Charlie Appleby eyes up Belmont riches after Maho Bay takes Group 3 honours

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Promising colt Maho Bay could be set for a trip to the States after he made all to land a first Group success in the Winter Hill Stakes. 

The imposing Godolphin colt started his season as a Derby hope for Charlie Appleby but after being beaten in the Lingfield trial and a subsequent fifth in the Hampton Court Stakes, his future could lie abroad after a smart win over outsider Venetian Prince, with hot favourite Raaheeb trailing home in fifth under Rossa Ryan in the Group 3 contest.

"He's going to be a lovely horse for next year," winning rider William Buick told Sky Sports Racing. "I thought he did well there, I liked what he did. It's probably what we should've done at Ascot but I wasn't able to, but he corrected that today. I thought he showed plenty of polish. 

"Charlie was happy for us to lead, but if someone was going quicker than us, that would have been okay too. He got a lovely breather around the bend and he built really well into the race. It was a nice performance. I'd say after that today he's opened up plenty of options for himself."

Appleby outlined the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont as his possible next target, a Grade 2 contest which has been a fruitful hunting ground for the trainer with winners Yibir (2021) and Nations Pride (2022). 

Wins for Williams

Polyxena maintained her unbeaten record at the track in the 6f novice to cap off a perfect afternoon for Stuart Williams.

The Kodiac filly was a shock 40-1 winner on her debut in July and delivered again under Marco Ghiani, following up stablemate Rebel Path's win in the 6f apprentice handicap.

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