No stopping Cotai Glory as Atomic Force dominates in Prix Robert Papin

Cotai Glory's red-hot run of form continued apace on Sunday as Atomic Force stormed to his second Pattern victory in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly.

The Kevin Ryan-trained youngster, who made all to score by two and a half lengths from the Twilight Son colt Baghed, had previously won a Hamilton maiden and the Group 3 Prix du Bois.

Atomic Force was making his first start for new owner Siu Pak Kwan, whose familiar red and black striped silks have been carried by the likes of Came From The Dark and Stormy Antarctic, after bloodstock agent Alastair Donald of Sackville Donald purchased the gelding privately from Hambleton Racing and partner.

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"We're delighted and he was super professional, as he was last time, which was one of the things that attracted us to buying the horse for Mr Siu," said Donald. "It was a pretty faultless performance and he couldn't have done it more easily really - he's an exciting horse moving forward."

Expanding on the purchase of Atomic Force, Donald said: "We couldn't fail to be impressed when Atomic Force won the Group 3 in France and as he's a gelding it was a relatively sensible price for such a talented horse.

Atomic Force after victory in the Group 2 Darley Prix Robert PapinCredit: Scott Burton

"He's a big individual, he's 16 hands, so he's not just an early two-year-old type and he should have a good future. He'll eventually go to Hong Kong but there's not a lot for him over there for a while so I'm sure he'll continue his two-year-old career here and we'll take it one step at a time after that."

Before Hong Kong beckons, Donald explained that Atomic Force will be in contention for some exciting targets.

He said: "Being a gelding means he's exempt from a few options but the races we'll be considering are the Gimcrack, the Flying Childers and possibly the most suitable race at the end of the year will be the Prix de l'Abbaye - he'd get a very low weight and obviously he enjoys things in France."

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Atomic Force is one of 21 European winners sired by Tally-Ho Stud's Cotai Glory, a tally that sees him clear at the head of the first-season sire standings. The stallion has fielded two other stakes performers besides Atomic Force in Coventry Stakes runner-up Eldrickjones and Windsor Castle second Dig Two.

Donald knows better than most the talent Cotai Glory possesses having signed for the son of Exceed And Excel at 75,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale before he went into training with Charlie Hills.

He went on to win four races, most notably the Molecomb at two and the Dubai International World Trophy Stakes at four, as well as being placed in the Group 1 Nunthorpe and King's Stand Stakes.

Alastair Donald: 'It's going great for Cotai Glory and there's plenty more to run too'Credit: Laura Green

"I actually bought Cotai Glory for another Hong Kong client of mine [Kangyu International Racing] and they retain a good piece of him now he's at stud, so we've been paying a lot of attention to his success," said Donald.

"It's going great for him and there's plenty more to run too. The important thing is he's producing good winners, there are some real quality horses there so it's not just big numbers.

"Also, they're winning at two but a lot of them have size and scope. Cotai Glory himself is 16.2 [hands high] so I don't think he's just going to be a two-year-old stallion, I'm sure they're going to go on."

Bred by David Barry, Atomic Force is out of the winning Dansili mare Atlas Silk, meaning he is inbred 3x3 to Danehill and is a sibling to three winners, while his dam is out of the Listed scorer Marani.

Prior to his private purchase, Atomic Force also changed hands at public auction on two occasions, first when pinhooked as a foal at €12,000 by Tim Bourke, before he was reoffered by Railstown Stud at the Goffs Sportman's Sale, where Ryan and Stephen Hillen secured the horse on a bid of £22,000.

He is one of 127 juveniles in Cotai Glory's first crop, which was conceived from a covering fee of €6,000.

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