'A Huge Player ´ - Distant Storm Brewing In Acomb Stakes
Charlie Appleby is positive Distant Storm is heading to York as a "huge gamer" for Wednesday's Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.
The Godolphin group went to EUR1.9 million to secure the colt's services at the Arqana breeze-up sale in May and he provided an immediate return on their financial investment when making a successful start to his career, albeit directly, at Newmarket's July Festival.
That type could hardly have actually worked out much better, with not just the runner-up Constitution River and the 3rd Catullus winning given that, but likewise the fifth, 6th, seventh, ninth and 10th home.
Winning debut
1.9 million guineas buy Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) gives @godolphin, Buick & Appleby yet another win on the July Course pic.twitter.com/CuTT7Xrv3V
- Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2025
Couple that with the fact Distant Storm is reproduced in the purple as a kid of Night Of Thunder out of Date With Destiny, who was the sole foal produced by the brilliant George Washington, and it is not a surprise Appleby is expecting a bold showing from his charge on the Knavesmire.
"I'm extremely pleased with the method he has come out of Newmarket, he ran as we anticipated and has always shown himself up as a nice horse," the handler informed Tattersalls.
"The Acomb was a race we had in mind as soon as he broke his maiden. The way he's done considering that his maiden implies we're opting for self-confidence that he will be a huge gamer.
"He's a horse that's developing all the time and hopefully looks as though he has actually got an intense future."
Italy in the parade ring ahead of the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)
The most significant danger 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 stated: "He ran well at Newmarket. The race was a bit messy however he ran well, he was still green.
"We believe and hope he should have come on a bit and we're expecting a good run."
Other contenders consist of Andrew Balding's Newbury winner Gewan and David Menuisier's Goodwood Galaxy, who won on his launching at Salisbury before positioning a highly creditable 4th in Goodwood's Vintage Stakes.
I think he'll be much better over a mile
"He ran an excellent race at Goodwood and it makes sense to run here," said Menuisier.
"I believe he'll be much better over a mile, however there's no perfect mile race turning up right now so it makes sense to go for the Acomb and then we'll probably step him up in journey.
"He was gradually away at Goodwood and without that he might have ended up even more detailed, however that is all in the past now and we're seeking to the future."