AS discussed in last week’s column, things didn’t exactly go to plan for Charlie Appleby during Royal Ascot, but the champion trainer has bounced back in no uncertain terms with seven winners from 12 runners, including two listed successes at his local track, between June 29th and July 1st.

Despite the fact the stable’s juveniles weren’t represented at the Royal Meeting, Appleby’s two-year-olds have been in blistering form during the early part of the summer with 11 winners from only 25 runners.

Star Of Mystery is a filly by Kodiac out of the Godolphin-owned listed winner Mistrusting and therefore a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Althiqa and Mysterious Night, who Appleby trained.

Having been beaten on her debut at Doncaster, she hasn’t looked back since going one better at Haydock next time before outclassing her eight rivals in the Listed Empress Fillies’ Stakes on the July course last weekend.

Pulled clear

William Buick’s mount justified short price favouritism as she readily pulled clear of six previous winners to score hard held by four lengths. Having raced prominently, she quickened the tempo at halfway covering the third and fourth furlongs in 10.60 and 10.85 seconds, which had her opponents on the stretch.

The Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile (September 30th) was nominated as her prime target afterwards.

While the Group 2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes (July 14th) over the same course and distance is likely to come too soon, either the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot (July 29th) or the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York (August 24th) is expected to be next.

All speed, the flat six furlongs on the Knavesmire looks tailormade for Star Of Mystery.

LESS than two hours after Star Of Mystery won at Newmarket last Saturday, Charlie Appleby and William Buick completed a quick-fire treble courtesy of another beautifully-bred two-year-old filly, Dance Sequence, in the seven-furlong maiden.

A daughter of Dubawi out of a 10-furlong winner, she was making her first public appearance in an event which was won by subsequent triple Group 1 scorer Inspiral two years earlier.

Her lack of experience was evident before and during the race, but she made smooth headway approaching the business end and only had to be pushed out to beat the promising Upscale narrowly.

The champion jockey’s partner took 10.98 and 10.87 seconds to cover the fifth and sixth furlongs and looks every inch a pattern performer in the making. Her stable won the race 12 months earlier with Fairy Cross, who finished a close second in the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown (July 27th) before winning the Group 3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood (August 26th) on her next two outings.

Physical presence

Described as a big scopey filly with a lot of physical presence by her trainer, don’t be surprised if Dance Sequence follows a similar path.

Looking further ahead, the Dubawi filly could bid to emulate the aforementioned Inspiral by winning the Fillies’ Mile (October 13th). It was suggested in last weekend’s Racing Post leading stallion Dubawi is on the wane. With the likes of Dance Sequence, impressive Leicester winner Great Truth, the unbeaten Ancient Wisdom and three-year-old Imperial Emperor operating out of Moulton Paddocks, there is every reason to believe the 21-year-old is still capable of producing his fair share of future stars.

OWNER/breeders Jon and Julia Aisbitt, who are based at Lunces Hall in Sussex, have enjoyed plenty of big race success over the years since their interest in the sport began in 2006.

Lilac Road won the Group 2 Middleton Stakes in May last year, less than two months after Johan landed the Lincoln Handicap. The pair had their 100th winner at the end of last month when Godwinson stretched nearly five lengths clear to win a run-of-the-mill nine-furlong maiden at Hamilton Park.

A gelded son of Saxon Warrior out of the owner’s dual Group 3 winner Malabar, he had shaped well on his racecourse debut at Nottingham a fortnight earlier and was backed as though defeat was out of the question at the Scottish track.

Ridden by Paul Mulrennan he took control passing the two-furlong marker and pulled clear without the rider having to get serious.

Different league

The form of those in behind was nothing to get excited about but the William Haggas-trained winner proved in a different league.

I was working for Racing TV and was impressed with Godwinson as a physical specimen. A big, strong, imposing three-year-old, he was described by his rider as ‘a big baby’ afterwards.

He can only improve and, following one more run in a novice stakes under a penalty, he becomes an interesting proposition for valuable handicaps.

Ironically, his half-brother Tiber Flow provided his owner/breeders with their 101th winner in the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle 40 hours later – it was the Aisbitts’ 10th pattern winner. Godwinson has the potential to add to that tally one day.

GODWINSON (see below) wasn’t the only William Haggas trained three-year-old who caught the eye recently.

The well-bred Tafreej had proved frustrating to follow on his trio of outings earlier in the year – he travelled powerfully on his reappearance at Newbury before his effort flattened out, while the gelded son of Shamardal would have been closer than fourth had he not encountered the customary traffic problems at Chester in mid-June.

Back in action 13 days later and racing over a mile for the first time, he looked a well handicapped young horse when comfortably brushing aside three opponents at Yarmouth off a mark of 84.

A length and three quarters winner under Dane O’Neill, he would have won even easier had the Shadwell-owned runner not been carried across the track inside the final furlong by the runner-up Maximilian Caesar. Tafreej has only raced on seven occasions with both career wins being gained at the East Anglian venue.

Suited by straight tracks and, given the fact he hails from the family of Epsom Oaks and King George winner Taghrooda, he is bred to improve over further than a mile. That begs the question – are we talking about a possible contender for the Cambridgeshire Handicap at HQ (September 30th)?

The nine-furlong cavalry charge doesn’t feature on Haggas’ glittering CV, but the Somerville Lodge outfit did provide the winner of the Silver Cambridgeshire six years ago, thanks to the 93-rated three-year-old Addeybb – it is fair to say the subsequent four time Group 1 winner wasn’t harshly treated. Could lightning strike twice?