In Gust, We Trust

They may be worlds apart in distance but the talented galloper, Thunder Snow who will start in the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, and Swettenham’s own golden boy, Trust In A Gust, are closely related through their pedigrees.

Trust In A Gust’s dam, Subtle Breeze is a half sister to Thunder Snow’s grand-dam, Red Slippers by Nureyev. Both being progeny from the outstanding Affirmed mare Morning Devotion, she has also produced Champion European Three-Year-Old Filly Balanchine, the winner of the Group 1 Irish Derby and the Group 1 English Oaks and multiple group winner Romanov. Red Slippers, a Group 2 winner herself, produced French Group 1 winner West Wind along with Eastern Joy, Thunder Snow’s dam.

This close family connection is a reminder of the depth and quality of Trust In A Gust’s pedigree. Sired by Swettenham’s past resident stallion, Keep The Faith, a son of Japan’s immortal Kentucky Derby winning sire, Sunday Silence, Trust In A Gust has impeccable breeding on both sides of his lineage.

Responsible for the mating, Swettenham’s principal, Adam Sangster purchased the young Storm Cat mare, Subtle Breeze from the dispersal of his late father Robert’s bloodstock interests at Keeneland in Kentucky in 2007.

Subtle Breeze has produced Trust in a Gust, and the winner’s The Show Goes On by Equiano and Artistic Design by Master Of Design. Her two-year-old, Loxwood by Pierro is a recent trial winner. She has a yearling by Equiano and is currently in foal to champion miler, Toronado.

As a racehorse, Trust in A Gust had two qualities that stood out in his racing career, natural talent, and raw courage, with victories in the stallion making Group 1 MRC Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m and in the time honoured VRC Toorak Handicap over 1600m.

"Trust In A Gust had a tremendous will to win like all good stallions. He's a fighter, and he's got an exceptional pedigree.” Sangster noted.

Trainer Darren Weir valued the style in which Trust In A Gust raced.

“I loved this horse's courage: in a tight finish, he was the one you wanted to be on. He's sound and tough, the perfect sort of horse trainers are always looking for."

The talented performer has already proven popular with breeders in his first season, particularly those looking to reap the rewards of the VOBIS program. In his racing career, Trust In A Gust won the VOBIS Gold Eureka, VOBIS Gold Star, VOBIS Gold Sprint and the VOBIS Gold Carat at Caulfield.

"This is the ideal VOBIS stallion, and one of the first things you look for at a sale is the VOBIS sticker!" Weir said.

Trust In A Gust has returned to where it all began. Sired by Swettenham’s stallion Keep The Faith, he was foaled down on the lush Nagambie pastures and prepped on farm for the yearling sales. Being one of Swettenham’s most successful graduate’s, we are now eagerly awaiting the first foals this spring from the promising young stallion.

Trust In A Gust provides local and national breeders with the best bloodlines from both hemispheres, and we can add Thunder Snow to the list of outstanding northern hemisphere performers in his black type producing family.

With Thunder Snow’s recent victory in the Group 2 UAE Derby in the fastest time recorded over that distance, if he achieves success in the Kentucky Derby, he will certainly add another chapter to the history of Swettenham Stud and the Sangster family’s international breeding legacy.

….and I’m sure if he could, Trust in a Gust would be cheering Thunder Snow on, loud and proud.

#TrustInAGust