Lightning Spear “flying” as 19 go forward for Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

A total of 19 remain engaged in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes after Tuesday’s forfeit stage, including Belardo, winner of the Al Shaqab Lockinge earlier in the year, as well as Galileo Gold and Ribchester, who have already met three times this season.

Galileo Gold, winner of the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes, got the better of the argument on the first two occasions but Ribchester turned the tables when landing the Jacques Le Marois at Deauville last month.

Lightning Spear is on course to spearhead a strong team of challengers for the race sponsor on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 15. The five-year-old, trained by David Simcock, carries the familiar maroon and gold silks of Qatar Racing and will represent them in the £1.1 million Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sponsored by QIPCO.

Lightning Spear was a fine third to Tepin in the Queen Anne Stakes on his last visit to the Berkshire course and on his latest start he was a fluent winner of the Group 2 Doom Bar Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

“He’s in top form, flying, and we are hoping to see him run a huge race,” said David Redvers, racing and bloodstock manager for Qatar Racing.

“I always felt he was a Group 1 horse, right from his two-year-olds days, and it’s been a case of getting there. He’s got there now and now we need to win one as I’m hoping he’s going to make a serious stallion prospect.”

Full entries for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes:

Adaay (IRE)
Arod (IRE)
Barchan (USA)
Belardo (IRE)
Breton Rock (IRE)
Cougar Mountain (IRE)
Hathal (USA)
Lightning Spear (GB)
Mitchum Swagger (GB)
Mutakayyef (GB)
Awtaad (IRE)
Dicton (GB)
Galileo Gold (GB)
Hit It A Bomb (USA)
Long Island Sound (USA)
Ribchester (IRE)
Stormy Antarctic (GB)
Alice Springs (IRE)
Minding (IRE)