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Master Of The Seas sails to Summer Mile victory

3 minute read

Charlie Appleby enjoyed a quickfire across-the-card double on Saturday with Master Of The Seas (11/2) taking out the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes just forty minutes after Race The Wind landed Newmarket's opening maiden fillies' stakes.

MASTER OF THE SEAS winning the bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes (Group 3) Picture: Pat Healy Photography

The Charlie Appleby-trained gelding finished well-beaten in the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan but bounced right back to something like his best when dropped in grade this afternoon.

It was a fifth Group success for Master Of The Seas and a second of 2023 having landed the Group 2 Zabeel Mile at Meydan back in January.

American-raider Classic Causeway assured there was no hiding place on Ascot's one-mile round course as he took the field along at a frantic pace. His seven rivals were more than happy to bide their time and the well-supported 11/1 favourite, Aldaary, looked to be travelling kindly turning for home.

However, Jim Crowley soon asked his mount for more entering the final furlong and the eye was quickly drawn to Master Of The Seas, who swept down the centre of the track to power away for a commanding wide-margin success under James Doyle.

Aldaary clung on for second place from the running on Hunt Cup winner Jimi Hendrix.

Winning jockey James Doyle said: "The ground isn't too bad out there, the wind has dried it out quite a lot,"

"He got a bit of a speed bump [on the turn for home] and it's never a bad thing.

"It's a good time to catch him, he always runs well after a break. Charlie will have a plan, whether that's pot hunting around the world, we'll have to see."

Paddy Power cut the winner from 16/1 to 12/1 for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood next month.