Monday 11 April 2016

1000 Guineas Hotpot Lumiere Delights Mark Johnston


Mark Johnston has started the new Flat turf season in flying form but this is just the start of what could be a sparkling month of May. 1000 Guineas hotpot, Lumiere, has been given a race course gallop at Haydock with a number of Kingsley Park talents. 


Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, stated: "They each labored outstanding this morning.
"It was relatively soft at Haydock and they labored in separate units of three. William Buick rode Lumiere and James Doyle rode Buratino. They were chuffed with them.
"They jumped off at the mile, but it was around six to six and half furlongs where they really started motoring.
"William said that Lumiere, despite never having run on it, handled the soft ground really well and she looks in great form.
"It is another reason to be optimistic that if it did turn up with a bit of cut in the ground that it would not inconvenience her, judged on that."
He went on: "We know Buratino is a much better horse on quicker ground, but even so James was very pleased with the way he felt.
"The plan is now to go to the Craven meeting and gallop them before racing on Thursday, all being well."
Johnston added: "Ode To Evening worked with Lumiere and he finished fifth in the Coventry, while Fireglow, who is a dual Listed-race winner worked with Buratino so they weren't working with slow horses by any means.
"Fireglow has strengthened up since last year and it is not out of the reckoning that she might go for the Guineas as well. On breeding she looks to want further than a mile and having already won over that trip the Oaks might be her Classic.
"There are genuinely no Group races over a mile where she wouldn't carry a penalty, except the Guineas. She does not have the class and speed of Lumiere, but it could be a good Oaks trial for her and she is a good second string to have.
"Ode To Evening has been entered in a Listed race on Saturday at Lingfield and he seems in great nick. He had a retained testicle which was in a bit of an awkward position.
"He has had surgery on that and hopefully we will see a return to the sort of form he showed in the Coventry."
Lumiere is 5/1 to win the 1000 Guineas.