Look To The Stars blazes a Newbury trail for Charlie Appleby

Look To The Stars built on his taking success at Kempton earlier this month to register a stylish all-the-way victory in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes at Newbury.

The one-mile event has a rich history, with the likes of Derby winner Shergar and Group One scorers Rainbow Quest, King’s Theatre and Nayef all featuring on the roll of honour.

And while the gelded Look To The Stars will be unable to make any Classic challenge of his own, Charlie Appleby’s 5-2 favourite could have a bright future after his one-length triumph in the hands of William Buick.

His win sees him replicate the achievement of the Moulton Paddocks handler’s subsequent Group One scorer Yibir in 2020, with the Godolphin team now contemplating a move into Group company for Newmarket’s Group Three Emirates Autumn Stakes on October 11.

Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam said: “I think it was a nice race without being too deep and I think he showed a nice attitude. He kept plugging away and is an improving sort who will go on and probably get further next year but will stay at a mile for now.

“I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t step up somewhere if he comes out of this OK. We saw early doors and again here he can get a bit hot so gelding him has helped him, but I think going forward he will be a nice, fun horse.

“There’s a bit of juice in the ground out there which will stand him in good stead for the rest of the season and Charlie mentioned possibly an Autumn Stakes, but we will just have to see where he fits in with the others really.

Ed Walker could be tempted to roll the dice in search of a valuable prize at the Curragh next weekend having seen Black Star Boy (100-30) leave his debut performance behind to blaze a trail in the opening Kennet Valley Syndicates Nick Robinson EBF Maiden Stakes.

Walker said: “That was really nice and we were disappointed on debut at Windsor as we thought we had a nice horse and mine are always a bit babyish and green but it was a really lacklustre run with not much to take out of it.

“He’s clearly taken a big step forward and he pinged the gates and travelled strong and he’s more of a mould to dad than some of the Starman’s we’ve seen so far – he’s a big, strong horse.

“He’s in the Goffs Million next weekend which is obviously worth a fortune and when we bought him, we bought him with that race in mind.

“Things haven’t probably happened in time and it’s probably not the right thing to do and go again next weekend, but it is €495,000 to the winner and worth a few quid so we’ll see.”

Edward Smyth-Osbourne has already tested Tavana (18-5) at Listed level once this season and she could have her sights raised once again after coming out on top in a competitive Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises British EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

“The Listed Radley Stakes back here at the end of October would be on the radar depending on the ground,” said the Lambourn-based handler.

“We’ll have to see how she comes out of this and there is a Listed race on the all-weather in France we could look at.

“She’s a tall, leggy filly with plenty of filling out to do over the winter. It would be lovely to get some two-year-old black type with her while we can but hopefully she can become a flag-bearer for us.

“We don’t know where her ceiling is yet and she tries very hard and has a very willing attitude and I hope she can keep progressing.”

Another Lambourn handler was in the winner’s enclosure after the Dubai Duty Free Nursery Handicap as Tom Dascombe’s Senorita Vega (5-1) teed-up a possible trip to France after going one better than her recent Newmarket second in the hands of Ashley Lewis.

“She showed so much speed early doors and she should have probably won at Chester in May but for a bad draw and finished third,” explained Dascombe.

“She’s totally genuine and goes on any ground and she’s very straightforward. Her owner is the most supportive person I know and he deserves winners.

“There’s a Listed race at Marseille (Prix Delahante) for her and it’s a long way to go, so we would want to go there knowing we were going to run well. We’ll see.”