KY-Bred Colts Set for Rematch at Goodwood

A pair of Kentucky-bred colts will square off for the second time in their careers July 26 in the £200,000 Qatar Vintage Stakes (Eng-II) for 2-year-olds at the Goodwood Festival. 

Boynton and War Decree top the field of a dozen for the seven-furlong race, which was won in 2015 by Galileo Gold, the victor of the 2016 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) who is set to race July 27 in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Eng-I), the festival's marquee event. 

Godolphin Racing's Boynton (More Than Ready  ) is a half brother to multiple grade I winner Constitution  , and War Decree (War Front  ), is a grandson of multiple grade I winner Ticker Tape. The two were separated by just three-quarters of a length when first and second, respectively, in the Superlative Stakes (Eng-II) over the same distance at Newmarket July 9. 

Boynton was bred by the Twin Creeks Racing operation of Randy Gullatt and Steve Davison, which raced Constitution in partnership with WinStar Farm. Twin Creeks privately acquired the colt's dam, Baffled (Distorted Humor), group-placed at Royal Ascot, with Boynton in utero after she RNA'd on a $360,000 final bid at the 2013 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

Boynton was sold to Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock adviser John Ferguson for $750,000 when consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale. The colt, trained by Charlie Appleby, is aiming for his third win from as many starts.

War Decree, out of the Street Cry mare Royal Decree, was bred by Andrew Rosen's AR Enterprises. Rosen campaigns the colt, who won his debut spring at Leopardstown, with Coolmore and partners. Following his first-out win for trainer Aidan O'Brien, he was on the shelf for 11 months until the game performance in the Superlative.

Appleby believes Boynton will keep his record perfect despite his three-pound penalty for winning the Superlative. He will tote top weight of 129 pounds.

"He came out of it (Newmarket) so well. About 20 to 30 minutes after the race, he was walking out of the box and he looked so bright you would have thought he was just walking in," Appleby said on Godolphin's website.  

"The immediate plan was to wait for the National Stakes (Ire-I) at the Curragh in September, but that would be a long wait with a colt who is doing so well. I feel he has come forward again.

"In time, I think he will get one mile, no problem, and that's where you will see the improvement. I felt he outstayed War Decree at Newmarket, and even with the penalty (three pounds for the Superlative win), he is still the one they all have to beat.

"He also has the benefit of the Goodwood experience, having won there on his first start, and that must also be in his favor."