Lightning Spear wins G1 Sussex Stakes

Lightning Spear has claimed an overdue Group One success at his 16th attempt, taking out the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Moat of the attention in the field of eight was on the three-year-olds Without Parole and Expert Eye following their respective triumphs at Royal Ascot.

With Andrea Atzeni deputising in the saddle for the suspended Frankie Dettori, the previously unbeaten Without Parole was the 7-4 favourite to follow up his victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes and found himself in front at an early stage with Expert Eye always on his tail.

The David Simcock-trained 9-1 shot Lightning Spear , narrowly beaten in the Lockinge at Newbury and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot at his previous two starts this season, found a gap between the pair and powered home under a jubilant Oisin Murphy.

Expert Eye was best of the rest in second, with Lord Glitters flying home to grab third.

“He’s done very little wrong apart from win a Group One, until now,” Simcock said.

“He’s a lovely horse to train. He’s been placed in six Group Ones and has never really let us down.

“That was the horse we see at home all the time, it’s just getting it to click.”

Murphy admitted to a few nerves before the race.

“I never ever get nervous before Group Ones, but I was nervous today and was trying to hide it down at the start. He’s deserved to win a major Group One,” he said.

“What a horse, what a training performance. At seven years of age, outstanding.”