Can Appleby and Buick springboard another star in the Autumn Stakes?

Saturday: 2.25 Newmarket
Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3) | 1m | 2yo | ITV

This race has a habit of producing Group 1 winners and when Charlie Appleby teams up with William Buick, it is usually with a potential star.

The indomitable pairing have won this race on three occasions, notably in 2017 with four-time Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath and most recently with the ill-fated 2,000 Guineas winner Coroebus.

Since 2012, six Autumn Stakes winners have gone on to top-level success and Silver Knott could be the next star for Godolphin.

He cost 725,000gns as a yearling and was an impressive winner of the Solario at Sandown in August, before getting bogged down on softer ground in the Champagne Stakes last time.

It is best not to judge him on that effort. If he can reproduce his Sandown run and handle the undulations, he will be the one they all have to beat.

History suggests that it is difficult to win this race second time out but Epictetus, who easily won a 7f maiden at Newmarket in July, has been all the rage in the market.

That form has been nicely boosted since by four subsequent winners, including Listed scorer Flying Honours.

Joint-trainer John Gosden remarked that he "wasn't fully wound up" after his debut and we can likely expect a big step forward here, which gives him excellent claims.

Exoplanet was extremely well backed when making a winning debut at Newbury last month and though that form is much weaker on paper, Roger Varian's string remain in white-hot form.

Holloway Boy, the 40-1 winner of the Chesham, has bumped into Marbaan and Nostrum on his last two starts and the mile should hold no fears for him. What he has achieved thus far makes him dangerous to dismiss.

Three-race maiden Dancing Magic placed in Listed company last time, but would need to step forward again from that, while Killybegs Warrior looks outclassed at this level based on his midfield finish in the Goffs Million.

Teal hopeful for some Magic

Dancing Magic is the only maiden in the field, but his trainer Roger Teal has no fears and is confident that his charge has the form to play a key role.

His son of Camelot looked a shade unlucky in his opening two starts and backed up that theory when second to Naval Power in the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock last month.

"He's run very well on all three of his runs," Teal said. "Obviously he hasn't been able to get his head in front, but if he reproduces his Haydock run it brings him right into the mix.

"He was beaten by a very good horse last time and the Newbury race has worked out really well. He's a winner without being one, he was unlucky as greenness got him beat."

Dancing Magic (left) chases home Naval Power at HaydockCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

If Dancing Magic can delight his trainer on Saturday, Doncaster and a potential tilt at the Guineas could be on the radar.

"He's a nice horse and will improve with time, he's one to look forward to as a three-year-old," Teal added. "If he was to go very well he's in the Vertem Futurity, which would definitely be a stepping stone to the Guineas."

What they say

Thady Gosden, joint-trainer of Epictetus
He won in pleasing fashion on his debut at the July meeting and has enjoyed a nice break since. It's a very competitive race in which he is facing some more experienced colts. This looks the right spot for him and he should enjoy stepping up to a mile. Any overnight rain would be a plus.

Roger Varian, trainer of Exoplanet
I really like this horse and I'm looking forward to running him. It looks a nice race and the Gosdens have a similar type in Epictetus, while Charlie Appleby's Silver Knott has more experience and a high level of form. I don't know if he's up to winning an Autumn Stakes, but he should run a nice race. He'll step forward from Newbury and will be suited by the mile, while I think that Newbury race is good form.

Clifford Lee, rider of Holloway Boy
Hopefully he's come on for his last run at Newmarket. Stepping up to the mile should be beneficial for him as he travels well and he ran a great race the last day.

Read our Saturday previews:

1.50 Newmarket: 'It can play to his strengths' – Zetland test expected to suit Flying Honours

3.00 Newmarket: 'This has always been the plan' – trainers on the day's Group 1

3.15 York: 'This is a nice prize' – key trainer quotes for valuable sprint handicap at York

3.40 Newmarket: 'She's had the exact same programme as Buzz' – can Henderson win the Ces again?

4.02 Chepstow: 'He's been working nicely' – find out who is expecting a big Silver Trophy run

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