Lightening Strikes!
Tue 25 Apr 2023
WINNER 26 OF 2023: LIGHTENING COMPANY, trained by Ben Haslam and ridden by Andrew Mullen: The feature Class 2 'Riu Hotels and Resorts Handicap' over 1m 2f at Pontefract.
After a winter break of 182 days, he lined up in this competitive £27,000 Class 2 handicap, off 82. Breaking okay from stall 2 he settled to the rear of midfield, on the inner. Making headway from 2f out, as they came around the bend, Andrew had to switch him out to make his move. Ridden to lead just inside the final furlong, he kept on well to win by 1 and 3/4 lengths.
"Booting away, it's Lightening Company that will go on to score." Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/440079-pontefract/24-Apr-2023/1500
Ben said in his Racing TV interview: "He seems to love the spring and being by Fast Company this sort of ground suits him.”
The Racing Post went on to report: "Happy Haslam" 'Ben Haslam's brilliant form since the start of the Flat turf season continued when Lightening Company struck in the feature 1m2f handicap. His one-and-three-quarter-length win took Haslam's strike-rate on the turf to 33 per cent this Flat season, with five winners from 15 runners.
"I don't know what went wrong last year but a lot of my horses weren't quite right, but this has been brilliant," he said. "The ones that aren't winning are even running really well so long may it continue. It'll be York next for the Dante meeting as he deserves a shot at a good race, although this took some winning."
See the official photo gallery here: https://www.onlinepictureproof.com/officialphotographersonline/albums/Pontefract/851329/browse/
Timeform rated it as a career best 95, saying: "Proved better than ever to come out on top after 5 months off, proving himself at the trip in no uncertain terms; mid-field, headway when switched over 1f out, stayed on to lead final 1f, kept going well.”
Syndicate manager Tim says: "I was delighted with that performance. Well done to his owners, as that was a nice £13,900 prize pot to pick up too, for a yard that is in great form. A 3rd career win, with 8 of his 13 starts in the top 3, which is not bad going! As Ben mentioned in his interview, he has in mind that he could run at York next at the Dante meeting.
I was also delighted with the debut of Denruth Diamond, our City Light filly with Rod Millman. A green first half of the race, where she was out the back, she passed horses nicely to take 3rd, with the Racing Post making her their 'Eye Catcher' of the meeting. They said: 'Denruth Diamond (2.00) finished well once in the clear, registering a promising debut.' Another promising 2 year-old for our owners this year!"