Lightening strikes for Lyons

Kiltale-based trainer Ger Lyons was walking on air when he returned to the winners enclosure at Newmarket on Saturday to greet his first group one winner. The popular handler had just witnessed Bohermeen man Johnny Murtagh storm home in front of a well-regarded field by half-a-length with the impressive Lightening Pearl in the prestigious Cheveley Park Stakes. Murtagh hit the front two furlongs out sprinted clear of the chasing pack in the six-furlong event to eclipse outsider Sunday Times (33/1) and Angels Will Fall (16/1) in third place. "Ger is a great friend of mine and has done a great job, I'm thrilled for him to get his first group one success," stated Murtagh who has now won three times on the well-bred filly. "Ger is a good trainer when he gets the right horses, she won her maiden well at Roscommon and then was third to Maybe at the Curragh," added Murtagh who is currently leading the race for the Irish flat jockeys' title on 69 winners ahead of Pat Smullen on 67. Lyons supplemented Lightening Pearl to run in the big race at a cost of £14,000 and he told the Meath Chronicle this week that he had never supplemented a runner before. "We thought this horse could be special and it was a no-brainer to supplement her for this race," he stated. "There is a great buzz around the yard now, everyone is delighted with the victory, all the other owners, it has given everyone a great lift," he added. Regarding the future for the filly, owned by Sheikh Fahad through Pearl Bloodstock, Lightening Pearl is unlikely to run again this year. The filly had her first outing at Navan last June and then won a modest maiden at Roscommon at the beginning of July. After that third place finish behind Maybe she got back to winning ways with Murtagh on board again at the Kildare track when she landed the Go And Go Round Tower Stakes at the end of August. "The 1000 Guineas would be the plan for next year," revealed the trainer through his social networking skills on Twitter. "Horses fed and Lightening Pearl home, what a star, straight into her grub. What a great feeling to have won the Cheveley Park Group One. Humbled by amount of support," tweeted Lyons. "That's her season finished folks. She will now be trained for the Guineas next spring." Follow Ger Lyons - www.gerlyons.ie - Twitter: @gerlyonsracing.