Following his long list of near misses in Europe, including seconds in the Group I Prix D'ispahan, Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, and thirds in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, and Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, Light Infantry Man (FR) added Thursday's Listed Channel 9 Chester Manifold Stakes at Flemington to his success in the 2021 Group III Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury.
Ridden by James McDonald for Ciaron Maher, Light Infantry Man finally had the rub of the green to defeat Globe (Charm Spirit) by two and a quarter lengths with Ain'tnodeeldun (Dundeel) a short-head back in third.
“When the race was unfolding, I said ‘we’ve got a good horse (and) we’ve got the best jockey riding it’, and I just hoped I’d done my job and the horse would run well,” Maher reflected.
“Fortunately, the team have done a good job. He hasn’t really scaled to the heights we expected, but he’s on the right path now.
“He’s a really good horse and we probably haven’t done him justice yet. He had really good European form but his last run was very encouraging. Great ride by James.
“The Flemington carnival is awesome.”
James McDonald said the 6-year-old son of Fast Company (IRE) would take great benefit from the win.
“He has terrific form overseas in Europe. He’s just lost his way a little bit,” McDonald said.
“Hopefully that gives him a bit of confidence. He can kick on from there because we know how talented he is. Some really good friends of mine are in the horse - Johnny, Brae, all the crew, Ozzie Kheir so a bloody good result.
“He was very energetic and very hypo but they’ve done a good job with him. When I rode him back in Sydney he was slowly away and didn’t want to take part in the trial. Whatever they have done with the barriers has worked because he was enthusiastic away and got into a lovely rhythm.”
A € 25,000 purchase at the 2020 Arqana October Yearlings Sale, Light Infantry Man was an £82,000 buy for Blandford Bloodstock at the 202 Goffs Breeze Up Sale.
Bred by Barbara Moser, he is the best of three winners from five to race for the 4-time winning Kyllachy mare Lights On Me (GB).
Lights On Me was purchased for 330,000gns by BBA Ireland at the 2022 Tattersalls December Mare Sale and now graces the paddock of Yulong Stud.
The daughter of Kyllachy was covered by Lucky Vega in the Northern Hemisphere and foaled a filly in March.
