Run For Oscar was a comfortable winner of the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket.
Ridden by David Egan for trainer Charles Byrnes, the 4-1 shot was eased into the race and challenged with half a mile left to cover.
From there he worked his way through the field to find himself in a clear lead a furlong from home, eventually passing the post three lengths ahead of the runner-up, Vino Victrix, with the veteran Not So Sleepy third, both trained by Hughie Morrison.
The seven-year-old – carrying the colours of eight-time Grade One-winning hurdler Solwhit – was racing off an 8lb higher mark than when an easy winner at Haydock last time out, but he clearly had plenty more up his sleeve.
Run For Oscar lands the Club @Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap in fine style, with the Irish raider travelling powerfully throughout and kicking clear under @DavidEgan99 for trainer Charles Byrnes 🥇 pic.twitter.com/WlzxU6AiWZ
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) October 8, 2022
Byrnes said: "He had a very good preparation – everything went smoothly. The plan during the summer was to go to Galway for the big amateur race and he got balloted out. After that we said we needed to win somewhere to get in here, so we took him to Haydock and it worked out.
"He got a very smooth run through and when I saw his nose peeping through I said 'it would be hard to see him beat him from here’, but you never know either.
"They (Top Of The Hill Syndicate) have been the most tremendous owners. They’ve always left it to me, never a cross word and they deserve every bit of success they get."
Charlie Appleby views Flying Honours (10-11F) as a potential Derby candidate for next season after bouncing back to winning ways in the Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes.
So impressive in winning at Sandown and Salisbury during the summer, the Sea The Stars colt was widely expected to complete his hat-trick in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes over the Rowley Mile two weeks ago.
Odds-on backers had their fingers burned on that occasion, with Flying Honours beaten half a length into third place, but he rewarded those who kept the faith in this 10-furlong Group Three.
After sitting on the heels of the leaders for much of the way, William Buick pushed his mount to the lead racing out of the dip and he was always doing enough to hold the challenge of Blanchland at bay by a length.
Frankie Dettori suffered a nasty fall from Liftoff halfway up the straight, but walked away from the incident unscathed.
Appleby said of the winner: "After the last run we were head scratching slightly. I know it was a steadily-run race, which was never going to suit him, but we weren't sure whether to run him again or just put him away for the winter.
"I’m glad we’ve ran him. He’s grown up again since that last run and we can put him to bed for the winter now off the back of getting his head back in front and we can look towards some of those Derby trials in the spring.
"One thing I was confident about today is that he would keep galloping. When the second horse came to us he would have had to quicken up smartly and when you’re in these mile and a quarter races, lengthening is their game rather than quickening."
Silver Knott (4-1) continued Godolphin's domination of the Emirates Autumn Stakes when holding off Epictetus by a neck.
Charlie Appleby was winning the race for the fourth time since 2017, with his fellow Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor successful in 2019 with Military March as well as in 2016 with Best Solution.
Given Appleby has won the race with Ghaiyyath, One Ruler and this year’s 2000 Guineas winner Coroebus, he will be hoping Silver Knott goes on to be as good as any of that trio.
William Buick brought him widest of all to challenge Epictetus and Frankie Dettori and it always looked like he would come out on top.
The favourite, Holloway Boy, was briefly short of room on the rail and made late gains into third.\
A thrilling renewal of the @emirates Autumn Stakes goes the way of Silver Knott, with the Lope De Vega colt staying on best of all to hand a quickfire Group 3 double to the William Buick, Charlie Appleby and @godolphin team 🥇 pic.twitter.com/0kvYa8Tm1v
— Newmarket Racecourse (@NewmarketRace) October 8, 2022
Appleby said: "It was a disappointing run at Doncaster, but we felt we had a genuine excuse (soft ground) and the step up in trip and going back on a sound surface was always going to suit him.
"He put in a nice performance at Sandown the time before and I think we’ve seen that again today. He’s carried the Group Three penalty against a competitive field.
"He doesn’t do anything flash. I know we were getting excited after Sandown, but the race broke down in front of him that day and went away from him up the hill.
"I haven’t had chance to speak to William yet, but I think in the middle of next season you’ll be seeing him at 10 furlongs for sure.
"We’ll potentially put him in one of the (Guineas) trials in the spring."
