Lumiere opened her account with a six-length maiden going six furlongs on this card last year, following up with a second in York's G2 Lowther S. Aug. 20 before registering a career high in the Sept. 26 G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket's Rowley Mile track to end the year as the nation's leading juvenile distaffer. Dropping out to finish last of 16 after setting the tone in the May 1 G1 1000 Guineas back there once more, she rebounded in style and got back on track with a wide-margin success here.
The grey was quickly into stride and raced in a handy fourth through the early fractions of this shot at redemption. Bounding into the front rank at halfway, she was shaken up at the foot of the hill and surged clear under a degree of urging on the ascent to open up an impressive six-length buffer on her rivals.
“For me, as much as anything, it's a relief and we made the right decision by dropping her back [in class] and not running her in [today's G1] Falmouth,” commented trainer Mark Johnston. “It is great to see her back on track and we will go and write up some of those plans we tore up. In the last couple of weeks, not particularly on the gallops, but in the box and walking and trotting around, that sparkle was back, the one she had been lacking since the spring. It is only a Listed race she has won and we must keep our feet on the ground, but she has done it by six lengths and beaten a horse rated 109 into second. I said last year she was one of the best 2-year-olds I've ever trained and I stand by that. I don't know whether she will be one of the best 3-year-olds yet, but I am pleased that she is back punching at that level. [Jockey] Joe [Fanning] told me he would not be frightened of coming back to seven furlongs.”
Lumiere's granddam is Listed Prix de la Seine placegetter Actoris (Diesis {GB}), herself a granddaughter of MGISW US champion filly Outstandingly (Exclusive Native), who in turn produced three black-type performers. Outstandingly is also the granddam of MGSW Systematic (GB) (Rainbow Quest), a son of MGSW Sensation (GB) (Soviet Star); and GIII Belmont Breeders' Cup H. victor Fortitude (Cure the Blues), himself a son of GII Bonnie Miss S. third Outlasting (Seattle Slew). Lumiere is kin to a 2-year-old colt by Exceed and Excel (Aus) and a yearling filly by Shamardal. Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
PLUSVITAL SIR HENRY CECIL S.-Listed, £40,000, NEW, 7-7, 3yo, 8fT, 1:35.74, g/f.
1–LUMIERE (GB), 124, f, 3, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Screen Star (Ire), by Tobougg (Ire)
2nd Dam: Actoris, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Avice Caro, by Caro (Ire)
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Darley (GB); T-Mark Johnston; J-Joe Fanning. £22,684. Lifetime Record: Hwt. 2yo Filly & G1SW-Eng, 5-3-1-0, $276,745.
2–Cymric, 129, c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Fastbridled, by Unbridled's Song. ($300,000 Ylg '14 FTSAUG). O-Godolphin. £8,600.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred-ft-grad”]3–Manaboo, 124, f, 3, Hard Spun">Hard Spun–Pico Duarte, by Storm Cat. O-Godolphin. £4,304.[bullet ad=”us-bred-ky-bred”]Margins: 6, 1, HD. Odds: 3.00, 7.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Kentuckyconnection, Atlantic Sun (GB), Mohab (GB), General Macarthur, Sea of Flames (GB), Final Frontier (Ire), Estidraak (Ire). Scratched: Crazy Horse (GB).
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
