Smart sprinter Rogue Lightning to remain in US in search of more riches after narrow Keeneland defeat

Rogue Lightning came agonisingly close to striking on his US debut only to be collared in the dying stages of the Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland. 

The Tom Clover-trained five-year-old travelled to the States to contest the $376,563 Kentucky Grade 2 contest and tracked leader Coppola into the home straight under Flavien Prat, but Godolphin's Think Big was hot on his heels and reeled in the 15-4 shot to score by half a length. 

It was a second venture abroad this year following a successful trip to Qatar in February, where he landed the Dukhan Sprint, after which he was invited to the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.

Owners Wathnan Racing, who bought Rogue Lightning for £1 million in 2023, opted instead to head to the US, and after their runner showed promise at Keeneland connections intend to keep him in Kentucky over the next month in search of more riches. 

"He ran a great race," Clover said. "He was always up there and led in the straight but was just run out of it. 

"He's lost nothing in defeat and I feel we'll leave him out there to run in another Grade 2 sprint at Churchill Downs over Kentucky Derby weekend [May 3]. If you look at it another way, he would have had to carry a penalty in that if he'd won at Keeneland, so it could work in our favour." 

Think Big's success came at the hands of Ben Curtis, who was notching his third Grade 2 success since he moved to the US 12 months ago. The 35-year-old spent the winter in Louisiana at the start of 2024 before making a permanent shift in March. 

On Sunday, Curtis rode his first winner at Keeneland and completed a double on Tuesday, having also partnered the Brendan Walsh-trained Irish Aces to success in an allowance race earlier on the card. 

Read more international news:

Saeed bin Suroor reflects on World Cup night success and has Group 1 aim for Meydan winner 

Shark Hanlon targeting big international prizes with stable star Hewick following Grand National run 

'Two Group 1s takes a fair bit of beating' - Connor Beasley reflects on stunning Dubai World Cup night double 

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