ENGLISH TEXTS
achieve. From winning the derby, to owning super star sires, like Dubai Millennium and Dubawi, to having a dominating empire ranging from America to Japan. But this weekend was special. This weekend led to something I’ m sure not even he fathomed would be possible. An across-the-channel Classics double. In May last year his Bloodstock agent and long-term ally, Anthony Stroud, bought a colt by Justify for 2.3 million euros from the Arqana breeze up sale. Bought for 150 thousand by Norman Williamson from Keenland as a yearling with the plan to breeze him and pinhook him, not even he knew what was to come. Williamson is no stranger to having Godolphin as purchasers of his stock as he’ d previous sold them Native Trail from the same sale in 2021- he also went on to win the 2,000 Guineas. Stroud had seen the exploits of City of Troy as a 2-year-old the year before so when the catalogue for the 2024 breeze came out revealing there was some Justify colts for sale, he was sure to take a keen interest. Factor in a good breeze, the good looks and a pedigree to match, then you’ ve got yourself Ruling court. He who ruled the beach town’ s sales ground. From Deauville to Moulton Paddocks was where Ruling Courts journey went next to Sheik Mohammed’ s private stable and training ground on the outskirts of New- market where trainer Charlie Appleby resides. Appleby took over in July 2013 and Ruling Court delivered him his third 2,000 Guineas just four years after his first and a year following his 2 nd. Sprinting was never going to be on the agenda for Ruling Court, but they didn’ t hang about with him either allowing him to make his debut over 7 furlongs at Sandown in July. He put on a show and it turns out, the Guineas wasn’ t the only time he exercised authority by going clear after making smooth headway in the final 100 yards to win by five and a half lengths. A group 3 was in store for him next in the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York racecourse in August. He was sent off the evens favorite and rightly so. The one large obstacle he had to overcome was an Aiden O’ Brien’ s runner called the Lion in Winter. He too had won a maiden comfortably and boasted a strong pedigree. On this occasion Ruling Court and Godolphin had to settle for a defeat, something which would not be repeated going forward. When you think this horse left America for Ireland as a yearling. Got broken in. Prepped to an impeccable standard and be in an intense training regime for four months before shipping to France. where he was put through his paces to gallop flawless over 400m in 25 seconds. Before he had time to rest he then had two days of endless parading and trotting up for perspec- tive buyers and vets before being put through the sales ring and travelling back to Newmarket. Even to think about that is tiring, let alone go through it. A deserved winter break meant a plan was formed to aim him to give him more air miles than myself in the past year and travel to Dubai to be a part of Charlie Appleby’ s winter team. The UAE Jumeriah 2,000 Guineas listed race over a mile was where we saw him next. He went off the 4 / 9 favorite out of the ten runners where he was held up before quickening sharply from the 2-furlong pole, showing his explosive turn of foot to win by six lengths. Next up was obvious. Ruling Court has been and conquered Meydan in one fowl swoop and it would have been unjust to have run him again over there. The first classic of the British racing season beckoned, and he duly took his place. William Buick had a difficult decision to make having the choice of two to pick from. Shadow of Light was Appleby’ s other run and the son of Lope de Vega had gone four out of five as a 2-year-old including two group ones at Newmarket. He hadn’ t run since the October and possibly lacked the fitness required to win a classic on his seasonal debut. I also feel it speaks volumes in what Ruling Court had been showing the Godolphin team at home and the feel he had given William Buick to pick him over a double
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