Tom Clover On World Traveller Rogue Lightning
Globetrotting Gelding Thrives Racing On Foreign Soil
Acclaimed Newmarket trainer Tom Clover's theory arrives with a bemused smile. Rogue Lightning, the bay gelding who has become one of Wathnan Racing's globetrotting stars across continents, possesses a distinctive trait – his craft thrives in international climes. "We feel that this horse loves travelling. He really enjoys it," the Kremlin House trainer reflects. "Even if it's just going over the channel to France, he really loves it. A lot of his best career efforts have been on foreign soil. "
His Dukhan Sprint victory last February, overcoming the disadvantage of stall nine under Mickael Barzalona, marked the culmination of a pattern. "We went to America, and he was very unlucky not to win a Grade Two out there, as just got touched off," Clover reflects. "We found it really difficult for him then to back up once he was already out there. Often horses run their best races off the plane, but it is hard to back it up.”
From Breeze-Up To Big Time
Bred by Airlie Stud and Mrs. Rogers, this bay gelding by Kodiac out of Field Of Stars was purchased as a yearling for 80,000 guineas before returning to market at 42,000 guineas at Craven Breezes. Racing under The Rogues Gallery syndicate's colours, he quickly progressed through handicap ranks before Listed success in Doncaster's Scarborough Stakes, attracting the attention of Wathnan Racing.
The Qatar-led ownership group successfully bid and purchased the gelding for £1 million at the Goffs QIPCO Ascot Champions Day Sale in October 2023.
"He is very intelligent, handsome, and fast," Clover offers when asked to describe his charge in three words. "He's very genuine, but he holds a little bit back for himself sometimes. I think he realises that he doesn't need to win every gallop at home. So, although he works nicely at home, I think he knows he needs to put in the most amount of effort when he goes to the track."
The trainer's confidence in his temperament extends beyond racing. "You could put my children in the stable with him, and he'd look after them. He's got the odd quirk here and there, but he's just a lovely horse to have around."
Every racehorse has different triggers for their competitive instinct. According to Clover, Rogue Lightning ‘likes passing horses’.
“To a certain extent, when you draw wide, your hand is forced. You must take back and try and go for the gaps," Clover notes. "I think he likes a really strong pace to aim at. That's key for him. If he can get a strong pace, and a nice rhythm going then hopefully, he can be seen at his best.”
Mirroring Success Through Preparation
In his approach to this year's Gr.3 Dukhan Sprint, which returns to Al Rayyan Racecourse this year, Clover has maintained almost identical preparation protocols. "We've kept his preparation as similar to last year's as we can. He had a gallop at Chelmsford racecourse two weeks before the race last year, and we've pencilled him in to go there again two weeks before the race. With sprinters, it's just about keeping them happy and sweet. He does a bit of his work on his own as well so we just tried to mirror what we did last year. Hopefully we will have him there in the same nick as we did last year.
“With all sprint races, you need an element of luck. He is a very intelligent horse, so hopefully he can quickly adapt to the different track out there," he notes.
Representing Wathnan On Home Ground
"Most of the racing world has been quite taken with how Wathnan has expanded in recent years. It is probably fair to say that they are one of, if not the most exciting new ownership outfits in the world," Clover observes. " There's a huge team, both in the yard here and in the Wathnan organisation. Last year, having a winner for them on their biggest race day was very special for us. It was wonderful to be part of their team and their journey. Days like that are what we all do it for, and they give an awful lot of people a lot of pleasure." he reflects.
The memory remains vivid, particularly because Qatar's racing authorities relocated an entire meeting within 24 hours. "Although they had to move at late notice last year, it was amazing to see how they were able to move a whole meeting in 24 hours to another track half an hour away. The QREC pulled it off excellently. Qatar is a wonderful place to go and visit, and they really look after you."
"Carrie Browning, who rides him every day, will travel out with him. They will travel separately but she will remain with him in Qatar. Then he'll adapt. Last year, amazingly, his coat really came into itself within the space of eight days out there. It really brought him forward.”
England's February darkness presents challenges for preparation. "Here in Newmarket in England, it's very cold and quite dark at night. We've only got eight to nine hours of daylight these days, so he has his lights on at night and a heating lamp. We do our best to try to prepare him for warmer climates. He seemed to really relish the warmer weather (last year) during his travel."
Qatar's Racing Momentum
Qatar's investment in establishing the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival as a US$10 million showcase demonstrates serious ambition. "I've only been to Qatar once, and I'm not sure they could look after us any better. Everything was very straightforward, very easy, and well looked after. I thought the racing experience was really enjoyable."
"I had some friends out there who came along for the day to go and see it for themselves. They are owners in Newmarket, but they wanted to come and experience racing in Qatar. They were mightily impressed at the end of the day.
“We certainly try and target to have horses out in the Middle East, because it's a great thrill. The racing there is very well subsidised racing, and they offer excellent prize money. In February in England, there's not a huge amount going on. So, it makes sense to try and target these nice places."
Beyond Qatar, planning remains flexible. "There isn't much of a programme here in the UK, so it worked out well last year, just going in fresh. Hopefully he can run a very good race, have a bit of luck, and get there at one. We have yet to decide on the next steps, but I must discuss that with the Wathnan team. But it's a big day in Qatar, and that's the focus. We're doing all we can to have him spot on for that day for us."
"It's very much becoming more and more an all-year-round industry now where we're trying to find our opportunities all year round," Clover observes.
When prompted about the Middle East's rapid growth compared to established racing nations, his assessment proves unequivocal: "Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. I think the Middle East looks like an extremely exciting contribution to racing in recent years, and at the moment, you can see it going one way, up."
At Al Rayyan, Rogue Lightning will carry not merely Wathnan's colours, but also the hopes of his connections for a second victory. Perhaps somewhere in his Kodiac bloodlines lies an explanation for this wanderlust, or maybe Clover's theory contains truth, that certain horses just flourish better beyond familiar surroundings. Either way, Qatar awaits another demonstration of his globetrotting brilliance.