Green Lightning

There was a lot to like about Green Lightning’s run in the 14-furlong Melrose Stakes at York on Friday. Mark Johnston’s colt got warm beforehand on what was his first start in over three months (which is not wholly unusual for a son of Montjeu), and he missed the break badly at the start, so he couldn’t get anywhere near the front, which was almost certainly not the plan, given that he had made all on his previous run at Newmarket. Instead he had to be ridden more patiently here, and he was a little keen early on, but he still appeared to be travelling at least as well as the eventual winner Mount Athos early in the straight, making progress on the outside of runners. He did fade inside the final two furlongs, all the way back to sixth, but it was a good effort in the circumstances.

The form of Green Lightning’s previous run back in May, in that 12-furlong handicap at Newmarket, had been significantly boosted by the runner-up Harris Tweed, who went on to take the Edinburgh Cup in impressive fashion, winning by five lengths in a record time, and then finishing a close third to Corsica in a Group 3 on his next start, and Green Lightning looks interesting now. He has obviously had his problems, a three-month break is not ideal, but it means that he will be fresher than most now going into the autumn. This was promising. As well as his absence and the fact that he got warm beforehand, he was tackling this 14-furlong trip for the first time, and he may well be seen to much better effect back over 12 furlongs next time.

The son of Montjeu was in second-time blinkers here, and they seemed to have helped his concentration, he was running around a bit in his races before he was fitted with the headgear for the first time at Newmarket. He has a nice progressive profile, he is still lightly-raced, and he is a winner on soft ground, which is a big positive coming into the autumn part of the season. He will be of interest wherever he appears next.

20th August 2010