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| Staff Writer |
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Godolphin's Charlie Appleby secured the fourth straight win in the Newmarket Stakes with Jumeirah Derby-winner Nations Pride. The Teofilo colt powered up the straight and passed the post with seven lengths in hand under William Buick; Hoo Ya Mal finished second with favourite Subastar only third.
Buick and Appleby also landed the King Charles II Stakes with Noble Truth.
Nations Pride was twice victorious on the all-weather last season before capturing the Jumeirah Derby at Meydan in February.
Charlie Appleby said: “William was very complimentary after he rode Nations Pride in a piece of work the other day and he felt that the horse had definitely come forward since Dubai.
The Derby is the one race we want to win but Royal Ascot is around the corner afterward and you have to keep a few fresh legs for it.” Noble Truth bounced back to the level of form that saw him finish second in last year’s Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere as he spreadeagled his rivals in the 7f Listed King Charles II Stakes.
Returning to the turf after failing to act on dirt in the Saudi Derby, the Kingman colt led a group of two who raced up the far rail, with the three other horses electing to race up the center of the course. Noble Truth had established a decisive advantage entering the final 2f and continued to pour it on in front, hitting the line six lengths clear of Honey Sweet.
Charlie Appleby said: “We felt that Noble Truth had conditions to suit today and it was a great ride by William. Our plan was to come away from the pack as we didn’t want him to over race with horses around him. “My first thought was that he could be a horse for the Gr.3 Jersey Stakes but William feels that he has enough natural pace to drop back to 6f, which could bring the Gr.1 Commonwealth Cup into consideration. The stiff six at Ascot might just suit him.”