'A Big Player ´ - Distant Storm Brewing In Acomb Stakes
Charlie Appleby is positive Distant Storm is heading to York as a "huge player" for Wednesday's Tattersalls Acomb Stakes.
The Godolphin team went to EUR1.9 million to protect the colt's services at the Arqana breeze-up sale in May and he provided an instant return on their investment when making a successful start to his profession, albeit directly, at Newmarket's July Festival.
That form could barely have actually exercised better, with not just the runner-up Constitution River and the third Catullus winning since, but likewise the 5th, 6th, seventh, ninth and 10th home.
Winning debut
1.9 million guineas buy Distant Storm (Night Of Thunder) offers @godolphin, Buick & Appleby yet another win on the July Course pic.twitter.com/CuTT7Xrv3V
- Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2025
Couple that with the truth Distant Storm is reproduced in the purple as a son of Night Of Thunder out of Date With Destiny, who was the sole foal produced by the fantastic George Washington, and it is no surprise Appleby is expecting a strong proving from his charge on the Knavesmire.
"I'm very pleased with the way he has actually come out of Newmarket, he ran as we anticipated and has constantly shown himself up as a nice horse," the Moulton Paddocks handler informed Tattersalls.
"The Acomb was a race we wanted 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 establishing all the time and hopefully looks as though he has actually got a brilliant future."
Italy in the parade ring ahead of the bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)
The most significant threat to Distant Storm seems the Aidan O'Brien-trained Italy, who landed confined chances on his Leopardstown intro before finishing 2nd to Appleby's Saba Desert in the Group Two Superlative Stakes on the July course.
O'Brien stated: "He ran well at . The race was a bit untidy but he ran well, he was still green.
"We believe and hope he needs to have come on a bit and we're expecting a good run."
Other contenders include Andrew Balding's Newbury winner Gewan and David Menuisier's Goodwood Galaxy, who won on his launching at Salisbury before placing an extremely reputable 4th in Goodwood's Vintage Stakes.
I think he'll be better over a mile
"He ran a good race at Goodwood and it makes sense to run here," stated Menuisier.
"I think he'll be better over a mile, but there's no perfect mile race turning up right now so it makes good sense to opt for the Acomb and then we'll most likely step him up in journey.
"He was slowly away at Goodwood and without that he might have ended up even more detailed, but that is all in the past now and we're seeking to the future."