1st-MEY, $100,000, Cond, NH&SH 3yo, f, 1400m, 1:24.45, ft.
WINTER LIGHTNING (IRE) (f, 3, Shamardal-Eastern Joy {GB}, by Dubai Destination), a full to G3 UAE Oaks winner Ihtimal (Ire) (MGSW & MG1SP-Eng & GSW-UAE, $254,857) and a half to dual French Group 1 winner and G2 UAE Derby winner Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) (MG1SW-Fr, GSW-UAE & G1SP-Eng & Ire, $2,151,476), did just what her pedigree suggested she should when breaking her maiden at second asking at Meydan on Thursday. The strapping bay was second on debut at Newmarket on Oct. 13 behind Cheveley Park Stud's 'TDN Rising Star' Veracious (GB) (Frankel {GB}), but was somewhat overshadowed here pre-race by Rayya (Tiz Wonderful), Doug Watson's 9 3/4-length debut winner from Dec. 7. Racing prominently in the middle of the track down the backstretch on Thursday, Winter Lightning dropped back slightly to tuck in behind the front-running Rayya and Bella Dubai (Speightstown) for the run into the turn. While it initially looked as if Rayya would kick clear at the top of the lane, Winter Lightning soon drew alongside the favourite and the pair battled head-to-head through the final furlong, with Winter Lightning putting her nose down on the wire first. It was 10 lengths back to Charlie Appleby's stakes-placed Expressiy (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in third. Jockey Pat Cosgrave said, “It was only her second start and luckily her head was down on the line when it mattered. I probably went to the front too soon as it transpired, given her inexperience, but she certainly seems to have plenty of class and you would like to think she can build on this.” While Eastern Joy only managed a win in minor company in France, she has outdone herself as a broodmare. In addition to the aforementioned trio, she is also the dam of the listed winner and G1 Sun Chariot S. second and G1 Falmouth S. third Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) (SW & MG1SP-Eng, $217,288) as well as G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner First Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) (GSW-Ire). Eastern Joy is a daughter of Red Slippers (Nureyev), who won the Sun Chariot when it was a Group 2 and also produced the G1 Prix de Diane winner West Wind (GB) (Machiavellian) and the listed winner Redbridge (Alleged). The third dam, Morning Devotion (Affirmed), is best known as the dam of G1 Irish Derby and G1 Irish Oaks winner Balanchine (Storm Bird) but her influence is global, with Australian Group 1 winner Trust in a Gust (Aus) (Keep The Faith {Aus}) and accomplished Japanese runner Shonan Mighty (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}) also on the page. Eastern Joy was barren in 2016 and last year produced a colt by Dubawi (Ire). Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $62,677. Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO.
O/B-Godolphin. T-Saeed bin Suroor.
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