Flying Honours back on top in G3 Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes

Flying Honours avenged his recent Royal Lodge Stakes defeat with a straightforward victory in the G3 Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes on day two of Newmarket’s Dubai Future Champions Festival, Saturday, 8 October.

A dominant Listed winner at Salisbury in August, the Sea The Stars homebred was making a quick reappearance on the Rowley Mile following a close third in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes two weeks earlier, when a small field and slow pace had played against him.

Flying Honours soon settled on the stands’ rail in fourth of the nine runners as Dear My Friend and Galactic Jack cut out the early running in the mile and a quarter event for juveniles.

The Charlie Appleby-trained colt stayed on powerfully to take second from Galactic Jack over two furlongs out and reeled in Dear My Friend passing the furlong-pole.

Flying Honours was kept up to his work by William Buick to prevail by a length over the closing Blanchland, with the front two pulling clear of Dear My Friend in third.

Charlie Appleby said: “I am delighted to get back on track with Flying Honours. We were scratching our heads slightly after the Royal Lodge, although we knew it was a very steadily run race, which was never going to suit him.

“We weren’t sure whether to go again here or put him away for the winter but I am glad we ran him. He has grown up again since that last race and goes into the winter having put his head back in front.

“We can look forward to some of the Derby trials in the spring. On his pedigree, staying is going to be his forte.”

William Buick added: “The Royal Lodge was a non-event really because they went very slow and it wouldn’t have suited this horse. Stepping up in trip and the end-to-end gallop suited Flying Honours and he is going to be a nice middle-distance prospect for next year.”