G2 Superlative Stakes

He has his quirks, but Godolphin's Al Hudaiba (Dark Angel) also has a big engine as he proved when inching out Abraham Lincoln (Wootton Bassett) in Saturday's G2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket. Providing Charlie Appleby with a remarkable seventh renewal since 2016, the grey who has the rarity of an unseat in his form figures was delivered expertly and late by William Buick to swoop on Ballydoyle's green 8-13 favourite in the nick of time. At the line, a short head separated the two errant colts, with 1 1/4 lengths...

Now that the vast majority of the Classics and the high-pressure events of Royal Ascot are recent history, racing's summer loosens up a touch with Newmarket's July Festival next on the endless circling timeline. What those amazing hardwoods in the pre-parade ring could tell you, looming over decades of choice thoroughbreds and interactions, hushed awe and nervous tension. The meeting's agenda reads like a mini-Saratoga and is Newmarket's finest week of the year. While Saturday's G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup is the key race, the July Festival is...

Picked by William Buick from the two Godolphin hopes for Saturday's G2 Superlative Stakes, Saba Desert (Dubawi) justified that call to continue connections' run of success at Newmarket's July Festival. Swooping late to deny the 4-6 favourite Italy (Wootton Bassett), the grandson of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Gossamer defied a market drift to 6-1 to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths and deliver a fourth renewal to his sire who won this himself in 2004. "We went to Sandown with a lot of confidence and William said he had felt...

Godolphin's Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was ruled out of G1 2000 Guineas contention with a setback earlier this week, has succumbed to the injury, Godolphin posted on X on Thursday. The G2 Superlative Stakes hero and three-time winner last ran third in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes. He won a Newmarket novice in his debut last May good for a 'TDN Rising Star' badge, and added a similar affair in June, prior to his Superlative victory. "Promising three-year-old Ancient Truth sustained a serious injury earlier this week and, despite...

It was a case of business as usual at Newmarket on Saturday with Charlie Appleby saddling his fifth G2 Superlative Stakes winner in TDN Rising Star Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Beyond Reason {Ire}, by Australia {GB}). Having won on debut over six furlongs on the Rowley Mile in May and over this seven-furlong trip and course last month, the 4-6 favourite faced a depleted field with three non-runners and had to wait behind rivals early as William Buick anchored him under cover. Picking up impressively to take control approaching the...