SPRINTER does not automatically equal precocity, but a high-class sprinter has the potential to get his best winners in any age group.

The early signs from Bated Breath (by Dansili) are that his standouts will be sprinters and milers. Can he get some high-class 10-furlong horses too? Yes.

He did not race at two, he won three from five at three, was a listed scorer and triple top-level runner-up at four, and took the Group 2 Temple Stakes at five, beating no less than Sole Power. His Group 1 placings came in the King’s Stand Stakes, July Cup, Nearctic Stakes and two editions of the Sprint Cup, and Timeform rated him 125.

Dansili (by Danehill) sons include Group 1 getters Harbinger, Strategic Prince, Zacinto and Zoffany, and blacktype sires Rail Link, Delegator, Famous Name, Requinto and Thousand Words.

Bated Breath’s eldest crop turned four in January, his progeny have notched up a triple-digit tally of wins, a seven-figure sum in earnings, and include nine blacktype horses, headed by Beckford. That Gordon Elliott-trained bay carries the well-known colours of Newton Anner Stud, he beat Verbal Dexterity in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh in early July, chased home that same colt in the Group 1 National Stakes at the same venue in September, and lost out by just half a length to Sioux Nation in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes.

His eye-catching fifth to Mendelssohn in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar in November showed could be a serious contender for Grade 1 success in 2018.

Bated Breath has also been represented by Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes and Group 2 Prix Robert Papin runner-up Al Johrah, Group 2 Rockfel Stakes third Gavota, and other pattern-placed juveniles Landshark, Take A Deep Breath, and Unabated.

So although a half-brother to Group 1 winner Cityscape (by Selkirk) and out of Tantina (by Distant View), who is a dual stakes-winning daughter of US Grade 2 scorer Didina (by Nashwan) and from the family of top-level aces Xaar (by Zafonic), Senure (by Nureyev), Close Hatches (by First Defence), and many more farther back, Bated Breath, a horse with a strong profile as a potential source of stars at three and above, has proved his ability to get high-class two-year-olds.

This early success has been mirrored in the auction ring where, in 2017, he had a €210,000 breeze-up colt (Landshark), a £270,000 yearling, and a 150,000gns foal among his top representatives, and already in 2018 he has had a yearling make €105,000 in Goffs.

BATED BREATH (GB), Bay 2007. Won six races, £419,945, from 5 furlongs to 6 furlongs, 3 to 5 years including, betfred.com Temple Stakes, Haydock Park, Gr.2, sportingbet.com Leisure Stakes, Windsor, L, also placed 2nd Betfred Sprint Cup, Haydock Park, Gr.1, Darley July Cup, Newmarket, Gr.1, King’s Stand Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Nearctic Stakes, Woodbine, Gr.1, and 3rd Betfred Sprint Cup, Haydock Park, Gr.1.

Retired to stud in 2013, and sire of the winners of 116 races, and £1,432,040, including BECKFORD (GB), VIK THE BILLY (GB), Al Johrah (GB), Gavota (GB), Landshark (GB), Take A Deep Breath (GB), Unabated (IRE), Mistress Of Venice (GB) and Sibilance (GB)

Stands at: Banstead Manor Stud, Cheveley, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 9RD, England

Contact: Shane Horan, Claire Curry or Eoin Fives

Telephone: +44 (0)1638 731115

Email: nominations@juddmonte.co.uk

Web: www.juddmonte.com

Fee: £10,000