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Sweet Lightning Strikes for Lincoln Glory
02/04/11
1 Sweet Lightning 16/1
2 Brae Hill 22/1
3 Dubai Hills 40/1
4 Axiom 50/1
NR: Taqleed (IRE)
21 ran Distances: 2½l, 6l, ¾l
TIME 1m 38.38s (fast by 0.12s)
Sweet Lightning struck to give Johnny Murtagh a second successive victory in the first big race of the new turf Flat season, the William Hill Lincoln at Doncaster.
Sweet Lightning (left)
© Racehorse Photos
The Michael Dods-trained six-year-old was having his fifth outing of the year as he had already had four runs at Meydan in Dubai.
Murtagh had his mount settled nicely from stall 16 and pulled clear on the stands side along with Brae Hill, while Eton Rifles and Dubai Hills broke free on the far side. As Eton Rifles began to tire up front, Sweet Lightning (16-1) stamped his authority, beating Brae Hill by two and a half lengths.
The jockey, who won last season on Penitent, said: "This is great. He's been in Dubai and fair dues to him - Andrew (Tinkler, owner) said the Lincoln was made for him. He settled well and travelled great.
"In Dubai this year his races were very slow and he just wasn't finishing. The strong pace today really helped, a couple of months in the sun did him good and I've enjoyed it too!
"We were a bit behind at halfway, but I got a nice tow into the race - I know I won on the other side last year but I do like being stands side at Doncaster."
Tinkler is chief executive of the Eddie Stobart haulage company, whose founder passed away this week.
He said: "It has been an emotional week and for this to happen has really helped us out. It was a tremendous effort from the horse. I said to Michael there would be plenty of pace on and he could run through them at the end.
"I watched his run over a mile in Dubai and he couldn't get through, but I knew he'd be finishing well today. I'd just like to send my condolences to all the family - Edward, this is for you."
Dods went on: "I was going to give him a break after Dubai, but Andrew wanted to run here and he was proved right and he's done it really nicely. We dropped him in trip, but he seems to have thrived on it. I'll probably keep him going and I might have to look at a Listed race now."
