TOM CLOVER TARGETING MORE GULF SUCCESS WITH RUNNERS IN QATAR & SAUDI ARABIA
Newmarket trainer Tom Clover will have two Gulf runners on 14th February as ROGUE LIGHTNING races at H.H. The Amir Sword Festival in Doha and TABLETALK races on Saudi Cup night in Riyadh.
Rogue Lightning gave Clover with his first major international win in the Dukhan Sprint last year, providing the Emir of Qatar HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani a first success in the country’s biggest sprint race with his Wathnan Racing entity.
He was campaigned in the USA by Clover after his win in Qatar, where he finished second in a Grade 2 at Keeneland. The six-year-old then only competed twice on his return in Britain with a race in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket and a run at Listed level on the all-weather in November after a break.
Clover talked to Great British Racing International (GBRI) about Rogue Lightning and last year’s experience:
“He is a lovely horse and he looks to be in good shape going back there. We had a right-handed racecourse gallop to get him to go around the bend and he seemed to enjoy that so I am pleased with his training.
“When he went there last February, he improved his condition in the week before his race so we hope it will be the case again. He likes the warm weather so some sun could get him in an even better condition.
“It was fantastic to win the Dukhan Sprint last year, and to do it for the Emir at home with him in attendance made it more special. The experience was great and it was a day we will always remember.”
Clover will also be represented on The Saudi Cup card on the same day as consistent sort Tabletalk goes for the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap for successful Emirati owner Abdulla Al Mansoori.
The five-year-old has finished in the top three on eight of his 11 races and only failed to earn prize money when he raced in the 2024 running of The Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse.
Speaking about Tabletalk, Clover said:
“Tabletalk was placed on nearly all his starts last year. He ran second in two very good races early in the year at Newbury in Group 3 company. Then at Royal Ascot he was not beaten overly far despite a difficult draw. We were expecting a bit more in his last two races but he still ran well to finish in the placings.
“The way he won the Melrose Handicap at the York Ebor Festival in 2024 makes me confident the horse should do well on the 1m7f in the Red Sea Turf Handicap. It is still a question mark as he never went on that trip but I feel it should work in his favour.
“He has been gelded towards the end of last year, which I think should help him in his travelling and we can target him at major international meetings. The Saudi Cup is a great spectacle to be a part of during our winter here in Britain and the Red Sea Turf is a very valuable handicap.”
The trainer concluded with his hopes for 2026 and the importance of his owners:
“We have a great bunch of horses at Kremlin House Stables and we are looking forward to this season. I am grateful to have high profile international owners like Wathnan Racing and Abdulla Al Mansoori who are keen on travelling their horses and I hope I can give them some great results on the racecourse.”