Lethal Force

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This article is about the Thoroughbred racehorse. For the legal concept, see Deadly force.

Lethal Force
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (2013)
July Cup (2013)
Awards
Cartier Champion Sprinter (2013)

Lethal Force (foaled 10 April 2009) is an Irish-bred, British-trained

Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the July Cup
.

Background

Lethal Force is a grey colt bred in Ireland by Declan Johnson, a "hobby breeder" based in County Kildare.[2] His sire Dark Angel, from whom he inherited his grey colour, won four races including the Mill Reef Stakes and the Middle Park Stakes as a two-year-old in 2007 before beginning his stud career in the following year. In addition to Lethal Force, his first crop of foals included the July Stakes winner Alhebayeb and the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes winner Lily's Angel.[3] Lethal Force's dam, Land Army, showed no ability as a racehorse, but was descended from Miss Ribot, a mare whose wins included the Santa Ana Stakes in 1969.

As a foal, Lethal Force was sent by the Rathasker Stud to the Goff's sales in November and was bought for €9,500 by John Egan.[4] In September 2010, Lethal Force was again put up for auction, this time at the Tattersalls Ireland sales and was bought for €8,500 by the trainer Clive Cox[5] acting on behalf of Alan G. Craddock. Cox took the colt into training at his Beechwood Farm stable at Sheepdrove, near Lambourn in Berkshire.[6]

Racing career

2011: two-year-old season

Lethal Force ran four times as a two-year-old without winning.

Royal Ascot in June Lethal Force was moved up in class for the Group Two Coventry Stakes. Ridden for the first time by Adam Kirby,[7] he started at odds of 50/1 and finished fourth of the twenty-three runners, less than two lengths behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained winner Power. In July, Lethal Force started at odds of 3/1 in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, but finished fourth of the seven runners behind Chandlery.[9]

2012: three-year-old season

Lethal Force began his three-year-old season by dropping back in class for a maiden race over 5+1⁄2 furlongs at

Haydock Park. In June, Lethal Force ran for the second year at Royal Ascot, running in the Group Three Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs. After appearing likely to take second place, he faded in the final strides and finished fourth behind the filly Ishvana. On 21 July, the colt started 4/6 favourite for a seven furlong race at Haydock but finished second to the filly Rhythm of Light after John Fahy dropped his whip a furlong from the finish.[11]

On 21 August, Lethal Force started at odds of 25/1 for the Group Two Hungerford Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury. The race appeared to lie between the Australian-bred Soul, who started favourite, and the

metres at Longchamp Racecourse. He took an early lead, but "weakened quickly"[14]
and finished tenth of the eleven runners behind Gordon Lord Byron.

2013: four-year-old season

Lethal Force made his four-year-old debut in the

Diamond Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs at Royal Ascot, and started at odds of 11/1. Kirby sent the colt into the lead from the start and then quickened clear of the field approaching the final furlong. He hung to the left in the closing stages, but held on to win by two lengths from Society Rock, with the Bahraini challenger Krypton Factor in third and Gordon Lord Byron in fourth.[15] After the race Kirby said "I'm really, really pleased. We've always had a lot of respect for this horse and, to be fair to him, he's always ran his race without ever winning", while Cox commented "I'm thrilled for everyone. It's just amazing – this is what it's all about. Adam is such a brilliant rider, but it's fantastic for the whole team at home. When he sent him on, it was explosive."[16]

On 13 July Lethal Force started 9/2 third favourite for the July Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket. His opponents included Society Rock from England, Sole Power and Gale Force Ten (Jersey Stakes) from Ireland, Shamexpress (Newmarket Handicap) from Australia and the South-African-trained favourite Shea Shea. As at Ascot, Lethal Force led from the start and went clear approaching the final furlong. He stayed on in the closing stages to win by 1+1⁄2 lengths from Society Rock, with Slade Power in third.

Patinack Farm Classic.[22]

On 4 August, Lethal Force was sent to France to challenge the outstanding mare

Deauville Racecourse. Lethal Force soon took the lead but was overtaken in the final furlong by Moonlight Cloud and finished second, beaten by 1+3⁄4 lengths. Lethal Force returned to England in September and started 5/2 favourite for the Haydock Sprint Cup. He was never able to reach the leaders and weakened in the closing stages, finishing ninth of the thirteen runners behind Gordon Lord Byron. Following his defeat it was announced that the colt would not race again and would be retired to become a breeding stallion at the Cheveley Park Stud.[23]

Stud career

As of 2020 Lethal Force stands for a stud fee of €6,000 at Haras de Grandcamp in Trun, Orne France.[24]

Notable progeny

'c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major wins
2017 Golden Horde c Commonwealth Cup

Pedigree

Pedigree of Lethal Force (IRE), grey colt, 2009[1]
Sire
Dark Angel (IRE)
2005 		Acclamation (GB)
1999 		Royal Applause Waajib
Flying Melody
Princess Athena Ahonoora
Shopping Wise
Midnight Angel (GB)
1994 		Machiavellian Mr. Prospector
Coup de Folie
Night at Sea Night Shift
Into Harbour
Dam
Land Army (IRE)
2001 		Desert Style (GB)
1992 		Green Desert Danzig
Foreign Courier
Organza High Top
Canton Silk
Family At War (USA)
1988 		Explodent Nearctic
Venomous
Sometimes Perfect Bold Bidder
Miss Ribot (Family:21-a)

References

  1. ^ a b "Lethal Force pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Hobby breeder on a roll not tempted to sell dam of Classic hope Diala just yet". Racing Post. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Dark Angel Stud Record". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Goffs Premier Foal & Breeding Stock Sale". Racing Post. 22 November 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Tattersalls Ireland September Yearlings 2010". Racing Post. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Clive Cox Racehorse Trainer Lambourn England". Clivecox.com. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Lethal Force race record". Racing Post. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Worthing Herald Median Auction Maiden Stakes". Racing Post. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Vintage Stakes result". Racing Post. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Peri Ltd Median Auction Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  11. ^ "32Red Conditions Stakes result". Racing Post. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Hungerford Stakes result". Racing Post. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Park Stakes result". Racing Post. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Prix de la Forêt result". Racing Post. 7 October 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  15. ^ "Diamond Jubilee Stakes result". Racing Post. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Lethal Force wins Diamond Jubilee Stakes". BBC. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  17. ^ "July Cup result". Racing Post. 13 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  18. ^ "July Cup: Lethal Force claims comfortable victory". BBC. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  19. ^ Chris Cook (13 July 2013). "Lethal Force wins July Cup at Newmarket to lay claim to sprint crown". The Observer. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  20. ^ "The official listing of the world's best racehorses". Ifhaonline.org. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  21. ^ "World Thoroughbred rankings December 2012 – July 2013". IFHA. July 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  22. ^ J A McGrath (14 July 2013). "Australians dangle £800,000 carrot to lure Lethal Force to Melbourne Cup carnival". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  23. ^ Tom Park (27 September 2013). "'Amazing' Lethal Force retired to stud". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  24. ^ "Lethal Force Stallion Guide". stallionguide.com. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
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