The Aug. 23 Acomb Stakes (G3) often belies its group 3 status. In the past three runnings alone, we have seen two Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winners (Ruling Court and Chaldean), plus a couple of July Cup (G1)-winning sprinters in Mill Stream and Shaquille.
The early market for this Acomb shares similarities with the previous one dominated by Ruling Court and The Lion in Winter, given we have another powerhouse clash between Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien.
Appleby's once-raced maiden winners stepping into group company for the first time are often prohibitively priced despite seldom possessing anything close to the strength of form Distant Storm has. Seven winners from the race Distant Storm won on his debut at Newmarket have emerged.
O'Brien relies on Italy, who brings proper group form to the table. While beaten at short odds in the Superlative Stakes (G2) last time, Italy's second to Distant Storm's unbeaten stablemate Saba Desert was an encouraging effort.
He raced keenly without cover on the far side and was carried left by a wayward rival, finishing to good effect behind the winner.
Any murmurings of a two-horse race, as the betting is implying, may be wide of the mark considering the volume of interesting alternatives.
Goodwood Galaxy hit the line hard when keeping on into fourth in the Vintage Stakes (G2), arguably the strongest 7f juvenile race run so far this season.
Superpower showdown
Before Coolmore and Godolphin clash in the Juddmonte International (G1), two of the sport's superpowers send out two leading contenders in the Acomb Stakes for the second year in a row.
The Lion In Winter, trained by Aidan O'Brien, ran out a smooth winner of a strong running of a group 3 last year, when Two Thousand Guineas winner Ruling Court was sent off an even-money favorite but had to settle for third.
Just like Ruling Court last year, Charlie Appleby will send out an Arqana Breeze Up purchase in the shape of €1.9 million-buy Distant Storm, who accounted for subsequent winners Constitution River and Catullus when scoring on his debut at Newmarket's July Festival.
Charlie Appleby said: "We earmarked this for Distant Storm immediately after Newmarket, and the form of his win has worked out well. He has physically come forward since his debut and can hopefully run a big race, which will put him in the picture for some nice autumn targets."
The Lion In Winter came to the Knavesmire on the back of a maiden win at the Curragh, but this year's Ballydoyle candidate Italy has more experience, having got off the mark at the same venue before finishing runner-up in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last month.
"Italy is in good form, but we haven't done much with him since Newmarket," said O'Brien. "We've gone along gently with him. It was a rough race at Newmarket, and I'm just hoping it hasn't left its mark on him."
The Acomb is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the Oct. 31 $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T). Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees and provide a travel allowance for the Acomb winner to compete in the World Championships at Del Mar.
