Mill Reef Stakes Next For Footstepsinthesand Colt

A step up in class is now on the cards for Impressor (2c Footstepsinthesand - Little Empress, by Holy Roman Emperor), after impressing in the six furlong Novice Stakes at Salisbury on Wednesday.

The Marcus Tregoning-trained colt caught the eye on debut at Goodwood, where he finished fourth despite the lack of a clear run. Martin Dwyer was aboard once again at Salisbury, riding the bay close to the pace and led over four furlongs out. Moving to the stands’ side over two furlongs out, he was shaken up approaching the final furlong and quickened clear to win by three and a half lengths.

Marcus Tregoning commented after the race, “Impressor has got loads of speed and I wouldn't be rushing to go over seven furlongs with him. He's in the Mill Reef at Newbury and that's a likely type of race to run him in.”

Tregoning bought Impressor as a yearling on behalf of owner RCC Villers at Tattersalls, going to 55,000gns for the Footstepsinthesand colt offered by Castletown Stud. A half-brother to Group 2 second Dressed In Fur, he was bred by Cottage Bloodstock out of a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Araafa.