Monday 25 May 2015
Gilltown Stud sires enjoyed a Stakes double over the weekend, with STORM THE STARS and AYRAD both lifting Listed prizes at Goodwood.
SEA THE STARS’ son STORM THE STARS entered in the St Leger picture on Friday thanks to his facile victory in the Cocked Hat Stakes. The improving colt, who has finished outside the first two only once in six outings, had already some black-type to his name after taking second place in the Gr. 3 Chester Vase earlier this month. William Haggas’ charge is unlikely to take up his engagement in the Gr.1 Epsom Derby, which was memorably won by his sire in 2009, with connections preferring to aim him towards the final Classic of the year at Doncaster, the St Leger in September.
From the second crop of sextuple Gr.1 winner SEA THE STARS, STORM THE STARS became his sire’s 15th individual Stakes winner of his career to date. STORM THE STARS blue-blooded paternal line is matched on his dam’s side as the colt is out of Love Me Only, a Sadler’s Wells half sister to Giant’s Causeway.
On Saturday, DALAKHANI took the honours at the prestigious West Sussex track, with his son AYRAD staying on well to take the Listed Tapster Stakes over a mile and a half. Always highly-rated by his connections, Roger Varian’s colt was adding to his Stakes record after a Listed third last season. AYRAD, who became the 43rd Stakes winner for his sire DALAKHANI, is out of Sadler’s Wells mare Sweet Firebird.
The colt holds entries in both the Gr.1 Coronation Cup and Gr.2 Hardwicke Stakes.
Updated on 25/05/2015.
