'Class horse' Master Of The Seas sinks rivals to set up Royal Ascot date

Tuesday: Newmarket

Charlie Appleby headed the leaderboard on the Rowley Mile in 2021 and carried on where he left off when landing two of the feature contests on the opening day of the Craven meeting including the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes with Master Of The Seas.

The 5-4 favourite, who was providing jockey William Buick with the middle leg of a treble, handled a step up in trip to score on his first start since a gelding operation.

Master Of The Seas had done most of his winning in a hood last year but Appleby was bold enough to fit one on the four-year-old only to post on this occasion and the policy came off.

The winner, was cut to 5-1 (from 7s) with Paddy Power for next month's Group 1 Lockinge Stakes but connections are more likely to wait for Royal Ascot and the Queen Anne Stakes.

Appleby said: "We've taken the hood off Master Of The Seas on the Limekilns of late and he's settled well so we thought we'd try him without one today.

"He was the class horse in the race if it all came together and we're delighted with that. He's always looked as if he'd get this sort of trip and I'm not keen to come back in trip immediately at Newbury. We want him fresh for Royal Ascot where we think the stiff mile will suit him."

Science lesson

Master Of The Seas was completing a quickfire double for Appleby, Godolphin and Buick after their part-time lead horse New Science ran out the stylish winner in the preceding European Free Handicap.

Buick was content to bide his time up the middle in the five-runner Listed contest before hitting top gear from the bushes to comfortably hold joint-favourite Tacarib Bay.

The son of Lope de Vega, who was slashed to 25-1 from 60s by bet365 for the 2,000 Guineas in the wake of his triumph, was bouncing back from an odds-on reversal at the Dubai Carnival.

Appleby said: "We were disappointed when New Science got beaten over a mile at Meydan but we managed to get Master Of The Seas beaten there last year and he came back and won the Craven Stakes. His work since he returned to Newmarket has been very good and Paul Eddery has always said he was a nice horse."

As regards future targets, Appleby added: "He looked very good out there today and for me he looks a Jersey Stakes horse. He may well get a mile later on but for now that's probably the route we'll look at."

Buick then wrapped up a perfect hour or so by completing a 25-1 treble aboard the George Boughey-trained Cachet in the feature Nell Gwyn Stakes.

Dressed for success

Richard Hannon has one Royal Ascot two-year-old on his hands in the shape of Brocklesby winner Persian Force and could have another after Powerdress fared best of the debutantes in the opening 5f fillies' maiden.

The 9-1 chance looked booked for second when Yahsat set sail for home at the bushes but really hit top gear out of the dip to score by a head under Sean Levey.

The daughter of Dandy Man was given an opening quote of 20-1 by Paddy Power for the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and it could well be that she heads straight there.

Hannon, who was celebrating his second win in the five furlong opener said: "Powerdress has not done loads of work but has a nice attitude. We'll probably go six furlongs with her next which means she could go straight to Royal Ascot although we could look at the Listed National Stakes at Sandown before that."

Gale blows them away

Jockey Connor Beasley had finished second in a workout before racing but soon went one better when winning the 6f handicap on Gale Force Maya by a nose.

The flashy six-year-old was extending her excellent record on the Rowley when seeing off the persistent Bergerac and may be back at the track for the Guineas Festival.

Winning trainer Michael Dodds said: "We felt she might need it today but she's very genuine and loves it here. We may come back for a new Listed fillies and mares stakes here on 2,000 Guineas day."

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