Distant Storm shows star quality in Tattersalls demolition

Distant Storm oozed class when winning the Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket to banish memories of defeat at York.

Charlie Appleby’s €1,900,000 breeze-up buy created such a good impression when winning on his debut, beating a subsequent Group Two winner in Constitution River with a host of other horses franking the form.

Not surprisingly Appleby went to York for the Acomb for his second outing, just like he did with this year’s 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, but just like his former stablemate he could only finish third as he pulled too hard behind Gewan.

This time William Buick was at pains to get his mount to settle and he dropped him out in last place, meaning that when he made his move going into the dip, he still had plenty to do.

He did it stylishly, though, catching stablemate Catallus under hands and heels riding and the 6-5 favourite just required Buick to change his hands on the reins to almost win by five lengths. Commander’s Intent stayed on for second.

Appleby said: “It’s not the first time I’ve got one beat in the Acomb, I don’t think I’ve won it actually, and what we saw that day was down to my mistake. William was keen to get a pitch on him and he was keen, which I’d only seen once before and that was when we worked him on the lead.

“It’s the only time he has been keen, he’s normally a very relaxed horse. Anyway, the Acomb was what it was, he was too keen and he did it all the wrong way round.

“We were adamant today that win, lose or draw we’d drop him in and let the race develop in front of him and in doing so we’ve seen the acceleration that he showed today.

“I think we’ve seen a nice horse in the making. William was very impressed and he got the feeling off him he did in his maiden. He said it was a straightforward assignment today.

“The question now is do we run him in the Dewhurst? We’ll see how he is and see how he comes out of it, but my first impression is we should have a look at it, just with the way this season is stacking up with the two-year-olds.

“I said before the National Stakes that would probably throw up the champion two-year-old and I think it probably has (Zavateri), credit to them and I’m sure they’ll run in the Dewhurst.

“Our horse is a three-year-old really, but the Dewhurst is just over two weeks away and if he comes out of this well enough and the ground conditions were sound, I’d be happy to take them on.”