Sandown Saturday review: Appleby on target

Silver meets gold for Godolphin

Silver Knot was added to Charlie Appleby’s wealth of options for next season’s classics with a straight win at the Fasig-Tipton Night Of The Stars Solario Stakes at Sandown.

The son of Lope De Vega, who had built on a promising Newbury debut fourth behind eventual Acomb winner Chaldean when he finished at Kempton, improved markedly for that experience with a visually stunning performance in the seven furlong competition .

Two-time winners Dornoch Castle and Wahaaj set the pace, but Silver Knott was on the reins and crossed menacingly behind Pat Dobbs, who replaced the absent James Doyle.

Writing was on the wall two furlongs away and everything else was under pressure, and after being given office, Silver Knott (9/4) went silky past to score a comfortable three-and-a-half lengths from Wahaaj.

The queen, whose silk was worn to success in last year’s Reach For The Moon race, was represented by 85/40 favorite Desert Hero, who held up well in third place after running strong in the early stages.

“It’s nice to have these winners and at this time of year it’s nice to dig up these types of horses,” Appleby told Racing TV.

“Some of them are now starting to poke their heads over the parapet and raise their hand. It’s going to be an exciting time over the next few months to six weeks but I’m sure there will be a lot more emerging from other stables out there. We ourselves have a few more ahead of us in the next few weeks.

“Obviously we won Gimcrack with Noble Style and won Victory Dance in Newbury so we’ll try not to head too much and look for the right ones to improve the trip.

“This could be one of those horses, he has a pedigree to die for and one that suggests we will see further improvements as the ride progresses.

“The more you can dream in winter, the shorter it gets and then we’ll see what reality brings in spring.”

Derby team ends up at Atalanta

Derby-winning trainer and jockey combo Richard Kingscote and Sir Michael Stoute have teamed up again in style Potapova came on a crushing run to take the loot in Group Three’s JRL Group Atalanta Stakes.

Runner-up in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom in June, she had underperformed in her last two starts, but the Cheveley Park-owned filly looked very different on this occasion.

Grande Dame, who sent off the 9/4 favorite after scoring on course and distance last time out, seemed poised to score if she drove a furlong and a half up front to ride under Robert Havlin .

However, Kingscote’s mount came far and late to wear them down and in the end the 18/1 shot went out with a comfortable length of a winner and a half.

It was a similar distance back to Ms Fitzherbert, who held up well in third.

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