Fresh off siring his first southern hemisphere stakes-winner when Uncommon James captured the Listed Oxlade Stakes at Eagle Farm, Cable Bay (IRE) struck again when the Marco Botti-trained Atalis Bay broke through for the first time at stakes level in the Listed Scurry Stakes (5f) at Sandown.
Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, the three-year-old colt defeated Warrior Brave (Twilight Son) by three-quarters of a length with Steel Bull (Clodovil) a further two and a half lengths back in third.
It was the fifth win in nine starts for Atalis Bay who was a bargain basement 800gns purchase by Scuderia Blueberry at the tattersalls February Sale.
“He has got tons of speed. He has got faster and faster since he was a two-year-old, Botti told Racing TV.
“He pinged the stalls, and Andrea said he was two lengths clear. He said he was trying not to go too quick.
“I thought in the last furlong, when the other horses came to challenge him, he picked up again and ran strongly to the line.
“This is his trip – five furlongs on fast ground. He just keeps improving. Last year he was a nice horse, but not at this level. This year, I just think he has got stronger and turned into a proper sprinter.”
Atalis Bay is a son of the winning Holy Roman Empower mare Atalis a half-sister to the stakes-placegetters Pearlside (Alhaarth) and Baldoria (In The Wings) from the family of Breeders’ Cup Turf and champion stakes winner Kalanisi.
With his dual hemisphere stakes double, Cable Bay (IRE) takes his number of stakes-winners to six.
The son of Invincible spirit shuttled to Woodside Park for four seasons.
