Trainer Clive Cox is keen to let the dust settle on Lethal Force’s record-breaking performance in the July Cup before committing him to future targets including Australia.
Something of a surprise winner when he led from pillar to post in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, the four-year-old grey proved that outstanding effort was no fluke with a similarly dominant front-running display at Newmarket on Saturday.
Cox was particularly thrilled to see his star sprinter break Stravinsky’s 14-year course record and is looking forward to going in search of further top-level honours later this season.
“We’ve been gratefully invited to a few international races later in the year and everything will be considered, but at the moment we’re focusing on the targets in this country first,” Cox said.
“He’s come out of the race well.
“I was delighted he broke the track record as much as the victory itself. It wasn’t as though the times were falling all day. Some of the other times were quite ordinary, so for him to go and do that shows what a talented horse he is.
“We’ll sit quiet for a week or so and have a think about where we go next.”
The Diamond Jubilee and the July Cup are part of the Global Sprint Challenge which offers a $US1 million bonus if a horse can win designated races in three participating countries.
Australia is one of those with the Group One Patinack Farm Classic during Melbourne Cup week an enticement for Cox and connections with the winner to collect a $600,000 bonus if it has won at least one other race in the series.
