'I think I’ve got the best two Gutaifans around at the moment'

Laurence Bellman's love of all things Gutaifan continued when his reformed character Amichi continued to put his best hooves forward with a win in the Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The grey, who was bred by Yeomanstown Stud and Doc Bloodstock, became eligible for the race when sold to Ed Sackville for 15,500gns from the Somerville Sale last year and was making it a second win in a row from just three starts for Ed Walker.

Amichi was demonstrating the ample belief connections have always shown in him, although his initial troublemaking undoubtedly got the better of him on his racecourse bow at Newbury in July.

Bellman said: “It’s absolutely amazing. I’ve got to thank Ed Sackville and Ed Walker. They have always liked him. He was very frisky once he started getting on the gallops.

“His first race he was so naughty and completely didn’t know what was happening so he had to be gelded straight away - literally two days afterwards. We were quite surprised how well he ran at Kempton and obviously he had to come to this race afterwards.

“He is still quite a baby but he will stay further although he has got speed. You had to come for the sales race as he was eligible for it. I didn’t think it was a deep race. I didn’t think he would win but I hoped he would run well. I’m just so delighted."

Bellman's distinctive yellow and blue silks have been worn to success with another son of Haras des Faunes-based Gutaifan in four-year-old Popmaster. The four-time winner came less than half a length from Royal Ascot success this term when just touched off by Rohaan in the Wokingham Handicap.

His proud owner said: “I’ve got another good horse called Popmaster and with Ed Sackville I’ve just found a mini Popmaster and they got him. He is a very good buy and I think I’ve got the best two Guitafans around at the moment.

Watch Amichi win at Newmarket

“I nearly called him Mini Popmaster but Amichi is my nickname for Ed Sackville and he said it is about time you named a horse after me after I’ve got you all these horses."

All being well, the next port of call for Bellman's 'mini Popmaster' is the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes on the Rowley Mile on October 1, although thoughts have also turned to next season's three-year-old campaign.

He added: “I’m sure we will go for that but he is a three-year-old really. I’m delighted and this is wonderful prize-money.”

Gutaifan, who stood at Yeomanstown until 2020, claimed a first Graded winner recently when export Fev Rover landed the Canadian Stakes at Woodbine.

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