Three-year-old Shamardal filly Winter Lightning followed her illustrious siblings’ footsteps in superb style on Thursday, 8 February when running out the easy winner of the Listed UAE 1,000 Guineas at Meydan.
Settled in second position under Pat Cosgrave, she was asked to quicken once entering the home straight and once again outbattled Rayya (who she beat in the Guineas Trial last month), however this time her victory was much more impressive as she crossed the line two lengths clear of her rival, with a further two and a half lengths back to third.
Winter Lightning, who holds an entry for the G1 English 1,000 Guineas, becomes the third runner out of her dam, Eastern Joy, to win a UAE Classic contest, following Thunder Snow (Helmet) last year and her full sister Ihtimal back in 2014.
Ihtimal went on to finish a close third in the 1,000 Guineas, while Thunder Snow, already a G1 winner at two, followed up with victory in the UAE Derby before landing the G1 Prix Jean Prat last July.
Shamardal is a superb flag bearer for the Darley stallions, siring 18 G1 winners to date and 11% Stakes winners to foals. He stands privately at Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
