Explosive Debut Win for €2.3million Justify Colt

Tara Madgwick - Friday July 26

Godolphin made sales headlines earlier this year when paying €2.3million for a colt by Justify at the Arqana May Breeze Up Sale and he scored a commanding debut victory overnight at Sandown.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Ruling Court started favourite for the 7f maiden and powered clear for a five and a half length win.

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“He didn't jump all that well, which you can forgive on his first start," said Buick.

"It was a smooth performance and hopefully he can progress from here. I passed a load of horses quite quickly and got there sooner than I expected but it's always hard to read with horses running for the first time.

"He's shown a good level of form at home and has brought it to the track. He's got plenty of pace so seven furlongs is optimum for now and he should get a mile whenever he needs to."

Ruling Court made 2.3million euros at Arqana May Breeze Up.

Ruling Court was a super successful pinhook having initially been bought from Keeneland September as a yearling for $150,000 by Norman Williamson.

He is the first winner for Group III placed High Chaparral mare Inchargeofme, a sibling to a pair of Group I placed horses in Mythical and Johann Strauss as well as the dam of Group III winner Nagirroc.

Justify has the best three year-old colt in Europe this year in City of Troy, who was also last year’s Champion 2YO Colt and there is considerable excitement about Ruling Court and his potential.

Justify will not be returning to Coolmore Australia this spring, but will have some highly anticipated foals born here this year having covered 188 mares last spring at a fee of $77,000.

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