Military Code hoping to crack G2 Flying Childers puzzle

Military Code seeks another strong performance over five furlongs in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes, with fellow two-year-old colts Catullus and Avicenna chasing Listed honours on the same Doncaster card on Friday, 12 September.

Both of Military Code’s victories have come over the minimum trip, with the Charlie Appleby-trained son Of Wootton Bassett following up a winning introduction at Newmarket in April with an Ascot novice success the following month.

After failing to land a blow over six furlongs in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, Military Code went down by a head in Sandown Park’s Listed Dragon Stakes. He lost out by the same margin on his latest appearance in last month’s Listed Roses Stakes at York.

Charlie Appleby said: “Military Code has proven a solid campaigner to date, although we will be watching the weather slightly as he wouldn’t want it soft. It was a decent run at York last time out and a repeat performance should see him bang there in the finish.”

Catullus brings a progressive profile into the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes for Charlie Appleby, having won on his third start with a commanding display at Yarmouth in August following two creditable placed efforts.

The Invincible Spirit homebred was third behind subsequent G3 Acomb Stakes third Distant Storm and G2 Futurity Stakes victor Constitution River on his debut at Newmarket before going one place better behind Publish at Sandown Park.

He is joined in the seven-furlong race by the Roger Varian-trained Avicenna, who overcame signs of inexperience to comfortably take a novice over the course and distance on his sole appearance in mid-August.

Charlie Appleby said: “Catullus put up two good efforts in defeat before winning very impressively at Yarmouth. He has done well since and deserves a chance at this level, which will hopefully give us some guidance heading into the autumn and beyond. We wouldn’t want to see too much rain on top of what they have already received at Doncaster, but we will monitor conditions.”