There is a feeling that Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) is readying himself for a big day, and that may come in Saturday's G2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang S., or Solonoway S. as it is better known, at Leopardstown. Unbeaten and untested until finishing second in Ascot's G2 Summer Mile July 11, Qatar Racing's progressive 4-year-old was given a lot to do on that occasion and the winner, Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), had already flown by the time he was able to unleash his finishing effort. Subsequently fourth in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 16, the bay faces some tough and proven opponents here without meeting anything with as much potential bar Ballydoyle's unexposed 3-year-old Sir Isaac Newton (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Trainer Olly Stevens, who recently announced that this will be his last season, said of the 4-year-old, “We have some exciting plans for Lightning Spear, who has been a flag bearer for Robins Farm this year and we hope that he will help us sign off in style, possibly by adding another chapter to our list of international adventures,” he said. “Options for Lightning Spear include next month's GI Woodbine Mile in Toronto and maybe a subsequent tilt at the Breeders Cup or a possible trip to Melbourne for the Emirates S. at Flemington.”
Very unlucky when only sixth in the G3 Jersey S. over seven furlongs at Royal Ascot when last seen June 17, Sir Isaac Newton–Derrick Smith's 3.6-million gns purchase–could already be a pattern-race winner if things had fallen right for him on that occasion. Joseph O'Brien has opted to ride the June 16 G1 Queen Anne S. third Cougar Mountain (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who needs to bounce back from a latest flop when last of seven in the G1 Juddmonte International at York Aug. 19. Older stalwart Custom Cut (Ire) (Notnowcato {GB}) appears to have plateaued of late after a string of group wins last term and a return success in the G2 Sandown Mile, while at the other end of the spectrum the Tommy Stack-trained Onenightidreamed (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) enters this with very few miles on the clock and on an upward trajectory after wins in the Irish Lincoln H. at The Curragh Mar. 29 and G3 Amethyst S. over this course and distance last time May 10.
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