The Overbury-bred William Bligh looked nicely progressive when winning by more than three lengths at Haydock for Chelsea Thoroughbreds and Ralph Beckett on Friday.
The two-year-old colt is by Darley’s first-season sire Territories and is out of Arbella, a mare bought by us in 2016 when in foal to Havana Gold. He was sold by Overbury Stud at the December Foal Sale for 25,000gns and then fetched 50,000gns when reoffered as a yearling by the Castlebridge Consignment.
William Bligh made his debut on the second day of racing’s resumption on 2 June, finishing seventh over six furlongs at Kempton and he seemingly enjoyed the switch to soft turf a little over a fortnight later when just narrowly beaten in second at Newmarket. Making his third appearance in a month at Haydock, he made all to win going away in the hands of Harry Bentley.
Arbella, who was bred by the late Peter Harris at Pendley Stud, is now 18 and has a yearling colt from the first crop of Overbury resident Ardad (picured).
