By Tom Frary
Put in his place when five-lengths second to TDN Rising Star Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in Salisbury's Listed Stonehenge S. over a mile last time Aug. 19, Jeff Smith's Stormbuster (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}–Barshiba {Ire}, by Barathea {Ire}) took a step forward on Friday to dominate Newbury's storied Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions S. Breaking well under David Probert to lead his three rivals, the 6-1 shot put another of Godolphin's TDN Rising Stars Highbank (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) into the red approaching two out and powered through the closing stages to inflict a five-length defeat on that much-vaunted rival.
“We thought from day one that he could be very useful and with each run he has been getting there and getting there,” the owner-breeder commented of the Andrew Balding-trained colt. “I thought we bumped into one at Salisbury and was pretty hopeful today. He's in the [G1] Futurity at Doncaster and if he runs again this year, that will be the race. I see him as a mile-and-a-quarter horse next year, but if he wins the Futurity he could go for the Guineas.”
Barshiba was a classy performer for Smith, winning the G2 Lancashire Oaks twice and four listed contests as well as placing in the G2 Summer Mile and G2 Hardwicke S. Her first foal was Dubawi's Arabian Queen (Ire), who caused one of the biggest upsets of recent times when denying Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in the 2015 G1 Juddmonte International, while the other of her trio of Dubawis, Cosmopolitan Queen (GB), is now the dam of the stable's highly-regarded winning juvenile filly Frankness (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Barshiba's yearling filly is by Too Darn Hot (GB).
5th-Newbury, £20,000, Cond, 9-16, 2yo, c/g, 8fT, 1:40.67, gd.
STORMBUSTER (GB) (c, 2, Dubawi {Ire}–Barshiba {Ire} {MGSW-Eng, $588,780}, by Barathea {Ire}) Lifetime Record: 4-1-1-2, $24,029. O-Mr J C Smith; B-Littleton Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding.
Stormbuster finally breaks his maiden with a runaway success under @davidprobert9 in the @hhandc Conditions Stakes @NewburyRacing @AndrewBalding2's consistent colt (Dubawi) holds entries in the Royal Lodge @NewmarketRace and the Vertem Futurity Trophy @DoncasterRaces 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zawOehL5Fn
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 16, 2022
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