The Listed Newmarket Stakes (1m2) run overnight in the UK produced a stakes quinella for Cambridge Stud shuttler Almanzor (Fr) with the race won by an expensive yearling purchase for Godolphin in Castle Way.
Bought for 425,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Castle Way is a half-brother to five time Group I winner and Champion Miler Palace Pier, who covered his first book of mares in Australia for Darley last spring.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Castle Way was having his first run of the year following a juvenile season that saw him win two of four starts, albeit not in stakes company.
He scored a comfortable length and three-quarter win over the another Almanzor colt in Circle of Fire, who was bred by The Queen and runs for King Charles. The favourite Victory Dance (Dubawi), a stablemate of the winner finished third.
“You couldn’t split Castle Way and Victory Dance that much at home, apart from the fact that Castle Way had proven himself over the trip. William [Buick] has always been a fan of this horse on the track and at home, which is why he sided with him,” said Charlie Appleby.
“We will speak with connections, but I would imagine that we will look towards the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. We ran him at Epsom last year and he didn’t like the track.”
The runner-up Circle of Fire also holds an entry for Royal Ascot as well as for the Epsom Derby.
Castle Way is the fifth winner from six to race out of Beach Frolic, an unraced half-sister to Group winners Bonfire and Joviality.
He becomes the ninth stakes-winner for Almanzor, who is priced this spring at $55,000 followign a good season where he has had four Group I performed three year-olds in Australasia headed by Victoria Derby winner Manzoice.
