Lumiere bounces right back at Newmarket Lumiere restored her reputation with a seriously impressive victory in the Plusvital Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket. A bitter disappointment when strongly fancied for the 1000 Guineas on the Rowley Mile earlier this season, the grey daughter of Shamardal returned to the scene of her debut win and produced a stunning performance under Joe Fanning to score by six lengths. Fanning held onto the strong-travelling Lumiere as Cymric and Estidraak took the field along in the one-mile event formerly knows as the Stubbs Stakes, before unleashing his filly over a furlong from the finish. The 3/1 favourite still had to prove her stamina over the trip after being unplaced in the Guineas but she pulled further clear on meeting the rising ground, much to the delight of her trainer. Johnston said: "It's such a massive relief for everyone involved with the horse. We've made the right decision in dropping in class and not running in the Falmouth and it's so sweet to see her back on track. "She's just recently come back to herself. In the past couple of weeks she's shown the right signs, not particularly on the gallops, just in her box and walking and trotting around she's been much happier. "She just wasn't well in the spring, there were no outward signs of illness or injury or anything, she's always been sound, she's not missed a day of the year but she lacked sparkle and that's something she never lacked as a two-year-old. "You wouldn't normally worry so much with any other horse - you'd just run them again and hope they come to hand -but it's a bit different with a horse of this calibre. But we've tried to treat her like an ordinary horse and let her tell us when she's ready and run her when the right opportunity arises. "We've ripped up all the plans really but Joe said he certainly wouldn't be concerned about coming back to seven furlongs, he said he was just sitting there settled and thought all the way that if I move here she'll be off! So I'd say a faster pace wouldn't be an issue at all." Cymric (7/1) stayed on to claim second near the far rail, while third went the way of 6/1 chance Manaboo.
