Newmarket review: Top Honours for Godolphin in Zetland Stakes

Zetland Honours for Godolphin

Charlie Appleby views Flying Honours as a potential Derby candidate for next season after bouncing back to winning ways in the Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes at Newmarket.

So impressive in winning at Sandown and Salisbury during the summer, the Sea The Stars colt was widely expected to complete his hat-trick in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over the Rowley Mile two weeks ago.

Odds-on backers had their fingers burned on that occasion, with Flying Honours beaten half a length into third place, but he rewarded those who kept the faith in this 10-furlong Group Three.

After sitting on the heels of the leaders for much of the way, William Buick sent the 10-11 market leader to the lead racing out of the dip and he was always doing enough to hold the challenge of Blanchland at bay by a length.

Frankie Dettori suffered a nasty fall from Liftoff halfway up the straight, but walked away from the incident unscathed.

Appleby said of the winner: “After the last run we were head scratching slightly. I know it was a steadily-run race, which was never going to suit him, but we weren’t sure whether to run him again or just put him away for the winter.

“I’m glad we’ve ran him. He’s grown up again since that last run and we can put him to bed for the winter now off the back of getting his head back in front and we can look towards some of those Derby trials in the spring.

“One thing I was confident about today is that he would keep galloping. When the second horse came to us he would have had to quicken up smartly and when you’re in these mile and a quarter races, lengthening is their game rather than quickening.

“He’s got a bit of experience under his belt now – that was his fourth run today. He’s been round Epsom, so we’ll let him winter and put him in a trial in the spring and see where we are.”

Betfair Sportsbook kept the winner at 16/1 for the Derby.

Silver sinks Autumn rivals

Silver Knott continued Godolphin’s domination of the Emirates Autumn Stakes when holding off Epictetus by a neck.

Trainer Charlie Appleby was winning the race for the fourth time since 2017, with his fellow Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor successful in 2019 with Military March as well as in 2016 with Best Solution.

Given Appleby has won the race with Ghaiyyath, One Ruler and this year’s 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus, he will be hoping Silver Knott goes on to be as good as any of that trio.

Sent off at 4/1 having disappointed last time out in the Champagne Stakes, he was nevertheless carrying a 3lb penalty for his victory in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown.

William Buick brought him widest of all to challenge Epictetus and Frankie Dettori, who was riding just 35 minutes after a nasty fall in the opening race, and it always looked like he would come out on top.

The favourite, Holloway Boy, was briefly short of room on the rail and made late gains into third.

Appleby said: “It was a disappointing run at Doncaster, but we felt we had a genuine excuse (soft ground) and the step up in trip and going back on a sound surface was always going to suit him.

“He put in a nice performance at Sandown the time before and I think we’ve seen that again today. He’s carried the Group Three penalty against a competitive field.

“He doesn’t do anything flash. I know we were getting excited after Sandown, but the race broke down in front of him that day and went away from him up the hill.

“I haven’t had chance to speak to William yet, but I think in the middle of next season you’ll be seeing him at 10 furlongs for sure.

“We’ll potentially put him in one of the (Guineas) trials in the spring.”

Whether Silver Knott runs again this year remains to be seen, with Appleby not ruling out an outing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, for which he was cut to 7/2 from 7/1 by Paddy Power.

He added: “It’s nice to get him back to winning ways and we can potentially put him away for the winter now, although the Breeders’ Cup has been mooted and we’ll keep that at the back of our minds.”

Treble for Buick and Appleby

Convivial Maiden winner Desert Order (11/10 favourite) lunged late to claim top honours in the Too Darn Hot Nursery – completing a treble on the card for Appleby and Buick.

Appleby said: “We were very pleased with what he achieved on his last start and he’s come forward for that.

“The plan was actually to ride him a bit more handy, but there was a good pace on. It was a bit of a messy race in the finish, but Will found the line and he’s a horse with plenty of substance who could develop into a nice three-year-old.”

Alflaila on the rise

Alflaila (5/2 favourite) continued his impressive rise through the ranks when winning the Masar Darley Stakes.

Bar a lacklustre run in the Jersey at Royal Ascot, the Owen Burrows-trained three-year-old has been a model of consistency this season.

His most recent runs had seen him win a Listed race at Pontefract and a Group Three at York and he carried a penalty against older horses on this occasion.

As he tends to, Alflaila was off the bridle entering the final furlong but Jim Crowley’s mount found plenty for pressure, powering up the hill to beat Ottoman Fleet by a length and a quarter.

“Jim doesn’t panic when he gets behind, he lets him find his feet and he comes home strong at the end,” said Burrows.

“If ever they go slow he might be vulnerable but the front two pulled nicely clear there.

“By winning the Strensall at York he qualified for Bahrain so we’ll talk with Sheikha Hissa (owner) and see of she wants to do that because he’s going to be a nice four-year-old next season.

“Of the horses Shadwell left with me, we thought him the nicest and thankfully it has proved that way.”

Third course win for Azure Blue

The Michael Dods-trained Azure Blue notched her third course win of the season in the Blue Point British EBF Boadicea Stakes.

Stepping up to Listed class after impressing in handicap company little over a fortnight ago, the well backed 9/2 joint-favourite proved more than up to the task – scoring comfortably by a length and a half in the hands of Cesarewitch-winning jockey David Egan.

Dods, who also saddled the other joint-favourite Gale Force Maya, who finished fourth, said: “I was travelling and I’ve only watched it on my phone, but she (Azure Blue) looked to do it nicely.

“She’s always strong at the end of the race, which is good, and she likes a fast pace.

“She’s a big horse, so whatever she did this year was always going to be a bonus. We’ll put her away now and look forward to next season.”

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