By Tom Frary
Godolphin's Rapid Force (Mehmas) had little to beat on his belated debut at Kempton on Wednesday, but carried out the task proficiently nevertheless to begin justifying his £1million purchase price.
Having been held back since topping the Goffs UK Breeze-Up in April, the son of the Sapphire Stakes third Rapid Reaction (Shamardal) from the family of Wootton Bassett sat last of the trio that contested the six-furlong novice that opened the card.
Wound up by William Buick to take over a furlong out, the Charlie Appleby-trained 2-5 favourite stayed on strongly to account for the experienced Mr Writer (Dark Angel) by two lengths. “He's a strong boy and he's going to get better next year as well,” his rider said. “It couldn't have been better for his first run and when he got to the front he had a little look which is never a bad sign.”
One MILLION quid's worth of horse 🌬️
Rapid Force (Mehmas) takes some time to warm to his task on debut but ultimately shows a nice change of gear to score under @WilliamBuickX.@godolphin | @unibet pic.twitter.com/AynSDGzi9u
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 8, 2025
The winner is the second foal out of the smart sprinter dam, whose career-best was a third placing in the Sapphire Stakes in its current guise as a Group 2. A half-sister to Katla (Majestic Missile), who was a triple Listed scorer and was also third in the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and the Sapphire as a Group 3, she hails from the family of the now world-famous Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire sensation Wootton Bassett who was lost to the industry last month. Rapid Reaction's yearling colt by Saxon Warrior sells during Thursday's session of Tattersalls October Book 1.
1st-Kempton, £8,000, Novice, 10-8, 2yo, 6f (AWT), 1:13.40, st/sl.
RAPID FORCE (IRE) (c, 2, Mehmas {Ire}–Rapid Reaction {Ire} {GSP-Ire}, by Shamardal) Sales history: €140,000 Wlg '23 GOFNOF; €140,000 RNA Ylg '24 ARAUG; £1,000,000 2yo '25 GOUKB. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $5,799. O-Godolphin; B-Milestream Stud Company Ltd; T-Charlie Appleby.
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