Chain Of Lightning likely to remain after sale
Chain Of Lightning will continue her racing career, but a trip to Royal Ascot remains unlikely for the mare who was the first seven-figure lot of this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast.
The daughter of Fighting Sun on Tuesday got to $2.5 million before being knocked down to Yulong, which was operating under the name of Zhijun Zhao.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained speedster was touted as a possible traveller to England after her win in the $3 million Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, but Yulong general manager Vin Cox said it was likely she would continue her campaign in Australia.
“I don’t know if we’ll put her on the plane to go to Europe at this stage,” Cox said.
“We’ll have a chat to Peter (Moody) – we haven’t spoken directly to him yet – but there are some good options here I Australia as well.
“The obvious race is a race like the (Tattersalls) Tiara – the Stradbroke’s probably on the radar as well – but, again, we haven’t spoken to Peter Moody yet.”
Should she race on at six, Chain Of Lightning would be a contender to run in Yulong’s slot in The Everest with the $20 million event run over the same course and distance as the T J Smith Stakes.
Chain Of Lightning has had two starts since her T J Smith Stakes win, for sixth placings in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) and Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Group 1 level.
The Group 1 Tattersalls Tiara (1400m) is run at Eagle Farm on June 29, a fortnight after the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at the same track.
Chain Of Lightning’s sale via the Kenmore Lodge draft was a stellar result for Stuart Ramsey, who sent her dam Magic Art to Fighting Sun when he stood for $13,750.
“We’ve turned her into $2.5 million, plus $2.5 million prizemoney,” Ramsey said.
“That’s $5 million. It’s hard to get with a pick and shovel, so you’ve got to be satisfied.”
Chain Of Lightning was one of two outstanding results for Ramsey, who later sold Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Life Lessons – also to Yulong – for $1m.
That daughter of Tavistock went through one lot after Legacies, who sold to Coolmore for $1.4m, in what was a frenetic period of the sale with Coolmore also paying $2.7m for No Nay Never’s Thousand Guineas winner Madame Pommery.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...