Perfect Storm as Qatar Racing lands another grade one winner
A seasoned traveller who has been brilliantly handled by Newmarket-based trainer David Simcock (pictured with winning jockey Jamie Spencer), six-year-old Trade Storm held off the favourite Kaigun by half a length with Bobby's Kitten third of the 11 runners, beaten a further 1¾ lengths.
The result completed a memorable Grade One double on the card for Simcock, who also won the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes with the Rabbah Bloodstock-owned Sheikzayedroad. The last-named was ridden by Martin Lane, while Jamie Spencer rode Trade Storm - 48 hours earlier he had enjoyed another Stakes-race success for Qatar Racing when riding Kiyoshi to victory in the Gr. 3 JRA Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster's St Leger meeting.
Trade Storm (right), narrowly touched off at York in his previous race
A winning two-year-old when trained by John Gallagher, Trade Storm was conceived at Tweenhills Farm and Stud in Gloucestershire, which was formerly the home of his sire, Trade Fair. Switched by his previous owners to David Simcock in December 2011, he was purchased privately by Sheikh Fahad at the Dubai Carnival in March last year. The horse has repaid that faith by earning Stakes-race money at major race meetings, and yesterday's victory was the perfect pinnacle following those excellent efforts.
Given a classic Spencer ride, Trade Storm was held up early in the race, then produced to lead in the final furlong - he comfortably held the rallying Kaigun. Quoted by the Racing Post, Spencer said of Trade Storm: "He settled well off a strong pace. I felt confident the horse was always going to pick up."
Twelve months earlier the horse and his jockey were third in the Woodbine Mile behind one of the leading US turf horses of recent years, Wise Dan. Spencer added: "The ground was a little softer than ideal for him, but we didn't have Wise Dan to contend with so it looked a good spot for him."
The victory means Trade Storm gains an all-expenses-paid trip and guarantee of a run at America's big end-of-year fixture, the Breeders' Cup, which is being held at Santa Anita in California. The Breeders' Cup Mile, run on turf, is the logical option should Simcock and Sheikh Fahad take up the mission.
Paying tribute to the horse, Simcock said: "He's really one of my favourites of all time.
"It's been frustrating with him sometimes, but even when he gets beat I adore the horse massively, so it's a really special result. I think it is special for the jockey as well.
"He'll probably take up 'the win and he's in' and go down to Santa Anita. He'll get his fast ground, and a fairly strong pace, which suits.
"It will probably be a tougher race but he is in excellent order and he never disgraces himself. When there's a lot of pace into the race, he travels very strongly into it and he's got a nice pick up. All he needed was the gaps and he manoeuvred his way through."
Pictures courtesy of Woodbine and Laurence Squire