore Mastercraftsman Irish EBF Athasi Stakes.

Successful on her debut at Leopardstown on Champion Stakes Day, the daughter of Frankel then finished a disappointing eighth in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.

Making her seasonal debut today, she proved easy to back, and while she was short as 5/2 in early shows, she eventually went off a 9/2 chance in the colours of Qatar Racing Limited.

Settled in third, she closed on the front-running Xenobia from the three furlong pole, and was ridden to challenge over a furlong out.

She got to the front inside the final 150 yards, and kept on well from there to prevail by three parts of a length.

The front-running Xenobia (11/4) ran a fine race to finish second under Billy Lee for Bill Farrell, while the 5/4 favourite Yulong Gold Fairy was a disappointing fifth.

Lyons said afterwards: "It's great to win that with a Frankel filly out of a Group 1 winning mare( (Lightening Pearl). That's what it's all about.

"Colin said the first feel he got off her was cantering down to the start because we are not getting that at home but I don't mind that as long as they are doing it on the track.

"She has been leading two-year-olds and she does that very well. Just keep her sweet.

"We put her in the Ballyogan the other day and you would come back there (six furlongs) rather than go further. It's something we will have to sit down and discuss.

"She is in the Irish Guineas but on that run Colin said she wouldn't be going any further.

"I would say the secret to her is spacing out her runs and keeping her fresh. She's after winning first time out last year and again this year."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Yulong Gold Fairy (GB), trained by D. K. Weld, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.