Gritty Quest For Stars refuses to be denied in Stonehenge Stakes

Unbeaten colt Quest For Stars continued Godolphin’s enviable recent record in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes with a resolute victory in the Salisbury contest on Wednesday, 12 August.

Royal blue runners had prevailed in four of the five previous renewals of the mile race for juveniles, with Albahr, Flying Honours and Arabian Crown all subsequently graduating to Group race honours.

Lining up on the back of wins at Doncaster and Sandown Park, Quest For Stars was sent on into a length lead after a furlong.

Connor Planas looked to stretch the field on the Charlie Appleby-trained runner over three furlongs out, although he was unable to shake off Scommessa Sicura, who took up the running approaching the final furlong.

Quest For Stars rallied bravely, despite Scommessa Sicura edging into his path, and regained the lead in the closing strides for a neck success.

Charlie Appleby said: “It was a very pleasing win for Quest For Stars. Connor gets on very well with the horse and deserved to keep the ride. The winner gets a free entry for the G1 Golden Fleece Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend, so we will probably look towards taking him to Leopardstown.”

Connor Planas added: “I had my first winner as an apprentice at Salisbury, so to come back here and have my first Stakes winner – I can’t thank Charlie enough for keeping me up on the horse.

“Quest For Stars tries very hard. I was pretty keen to go on the front end and turn into a stamina test from halfway. I knew he wouldn’t lie down – he has kept going to the line on his two previous starts and did the same again today. He is a big horse, who will stay further.”