SALES REPORT - BREEZE UP REVIEW

DISTANT STORM JUSTIFIES HIS MONEY SO FAR Last month, I compared the Tally-Ho Stud-bred breezer Maximized to his fellow Godolphin inmate Ruling Court, the latter known for triumphing in this year’s 2000 Guineas. I did that because they were both expensive two-year-olds who won relatively impressively on debut following the breeze-up sales. Admittedly, the comparison now seems weaker than it did originally as Maximized has not been successful since Epsom and has been outclassed in Group company twice. Luckily, a potentially more accurate resemblance of Ruling Court has appeared in another of this year’s breeze-up alumni, the colt Distant Storm.

Distant Storm got the job done on debut at Newmarket in early July, also in the Godolphin silks. The son of Night Of Thunder only just prevailed over the Aidan O’Brien-trained Constitution River, but the first pair did separate themselves from the rest of the field. This would no doubt have been satisfying for his connections, especially given that he was not cheap. The colt actually achieved top lot honours at the Arqana Deauville Breeze-Up Sale, where his breeze was professional enough to convince Anthony Stroud to give €1.9m for him. He clocked brilliantly at Deauville and had an eye-catching page to boot – he is out of Date With Destiny, a black-type performing filly who was the only surviving offspring of the ill-fated stallion George Washington – making the colt a half-brother to Group 3 scorer Beautiful Morning.

Distant Storm is, as of yet, the only top lot – from the main European breeze-ups – to strike on debut. The Havana Grey colt that Amo Racing gave 1,750,000gns for at the Craven Sale – Celestial King – has been unsuccessful thus far, whilst the 155,000gns Guineas Sale graduate Chalice Beauty was third on debut. Doncaster’s record-breaking Mehmas colt out of Rapid Reaction, now named Rapid Force, is still unraced – as is the Night Of Thunder colt that topped the sale at Fairyhouse.

It will be interesting to see if Rapid Force does end up justifying the £1,000,000 spent on him. If you were judging his chances based upon the performances of some of the other well-priced Goffs graduates from this year’s breeze, you might be inclined to say that he will do.

Shine On Me is one example. The daughter of Havana Grey realised £160,000 at Goffs following a breeze that was “allegedly” amongst the first few times. She ran green on debut, finishing third, before running a creditable sixth behind True Love in the Queen Mary. She was last seen out in the Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes (G2) at Newmarket, where she was fourth.

Novelette would be another filly from Doncaster who appears to be talented and progressive. Initially a £28,000 yearling, she did a savage piece of work on the Moor and changed hands for £410,000 following her breeze. She has won twice now in the colours of Tabor, Smith and Magnier, having previously bumped into two other quick juveniles from that breeze in Zelaina and Duskaura.

Bella Lyra is another to have acquitted herself well. The daughter of Oasis Dream breezed well and made £80,000. Richard Hughes bought the filly, and she struck cosily at Windsor in June on second appearance. She has since earnt herself some black-type at Newmarket, where she came third in the Empress Fillies’ Stakes, and then at Ascot in the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes. Hilitany was also impressive at Donny, being one of the several Tally-Ho juveniles to clock (reportedly) within the top thirty-or-so times. A son of Mickley Stud’s first season sire Ubettabelieveit, he was knocked down to KHK Racing for £300,000 and was unlucky on debut before scoring in a Novice Stakes at Windsor.

Staya also runs in the colours of KHK. The George Scott-trained Havana Grey filly made 375,000gns at the Craven Sale and beat subsequent winner Duskaura on debut at Yarmouth – she then ran very well in the Queen Mary before winning the Dragon Stakes (L) at Sandown. Following this, she finished second ahead of Bella Lyra in the Group 3 at Ascot and now holds an entry for the Lowther Stakes.

The Craven Sale has also thrown the Group 2-performing Flowerhead, a daughter of Starman who won in June before seriously outrunning her odds to find only True Love too good at Ascot. She was knocked down to Amo Racing for a very modest amount in 35,000gns. So too was India Love, a Havana Grey who has now won thrice on the bounce, although only realising 55,000gns. Incidentally, although being in the quicker half of the lots, neither of these fillies breezed especially speedily at Newmarket.

This is also true of Radiance, a filly now trained by George Boughey who cut a lovely scopey figure at Park Paddocks and looks a smart prospect for Highclere, who gave 150,000gns for her. Radiance struck at Yarmouth first time of asking in July, despite looking a little raw. Her breeze was not particularly quick by any means, but it was progressive, and it is no surprise that she was started off over seven furlongs. written by Gabriella Herbert