By Tom Frary
1st-Newmarket, £10,000, Novice, 4-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.08, gd.
MILITARY CODE (GB) (c, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}–Wishfully {Ire} {SP-Fr, MSP-Ger}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), sent off at 6-1, tracked the early pace before being committed against the rail approaching two out. Soon in front, the newcomer asserted to beat fellow newcomer Moonfall (Ire) (Starman {GB}) by 1 1/2 lengths, with a telling 3 3/4-length gap back to the Brocklesby third Exclamation (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). “We came here with a bit of confidence, as he'd done some nice work with a small group of 2-year-olds and hopefully they'll come along together,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “You couldn't fault him as a physical and he'll have no problem stepping up to six and possibly beyond. He was a bit green down at the start, but he's been very professional at home, he travelled well and picked up well. We had hoped he'd be an Ascot-type horse and he could go for the [Listed] National Stakes [at Sandown] again over five beforehand, but we have a couple of others for that too. Six is probably the trip for Ascot, so it's the Coventry at this point.” The multiple listed-placed dam, whose yearling colt is by Too Darn Hot (GB), hails from the family of the G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) whose son Ghaiyyath (Ire) was a luminary for this yard and is making his mark at Stud. She also produced the GI Man o' War Stakes heroine Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who has thrown this year's G2 Al Maktoum Classic winner and G1 Al Maktoum Challenge runner-up Imperial Emperor (Ire) also by Dubawi and whose daughter Ilda Rosa (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) had gone two-for-two at Lyon-Parilly 24 hours earlier. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,824.
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby.
Classy debut 🟦🟦
Wootton Bassett colt Military Code produces a taking debut performance over a trip that is surely sharp enough, even at this early stage.
Stacks of potential ⬆️@godolphin | @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/HqFmliThRV
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 17, 2025
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