Blandford Bloodstock

Bargain buy Cloud Rock is instant hit

CLOUD Rock may have been a comparatively cheap buy at 3,000gns, but last night at Folkestone he was simply priceless in the eyes of his owners, The Coalition partnership.

The two-year-old colt had just made a victorious debut in a 7f maiden at the Kent track and not surprisingly it was smiles all round in the winner’s enclosure.

He was knocked down to Blandford Bloodstock at Book 2 of the 2009 October Yearling sale at Tattersalls and what a shrewd piece of business that lalready ooks like being.

Trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, the son of Tiger Hill out of the unraced Tambourin is proving himself a fun horse for his connections and shows that there is value out there to suit just about any budget.

Somehow or other the bay consigned by Lofts Hall Stud had last autumn all but slipped under the radar. That is, apart from the Newmarket-based Blandford agents, who had done their research.

An April foal – the first from the mare – the wider pedigree revealed several winners in the family. Now Cloud Rock has done his bit to enhance its reputation and, hopefully, there is more to come.

Last night after quickening with the minimum of effort to lead from approching the furlong marker, he ran on to score by three and three quarter lengths in a decent time for a newcomer.

Jockey Alan Munro was impressed and envisaged that a conditions stakes would be an ideal step up the ladder for Cloud Rock’s next assignment.

After hearing those words from Munro, it was time for The Coalition to savour the victory champagne. And it may not be the last time they taste success with their bargain buy, either.

BLANDFORD BLOODSTOCK’S TOM GOFF AND RICHARD BROWN WILL BE ATTENDING ALL OF THE MAJOR YEARLING SALES. PLEASE RING ON 01638 666661 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.