The Group III Somerville Stakes (7f) was run at Newmarket overnight with the Godolphin blue carried by exciting Night of Thunder colt Distant Storm, who they purchased for a sale-topping €1.9million at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale earlier this year.
Godolpin are no stranger to success with their purchases from this sale paying €2.3million for ill-fated Justify colt Ruling Court in 2024, who then came out and won this year’s Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Distant Storm won on debut at Newmarket in July and then was third in the Group III Acomb Stakes when he refused to settle and was his own worst enemy.
This time his race unfolded smoothly and Distant Storm powered clear to win by nearly five lengths in a dominant display.
“It's not the first time I've got one beat in the Acomb, but it was my mistake,” revealed Charlie Appleby.
“William was keen to get a pitch on Distant Storm early on and, to do that, he asked him from the gate and the only other time I've seen him be keen was when he was on the lead at home.
“We were adamant today to drop him in and let the race develop in front of him and in doing so we've seen his acceleration.
“I think we've seen a nice horse in the making. William was impressed and, with the way this season is stacking up with two-year-olds, my initial impression is to look at the Dewhurst. If it were sound ground conditions and be happy to take them on.”
Distant Storm was a super successful pinhook bought originally for 90,000 guineas from the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling sale from the Newsells Park draft.
Bred by Newsells Park, he is a half-brother to Group III winner Beautiful Morning and is the second takes-winner among five winners from stakes-placed George Washington mare Date with Destiny.
Distant Storm is the 76th stakes-winner for Darley based Dubawi stallion Night of Thunder, who stands at a fee of €150,000.
