First G1 Triumph For 'Breathtaking' Tryster

Tryster showed tremendous acceleration again to win the G1 Jebel Hatta Sponsored By Emirates impressively on his first outing at the top level on Super Saturday, March 5.

The five-year-old son of Shamardal, trained by Charlie Appleby, was tucked in last of the 10 runners by William Buick in the nine-furlong race on turf at Meydan, UAE.

He was switched out widest of all after entering the straight and came from last to first with a devastating run to lead a furlong out.

Tryster went clear before being eased down in the closing stages to beat Farrier by a length and a half in 1m 48.71s. There was another length and a half back to the third, Ertijaal, of the nine runners.

He will now be aimed at the Dubai Turf (G1, March 26) over the same course and distance on Dubai World Cup night.

Tryster is unbeaten this year after storming to another impressive victory on his return to turf in the 10-furlong G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors at the course on February 18.

His career before that had mainly been on All-Weather surfaces in the UK, and he has gained six victories from six starts on Polytrack and Tapeta, headed by easy wins in the G3 coral.co.uk Winter Derby and the Coral Easter Classic over 10 furlongs at Lingfield Park last year.

Charlie Appleby reflected: "I have to say a big well done to the team, who have done a great job. Everyone is a big part of this horse.

"What Tryster did on the synthetics last year was very exciting - going through the winter unbeaten - and then we went to the turf.

"In hindsight, there were probably a lot of little things that could have explained why he didn't perform in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes - he had a long winter, Sandown is probably not a track to suit him and there was a small field.

"We brought him out here after his reappearance on the synthetics with a view to trying him on dirt. As much as he travelled on the surface, he never showed us the same acceleration. We made the call that we would have another crack on the turf with him.

"They went steady in the Dubai Millennium Stakes and a lot of people said that it played into our hands because Tryster has got such a turn of foot.

"The runners have gone a nice, sensible gallop tonight and it was very pleasing to see him show that acceleration again.

"His running style has never changed - we have held him up on every start so far - and I told William to ride his usual race today.

"William has to have a lot of confidence in himself and the horse because you could always find a lot of trouble riding him like that. He is a horse who can travel very well and pick up well, which helps.

"He is going to have to step up again in the Dubai Turf and there will be no hiding place there but he deserves a crack at it now. He was rated 113 coming into this race and we had to run tonight to guarantee ourselves a World Cup night slot but I hope he has more than done that.

"We have seen many times before that you cannot beat a horse who has gotten himself into a winning sequence out here. Tryster is a horse who thrives on his confidence and he goes into the Dubai Turf on a high."

William Buick added: "I have ridden a lot of horses in my life that have a great turn of foot but I can safely say that I have never ridden a horse with a turn of foot like Tryster, and a horse that can switch on like him.

"You find yourself in last place and, the next thing, you are a length and a half or two lengths in front. He is a very, very good horse.

"The big day is obviously Dubai World Cup night for him but he has had a great prep and the team at home have done a great job with him.

"We couldn't be happier and we look forward to World Cup night now. His best form is over a mile and a quarter, but he looked as effective on nine furlongs tonight.

"There is every reason that he should transfer this form to the international stage. He ran once on turf in the UK at Sandown and I think we were scratching our heads afterwards but he was going round the other way.

"Maybe he just likes racing this way, with a flat track and fast ground. I think he is a horse who needs to be in a rhythm and an even surface suits him well. Sandown is a little up and down in places but he is probably a different horse compared to then as well.

"His performances last time and today were breathtaking."