Starman powered to victory for Ed Walker and Tom Marquand in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.
Always held in the highest regard by his trainer - who took the brave decision not to run in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot when the heavens opened - the Duke of York Stakes winner went off 9-2 here and looked like he had a bit to do over a furlong out.
A sprinting star is truly born!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 10, 2021
Starman blasts home in the Darley July Cup in Group 1 glory for @TomMarquand and for @edwalkerracing, a biggest career success 👏 @DarleyStallions @NewmarketRace @dward997 pic.twitter.com/Sqe0CTMVaw
But once meeting the highest ground, Marquand's mount found overdrive to beat favourite Dragon Symbol and defending champion Oxted by a length and a quarter and a short head in this famous Group One sprint.
Art Power, who had blazed a trail on the far side, was just behind in fourth place.
Native Trail gives Appleby second straight Superlative
Native Trail remained unbeaten to provide trainer Charlie Appleby with his second successive victory in Newmarket's bet365 Superlative Stakes.
Appleby struck in the same juvenile Group Two last year with subsequent 2000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas.
William Buick, the winning rider on both occasions, challenged late up the centre of the track on Native Trail - who had made a successful start to his career on his only previous start in a Sandown maiden last month.
The 11-4 shot then held on by a short head from fast-finishing runner-up Masekela - with favourite Dhabab, who had gone clear up the far side in the final furlong, hauled back to finish another length and a half behind in third.
🏆 Native Trail (2021)
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 10, 2021
🏆 Master Of The Seas (2020)
🏆 Quorto (2018)
Charlie Appleby, William Buick and @godolphin strike again in the bet365 Superlative Stakes at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/Bj7x0Y62O7
Appleby said: "He's a lovely horse to ride through a race as he goes through his gears smoothly. He showed that on his first start at Sandown and we saw the same today.
"I wouldn't say I was confident we'd be winning, but the way the race was developing, I knew he'd be doing it all the right way round and would be hitting the line strong.
"He's a breeze-up consigned horse, so he'd have had a bit of experience put to him early doors. But you wouldn't know that, to be fair - he's a very laid-back character.
"It was a good achievement winning today, but I do feel that when we step him up in trip, we'll hopefully see a bit more improvement again."
Quorto (2018) and Master Of The Seas (2020) went on to contest the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh on their next start.
