William Buick drives Lumiere to Cheveley Park Stakes win for Sheikh Hamdan

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, can start dreaming of his first British Classic success after Lumiere carried his green-and-red colours to a gritty win in the Cheveley Park Stakes on Saturday.

William Buick riding Lumiere (green) win The Conolly's Red Mills Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket racecourse on September 26, 2015 in Newmarket, England.  Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND // Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, can start dreaming of his first British Classic success after Lumiere carried his green-and-red colours to a gritty win in the Cheveley Park Stakes on Saturday.

Ridden with confidence out front by William Buick, the strapping filly held off the late thrust of Illuminate and Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook’s Besharah to win by half a length.

The Group 1 race has often been a good guide to the following season’s English 1,000 Guineas, with French fillies Special Duty and Natagora doing the double in the past eight years.

Trainer Mark Johnston says he believes Lumiere is already past the post.

“I haven’t been as nervous as this going in to a big race because she is the best horse that I have had in a long, long, time,” he said. “I told someone three weeks ago I didn’t know about the Cheveley Park, but I’m sure she’ll win the Guineas. I just hope I’m right.”

Johnston has long worked as a nursery for Godolphin, but with Buratino, who was second later in the day in the Middle Park Stakes behind Shalaa, remaining with him despite racing for the Dubai-based operation, the trainer may well keep the daughter of French Derby winner Shamardal.

Whatever silks the grey filly races in next year, and from whichever stables, she likely will be difficult to defeat.

“She’s high-class. Any horse that can do that the way she did has to be very good, especially when you are doing a bit too much in front,” Buick said.

“Looking at her, you think she’ll be a filly for next year, as well. She’ll mature and might get a mile.”

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