Tattersalls Acomb Stakes: Distant Storm "a big player", says Appleby

Godolphin’s Distant Storm heads a field of eight in a competitive renewal of the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York on Wednesday. The two-year-old son of Night Of Thunder was purchased from Newsells Park Stud at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by successful breeze-up operator Cormac Farrell.

Now in the ownership of Godolphin, he made an eye-catching winning debut at Newmarket last month for trainer Charlie Appleby, who is looking forward to his return in Wednesday’s contest.

Charlie Appleby told Tattersalls: “I’m very pleased with the way he has come out of Newmarket, he ran as we expected and has always shown himself up as a nice horse. The Acomb was a race we had in mind once he broke his maiden. The way he’s done since his maiden means we’re going with confidence that he will be a big player. He’s a horse that’s developing all the time and hopefully looks as though he has got a bright future.”

A winner first time out at Leopardstown, Italy was last seen finishing second in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. The Aidan O’Brien-trained son of Wootton Bassett was purchased at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 200,000 guineas by MV Magnier and White Birch Farm from New England Stud.

The David Menuisier-trained Goodwood Galaxy was a winner on debut at Salisbury before stepping up in grade for the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival earlier this month. After a slow start, the Kodi Bear colt stayed on strongly to finish fourth. He was purchased for 45,000 guineas at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Gail Brown from Barton Stud.

Ahead of the Tattersalls Acomb, Menuisier said: “Goodwood Galaxy won his maiden nicely at Salisbury first time out. He then ran a stormer in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and was awarded a rating of 104. I think the horse will be better over 1 mile, but the Acomb falls into the programme better than the mile races so that’s where I’ve decided to go next. He seems in great form.”

Andrew Balding will send out Gewan, a winner on his sole start in a competitive novice event at Newbury. The Night Of Thunder colt was purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 100,000 guineas by Longways Stables from Overbury Stud.

Trainer Adrian Keatley will be hoping that Rochfortbridge can further frank the form of his debut victory, which has already produced two subsequent winners who finished behind this son of Mehmas at Ayr. Rochfortbridge was purchased by Keatley at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 100,000 guineas from Tally-Ho Stud.

John and Thady Gosden will saddle May Angel, last seen winning at Southwell on his second start. Oisin Murphy will take the ride for the first time under his new retained agreement with owner-breeder Imad Al Sagar.

Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale graduate Sovereign Ocean will line up following his debut win on his only start, while Brian Meehan’s Oceans Four completes the field, coming into the race off the back of a victory at Ffos Las.

The next sale to take place at Tattersalls’ Park Paddocks in Newmarket is the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale on Tuesday 2nd September. The Somerville Yearling Sale catalogue can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com.