Charlie Appleby continued his remarkable record with two-year-olds at Newmarket’s July Festival as Al Hudaiba produced a determined late surge to land the £125,000 Boodles Superlative Stakes, while Aalto added another memorable chapter to his Bunbury Cup story on a high-quality Saturday card.
Newmarket July Festival results.
Appleby collected the prestigious juvenile prize for the seventh time after Al Hudaiba, ridden by William Buick, denied hot favourite Abraham Lincoln by a short head in the closing strides of the seven-furlong Group contest. It was another example of the Godolphin-trained youngster’s raw talent overcoming immaturity when it mattered most.
The winning trainer admitted the colt made life difficult during the race before showing his class in the final stages.
Appleby added that simply keeping the colt balanced proved as challenging as asking him to quicken.
“I wasn’t confident when we got that close, especially with the luck we’ve had in recent weeks. But once he got his head down and started rallying again, I felt he would get there because he has plenty of ability.”
The trainer acknowledged Al Hudaiba still has plenty to learn, revealing the colt has shown signs of greenness at home, including unseating Tom Marquand in an earlier piece of work.
“He finds everything very easy because he has such a big engine. If he’s going to compete at the highest level, he’ll need to concentrate better.”
Appleby indicated that the National Stakes at the Curragh is the colt’s most likely next target.
The £100,000 Bunbury Cup produced another memorable performance from the Ian Williams-trained Aalto, whose course record in the heritage handicap now reads first, second and first following victories in 2024 and 2026.
Partnered by William Buick, the six-year-old came from well off the pace to overhaul Back In Black inside the closing furlong and score by half a length.
Williams praised both horse and jockey after another notable success.
“We’ve tried not to over-race him and he managed himself really well today,” he said. “William told me that once he asked him to go, he really picked up. It’s a huge result for everyone connected.”
The trainer admitted he never felt victory was certain until the winning post arrived.
“I thought we still had a lot of ground to make up. We mainly train handicappers, so races like this are extremely important for our yard.”
Although another Bunbury Cup attempt remains a possibility in 2027, Williams said any return would depend entirely on how the gelding progresses over the coming months.
The opening Rossdales British EBF Maiden went to the Aidan O’Brien-trained Haffner, who built on his debut experience with an authoritative front-running display over seven furlongs.
The son of Justify, ridden by Ryan Moore, stayed on strongly to defeat newcomer Al Wathba by a length and a half.
Paul Smith, representing joint-owner Derrick Smith, believes the colt has earned a step into Pattern company.
“He travelled very smoothly and Ryan was delighted with him,” Smith said. “He enjoyed both the extra distance and the ground. He looks like a Stakes horse and races such as the Champagne Stakes are now very much under consideration.”
Blue Point’s excellent week at the Debenhams July Festival continued when Planet Seeker produced an impressive display in the HKJC World Pool Filles’ Handicap.
Stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time, the Ralph Beckett-trained filly relished the extra distance and drew clear to beat her rivals by three and a half lengths under James Spencer.
“It was a straightforward race from my point of view,” Spencer said. “She settled beautifully, loved the ground and the step up in trip clearly suited her.”
The afternoon concluded with a dramatic finish to the £50,000 Weatherbys Handicap over one mile as St Anton edged out Alfaraz by a nose.
Alfaraz had dictated much of the contest before Pat Dobbs switched St Anton towards the near side in the closing stages, with the pair battling all the way to the line.
Dobbs praised the gelding’s determination after securing his third career victory.
“Fifty yards from the line I thought I had it won, then the other horse came back at us,” he said. “Fortunately, my horse carries his head very low. He’s got a wonderful attitude and I think he’ll continue improving, especially when he steps up in distance.”
The closing handicap rounded off another memorable afternoon at Newmarket, with established performers and promising youngsters alike producing performances that could shape the remainder of the Flat season.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz