Rogue Lightning is on course for the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot after kicking off his campaign in the Temple Stakes at Haydock.
The four-year-old was three times a winner last term, taking a Doncaster handicap, the Shergar Cup Dash and the Listed Scarbrough Stakes before heading to ParisLongchamp for the Prix de l’Abbaye.
There he was fifth, beaten only a length and a quarter, before being sold for £1million to Wathnan Racing having previously been owned by the Rogues Gallery syndicate.
He made his debut for new connections at Haydock, contesting the Group Two Temple Stakes under their retained rider James Doyle.
There he finished sixth, beaten three and a half lengths on soft ground that would not have been exactly to his liking as his best form has come on a quicker surface.
“I thought he ran a really encouraging race in the Temple Stakes, he was a little bit restless in the stalls and bunny hopped out slightly but I think that was just down to being off the track for half a year,” said Clover.
“The ground was very tacky and he’s a fast horse, it blunted his speed a bit and we were just racing away from where the race developed as well.
“He ran on strongly and hit the line well, looking through the sprint races so far this year, everything that ran well had run before but it wasn’t so much fitness, it was just that match sharpness that we lacked a touch.”
The King Charles III Stakes, previously known as the King’s Stand, is the bay’s next target before other top-level sprints come into focus later in the year.
“He’s at his best during the summer and the autumn, I think it was a good stepping stone for us to go to Royal Ascot from there,” Clover said.
“He’s come out of the race lovely, we might just take the hood off in the race next time. He’s definitely sharpened up, he is in race mode now.
“He’s got course and distance form at Ascot, where he goes afterwards I’m not sure, but we could go to Goodwood potentially and I’ve put him in the July Cup in case we want to go there.
“I’d imagine we’ll be staying at five (furlongs), fingers crossed he can have a really good season.”
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