The €2.3 million purchase Ruling Court is out to give Charlie Appleby a first win in the Aug. 21 Acomb Stakes (G3), the opening juvenile contest of the Ebor festival at York, which has had a rule change this year.
Previously, horses who had won a race before July 12 were excluded, which would not have applied to the Godolphin colt in any case, as he romped to a debut win at Sandown July 25.
Ruling Court could kick off a good afternoon for his sire, Justify , also responsible for City Of Troy , who will start later in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1). Ruling Court confirmed the promise of a lightning breeze at the Arqana sales in May when scoring by 5 1/2 lengths from subsequent Newbury second Pantile Warrior that day.
The 2-year-old was promoted to 10-1 favorite for next year’s Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and 12-1 for the Derby (G1) in the wake of his impressive display. Appleby said: “I was very pleased with what Ruling Court did on debut, and it is always a bit different when you have an expensive breeze-up horse compared to an expensive sales horse. The pencil plan was always to go to Sandown—we always hoped he would do what he did—and then go on to the Acomb. We felt a nice galloping track like York would suit.
“It looks a more competitive contest than in the past with the race conditions having changed this year. We go there with a horse who looked very exciting on his debut, and if the improvement we have seen at home is there, he is hopefully going to be very competitive again.”
Everything Good with ‘Straightforward’ The Lion In Winter Since Debut
Aidan O’Brien, who recently passed £5 million in prize money in Britain this season, chose to run The Lion In Winter from three entries at the five-day stage.
The son of Sea The Stars was a supposed second string from Ballydoyle when winning a seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh last month. Third-placed Ides of March, the mount of Ryan Moore that day, has since boosted the form when going one better back at the Curragh.
The Lion In Winter bids to give O’Brien his first win in the group 3 since Hemingway in 2000, and the trainer said: “We were delighted with him on debut at the Curragh and everything has been good with him since. This might be as sharp a test as he wants but he’s in good form and we think he’s very straightforward and honest.”
One of two Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series events on the day, along with the Juddmonte International, the winner of the Acomb will earn an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
