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Desert Empire scores at Lingfield

The Ralph Beckett-trained Desert Empire (2 g ex Got To Dance by Selkirk) made a winning debut in the Betway Maiden Auction Stakes (1m) at Lingfield on Tuesday and the process handed Rich Hill Stud shuttler Vadamos (Monsun) his tenth first-crop winner. 

The two-year-old gelding stormed home to gain the lead inside the final furlong to beat Vino Victrix (Sir Percy) by half a length with another length back to Hemsworth (New Approach) in third. 

Desert Empire was purchased by Federico Barberini for 18,000gns at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale from the Tally-Ho Stud draft and he is the first winner out of winning Selkirk (Sharpen Up) mare Got To Dance.

Got To Dance herself is a daughter of Mullein (Oasis Dream), making her a half-sister to Tarboosh (Bahamian Bounty). 

Further back the gelding’s third dam is Gipsy Moth (Efisio), who is also the dam of Group 2 winner Illustrious Blue (Dansili). 

Vadamos is standing for a fee of NZ$15,000 (plus GST) at Rich Hill this season, while he stood at Tally Ho Stud in Ireland at a fee of €6,000 in 2020.

In the Derby-second colours of Khalifa Sat, @TomMarquand flies late to win aboard Desert Empire who scores on debut for @RalphBeckett at @LingfieldPark... pic.twitter.com/z2ROOVMvOI

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 22, 2020