Spear filly hits target for seventh time

Spear filly hits target for seventh time 

Lightning Spear’s daughter Royal Velvet recorded the seventh victory of her career in a heritage handicap at York yesterday. What an advert she has been for her sire, who stands at Tweenhills alongside Kameko.

Royal Velvet won races on either Newmarket track earlier in the summer, including under William Buick, and the jockey was again on board when she swooped to win the 18-runner British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) on the Knavesmire on Thursday.

She has been a total success story for her owner-breeder Mrs Susie Hartley and been expertly trained by William Knight in Newmarket. She’s as effective over 1m as she is over 7f and looks well on her way to becoming a black type performer, now Timeform-rated 100.

Royal Velvet is out of Epaulette mare Velvet Morn, a winner over 6f and 7f for the same connections. Lightning Spear stands for £5,000 (Oct 1^st SLF) at Tweenhills as is well able to sire a prolific winner, also the sire of Knight's six-time winner Atlantic Gamble and David Simcock's five-time winner Charlie's Choice.