Saba Desert continues G2 Superlative Stakes hot spell

Exciting juvenile Saba Desert added his name to an illustrious G2 Superlative Stakes roll of honour in an eventful running of the seven-furlong contest for juveniles at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, 12 July. 

Godolphin colts had previously won the Superlative Stakes seven times, including Saba Desert’s sire Dubawi, multiple G1 winner Master Of The Seas and Classic scorer Native Trail, who used the race as a springboard to Champion Two-Year-Old honours. 

A comfortable winner of a Sandown Park maiden on his debut for Charlie Appleby, Saba Desert reared as the stalls opened but soon recovered to dispute fourth of the seven runners behind the pace-setting Venetian Lace, Wild Desert and Bourbon Blues. 

William Buick switched Saba Desert over towards the stands’ rail to track Venetia Lace after the first three furlongs, with Wild Desert also leading the rest of the field over at the halfway point. 

Venetian Lace kicked for home approaching the final quarter-mile but veered towards the centre of the course, hampering Wild Desert and forcing Italy wide. 

Saba Desert stayed on powerfully down the stands’ side to hit the front just inside the final furlong before drifting into the centre of the course half a furlong out, a move that cost Wild Desert further momentum. 

Straightened up close home, Saba Desert hit the line strongly to prevail by a length and quarter over Italy, with stablemate Wild Desert a neck further back in third. 

Charlie Appleby said: “Saba Desert produced what he showed us at Sandown and galloped out well once he hit the rising ground. He is a horse who we have liked from day one – he’s a deep-girthed horse and he’s horizontally laid back. He hasn’t shown us what he did in the gates today before, although it can often happen on their second start. 

“Going on to the National Stakes from here is a road that we often take a good, firm look at and I see no reason why we won’t go there and hopefully on to a Dewhurst Stakes. 

“I thought Wild Desert would be a nice horse to take to Goodwood for the Vintage Stakes, or we could wait for the Champagne Stakes if we gave him a break. He ran a nice race today, considering he probably received the most interrupted run. I was pleased with the way both horses galloped out strongly.” 

William Buick added: “It was a scrappy race and I think they all wandered around a bit. It was a good, honest gallop and there was no hiding place. Saba Desert followed the field over and knuckled down well. He has really come forward for his Sandown run and was still green when he got to the front, so there is plenty of improvement in him. 

“Charlie has won the Superlative with some really good horses over the years and winning this race always stands a horse in good stead.”