By Sam Turner -
Godolphin’s King Of Conquest led home a Newmarket 1-2 for the UAE in the Listed Fred Archer Stakes when the market leader narrowly obliged at the expense of Aimeric sporting the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and superbly ridden by William Buick, the recent Goodwood scorer confirmed that form with his HQ adversary courtesy of a neck success, but it was to prove more workmanlike than the winner’s near three-length defeat of his old rival, partnered by Jack Mitchell, on the Sussex downs earlier this month.
“You’re never comfortable watching the horse as he’s always behind the bridle and he needs a gallop, so he makes life slightly harder for himself,” said Appleby.
“He’s a jack of all trades as he’s been leading horses at home as well as winning races. He’ll have a break now as he’s deserved one and I wouldn’t be averse to trying him over a mile and six going forward.”
The Appleby and Buick combination completed a pattern race double courtesy of Dubai Graduate Noble Dynasty in the G3 Plantation Stud Criterion Stakes.
The son of Dubawi’s impressive win on the Rowley Mile in May was advertised handsomely when runner-up English Oak scored subsequently at Royal Ascot and Appleby’s charge, a close-up fifth in the G3 Ras Al Khor at Meydan back in March, always held enough in reserve to see off Nostrum by three-quarters of a length.
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