Johnston update on stable big guns Connections of leading Qipco 1000 Guineas contender Lumiere are convinced she will see out the mile trip in the opening fillies' Classic. Although the daughter of Shamardal, who is the general 8-1 third-favourite for the Group One contest at Newmarket on May 1, is yet to race beyond six furlongs, Charlie Johnston, son and assistant to trainer Mark Johnston, feels the additional two furlongs should pose no problems. After posting a decisive debut victory at the town's July Course, the three-year-old met with defeat in the Lowther Stakes at York on her second start, before finishing the campaign with a game success in the Cheveley Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile. He said: "Lumiere is great. Mum (Deirdre Johnston) has been riding her out every day at home. She had four to six weeks off after the Cheveley Park, then she has just been walking and trotting up until Christmas. "It's not for me to say plans for the horse as that will be decided nearer the time by dad, John Ferguson and Sheikh Mohammed. "They will decide whether she goes straight to the Guineas or has a prep race. Both our other two Guineas winners went straight there and I would have no fears in doing that. I think she will stay the mile." Johnston also revealed last year's Coventry Stakes hero Buratino is set to return to Newmarket for a shot at the 2000 Guineas having finished second at the track on his final start of the season in the Middle Park Stakes. He said: "Like Lumiere, Mum has been riding out Buratino. He is in really good form and looks well and he will be aimed at the Guineas. After that we can reassess. "Watching the Middle Park run, he was staying on well and if anything he was gaining on Shalaa. "He is a much easier ride for William (Buick) and he has started to settle well and I personally think he will stay the mile as well."
