Tag Archive for: Distant Storm

‘A big player’ – Distant Storm brewing in Acomb Stakes

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Charlie Appleby is confident Distant Storm is heading to York as a “big player” for Wednesday’s Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.

The Godolphin team went to €1.9million to secure the colt’s services at the Arqana breeze-up sale in May and he gave them an immediate return on their investment when making a successful start to his career, albeit narrowly, at Newmarket’s July Festival.

That form could hardly have worked out better, with not only the runner-up Constitution River and the third Catullus winning since, but also the fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth and 10th home.

Couple that with the fact Distant Storm is bred in the purple as a son of Night Of Thunder out of Date With Destiny, who was the sole foal produced by the brilliant George Washington, and it is no surprise Appleby is expecting a bold showing from his charge on the Knavesmire.

“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 Moulton Paddocks handler told Tattersalls.

“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.”

Italy in the parade ring ahead of the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket
Italy in the parade ring ahead of the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

The biggest threat to Distant Storm appears to be the Aidan O’Brien-trained Italy, who landed cramped odds on his Leopardstown introduction before finishing second to Appleby’s Saba Desert in the Group Two Superlative Stakes on the July course.

O’Brien said: “He ran well at Newmarket. The race was a bit messy but he ran well, he was still green.

“We think and hope he should have come on a bit and we’re expecting a nice run.”

Other contenders include Andrew Balding’s Newbury winner Gewan and David Menuisier’s Goodwood Galaxy, who won on his debut at Salisbury before placing a highly creditable fourth in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes.

“He ran a good race at Goodwood and it makes sense to run here,” said Menuisier.

“I think he’ll be better over a mile, but there’s no ideal mile race coming up right now so it makes sense to go for the Acomb and then we’ll probably step him up in trip.

“He was slowly away at Goodwood and without that he could have finished even closer, but that is all in the past now and we’re looking to the future.”

Big-money buy Distant Storm delivers on debut at Newmarket

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Distant Storm just edged out Constitution River in the usually-informative Weatherbys British EBF Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.

Won 12 months ago by Field Of Gold, a host of other subsequent Group-race performers have been successful in the seven-furlong contest and the first two home both had their supporters.

Distant Storm (5-6 favourite) cost €1.9million at the Arqana breeze-up and the Night Of Thunder colt boasts an exceptional pedigree as the penultimate foal of the mare Date With Destiny, who in turn was the sole progeny of multiple Group One winner George Washington.

He had to prove he was tough as well as classy to see off Aidan O’Brien’s Wootton Bassett colt Constitution River, but Distant Storm managed to win by a short head to provide Charlie Appleby and William Buick with another July meeting winner.

The front two were well clear of the rest, and Appleby said: “We came here with confidence – he’s been a very straightforward horse to deal with.

“Obviously he was bought from the Arqana breeze-up, so you would expect them to know a little bit more and he has a pedigree to get excited about, but as an individual he’s a very normal horse.

“He’s not flashy and doesn’t draw attention to himself, he just goes out and does what he’s asked to do and in a nice manner, so hopefully he’s a horse that will mentally progress quicker than some of those buzzy ones.

“The first two pulled nicely clear and he’ll have learned plenty today. We’ll give him a bit of time as he’s unfurnished still and he needs to strengthen before you pitch them in that (Group One) level as if you pitch them in too soon or before they’re ready, you will go quickly backwards.”

Appleby could now look to next month’s Ebor meeting at York with Distant Storm, adding: “There’ll be races we can dip our toe in and allow him to progress – with his mindset he might be an Acomb Stakes horse maybe.

“If he goes and ticks the next box, then you have a chance of looking towards a Group One target.”