Lightning ready to return
Sweet Lightning makes his first start for new trainer Tommy Carmody when he contests the Group Three Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Last Updated: 12/05/12 11:39am
Sweet Lightning makes his first start for new trainer Tommy Carmody when he contests the Group Three Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The seven-year-old has been sidelined since winning the Lincoln at Doncaster in April 2011 when he was trained by Michael Dods.
The seven-year-old has been back in full work for a while and spent time in Dubai, where he was close to returning to action.
That plan was scrapped as he was not quite ready and connections decided to send him former jump jockey Carmody at the Curragh to continue his career.
"He had a nasty pelvic injury after the Lincoln last year which occurred a couple of weeks afterwards," said Tim Jones, racing manager to owner Andrew Tinkler.
"Consequently he's been off the radar ever since then recovering. He went to Dubai in the New Year in the hope that he might be ready to run over there, but it was always going to come a bit too soon for him at the end of the Carnival.
"He did really well in his training over there and seemed well suited to it. We had a decision to make when he came home whether he would need to be trained on those flat surfaces, and so the decision was made to send him to Ireland to be trained on the Curragh, where there are lots of opportunities to train in that way.
"Tommy (Carmody) has had a good start for us there so it was an obvious decision. We have to hope he has maintained that verve, that enthusiasm and ability, and see where we are.
Good Form
"He's in really good form and it would be a thrill to see him back to something like the level of form he is capable of. He's a real favourite to all of us and to Andrew (Tinkler) in particular."
Only four other horses have been declared to take on Sweet Lightning. The pick of which is 10-times course winner Famous Name.
Dermot Weld's seven-year-old is chasing his third a third successive victory in the race. Ask Jack, Barack and Kargali complete the line-up.