Calyx Colt Impresses At Newmarket

Eben Shaddad (2c Calyx - Galileo’s Lady, by Galileo) emulated his sire by making an impressive debut over six furlongs at the Newmarket July course.

John Gosden trained Calyx to bolt up on debut, before taking the Group 2 Coventry Stakes and later the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial as a three-year-old. Now training in partnership with his son Thady, he was sent €190,000 breeze-up buy Eben Shaddad, who was partnered by Benoit De La Sayette on Saturday.

Racing prominently throughout, he showed signs of inexperience when shaken up two furlongs from home and was ridden to lead approaching the final furlong. Running on well, he was soon clear and led by three lengths and three quarters on the line.

Speaking after the race, the Gosden’s assistant trainer Garry Rothwell said, “That was a good performance considering he had to stand in the gate for a while and he was a bit green when he came off the bridle. I liked the way he hit the line and Benoit was delighted with him.”

Bred by Charles Fipke, Eben Shaddad was sold by Lynn Lodge at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale to Najd Stud, who own the bay with Prince Faisal Bin Khaled. He is out of a Galileo mare, as is Calyx’s Group 2 winner Persian Dreamer (Calyx) and the 93-rated Hot Fuss (Calyx).