A decade on from his first domestic Group One success with Charming Thought in the Middle Park Stakes, Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby won the Juddmonte-sponsored six-furlong contest for a second time today with Shadow Of Light (11-4).
Partnered by William Buick, who was also aboard Charming Thought as well as the 2010 winner Dream Ahead, the son of Lope De Vega took up the running just over a furlong from home and quickened impressively to defeat the 4-5 Favourite Whistlejacket by four lengths.
Charlie Appleby said: “I am delighted for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Team Godolphin and all the team at home.
“Paul Eddery, who rides him at home, has been rock solid in his advice and opinions all year. Paul was very confident going into this weekend that this horse is a Group One horse and he has gone and proved himself today.
“It’s nice to have a horse like him. He is a half-brother to Earthlight (the 2019 Middle Park Stakes winner) and there is plenty of pedigree on the page. We were hopeful he’d go on the ground.
“One would imagine we’d put him away for the winter now and then next year will be whether he goes for the Guineas or is more of a Commonwealth Cup horse. I would say there is a lot of speed in his pedigree and the Commonwealth Cup route is most likely.”
Aidan O’Brien saddled a record fifth winner of the Group One Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes when Lake Victoria (6-4 Favourite) won impressively by three lengths in the hands of Ryan Moore.
The Frankel filly, who landed the Group Three JenningsBet Sweet Solera Stakes on the July Course in August, was making the unusual move of dropping back to six furlongs having scored over seven furlongs last time out in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh just under a fortnight ago.
Aidan O’Brien said: “We always thought she could come here after the Moyglare as she was always very quick in her work. It’s a rare thing to do (come back in distance from seven furlongs to six furlongs) and she was more impressive today and made her own running. Ryan gave her a lovely ride and made it look so simple.
“She is obviously very quick and very talented. Ryan said she could come back here now for the Fillies’ Mile! We’ll see what the lads (owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier) want to do – we have backed her up quickly and we will let her tell us if she goes again this season.
“She has always been very classy, we thought that the first time she ran at the Curragh.
“She looks a Guineas filly as she travels and quickens really well and has a lot of speed – which are all the things you need here. She is very exciting.”
O’Brien’s previous Cheveley Park Stakes winners were Brave Anna (2016), Clemmie (2017), Fairyland (2018) and Tenebrism (2021).
The bet365 Cambridgeshire is one of the season’s most competitive handicaps but it was turned into a procession by Liberty Lane (8-1), who defied top-weight of 9st 12lbs to win the £175,000 contest by two and a half lengths under jockey Clifford Lee.
It was an especially poignant success for trainer Karl Burke – who led up a runner as a 16-year-old in the 1979 running of the historic nine-furlong prize.
Burke said: “That was fantastic. I was a bit worried halfway that it looked like they had it on this side but yesterday I walked the track before racing and was convinced the stands’ rail wasn’t the place to be, so I was quite happy we were drawn low today.
“He wants some juice in the ground and is a very good horse – I ran him in the Dante as a three-year-old and I said to his owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoun that he’d run a good race. He was keen but lead to a furlong and a half out in a high class race that day.
“He has always been a very good horse and proved that today.
“I led up a horse called Acapulco Gold in the 1979 Cambridgeshire for trainer Hugh O’Neill. He was a lovely little chestnut horse and in the first six in the betting from what I remember but he didn’t perform. It’s race I’ve always had in my mind to win so it’s great to get it.”
Ambiente Friendly beat all bar City Of Troy in this year’s Betfred Derby and his owner The Gredley Family look to have a contender for the 2025 renewal of the world’s most famous race in Wimbledon Hawkeye (4-1) following his success in the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes.
Partnered by James Doyle, the James Owen-trained son of 2020 2000 Guineas winner Kameko scored decisively by a length and a half from Royal Playwright.
Tim Gredley of the winning owner-breeders said: “We really hoped today would happen and now it has. We’ll sit back, let then dust settle and see what happens.
“We have always believed there is so much more growing in him. Maybe the Derby next year could be his route, but we’re all bluffers trying to have a dream!
“Let’s just enjoy today. James said the horse travelled so easily through the race. The ground is not an issue for him and it’s a lovely position to be in.
“I would say it’s very doubtful he’ll go to America for the Breeders’ Cup this year. Let’s just get today out of the way and enjoy it.”
Naina (6-1), homebred by the Russell family’s BB Thoroughbreds, continued her upward curve when successful by a length and three quarters under apprentice Christian Howarth in the opening £50,000 British Stallion Studs EBF ‘Jersey Lily’ Fillies’ Nursery. The Expert Eye filly has now won four of eight starts and could now make the step up to Listed class, winning trainer John Ryan revealed.
