By Sean Cronin
Charlie Appleby sent out Godolphin's subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to garner last term's renewal of Newmarket's Discover Newmarket British EBF Maiden S. and the local operation has another likely sort to go forward after 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) powered to 'TDN Rising Stardom' with a taking display in this year's edition of the seven-furlong heat. Settled off the tempo in seventh through halfway, the 4-1 chance made eyecatching headway inside the final quarter mile to gain control passing the furlong marker and quickened clear in impressive fashion to account for stablemate Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) by 3 3/4 lengths.
“He is a horse that we have got a bit of experience with the family with having had Bay Of Poets,” explained trainer Charlie Appleby. “Whatever he did today there was going to be marked improvement. He had done some good work at home and I told [rider] Jack [Mitchell] to teach him to race the right way. Today was a learning day and his class prevailed. He travelled very well and picked up well. I've not had chance to speak to Jack, but visually it was impressive. We liked Bold Act too, so hopefully that is a useful pointer, amd we will keep him at seven [furlongs] for the moment. I think he has got a lot of natural speed and we will probably look at something like the [G3] Solario S. [at Sandown]. I need to have a chat with the lads before making any firm decisions.”
Highbank is the latest of seven foals and fourth scorer out of a winning half-sister to G3 St Leger Italiano victor Burma Gold (Ire) (Java Gold) and Listed Prix Finlande runner-up Burma Sea (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), herself the dam of G3 Prix Eclipse winner Devil (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to Listed Prix Pelleas victor and G2 Al Rashidiya runner-up Bay Of Poets (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Bristol Bay's full-sister Burning Heights {Ire}) is the dam of G3 Killavullan S. scorer Blue De Vega (Ger) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and the second dam of G2 Premio Lydia Tesio victrix Angel Power (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Highbank's second dam Bougainvillea (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger}) is a full-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden heroine Borgia (Ger) as well as being a half-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby and G1 Coronation Cup-winning sire Boreal (Ger) (Java Gold).
1st-Newmarket, £8,000, Mdn, 7-23, 2yo, 7fT, 1:27.30, g/f.
HIGHBANK (IRE), c, 2, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Bristol Bay (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Bougainvillea (Ger), by Acatenango (Ger)
3rd Dam: Britannia (Ger), by Tarim (GB)
1ST-TIME STARTER. (750,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Lynch-Bages & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,187. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Lots to like.
The well-bred Highbank (Kingman) impresses on debut for Charlie Appleby, who won this race last year with future Classic winner Modern Games @godolphin@Mitchelljack77 | @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/gS8o3gRA57
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 23, 2022
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