Silver Knott ensures G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes dominance continues

Silver Knott provided Godolphin with a sixth victory in the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes in the space of seven years as he gamely edged out Epictetus on day two of Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket, Saturday, 8 October.

Best Solution, Ghaiyyath and Coroebus all feature among the recent roll of honour for the mile race, with the only winner not wearing the royal blue silks since 2015, Persian King, also graduating to G1 honours in the Godolphin colours.

Silver Knott had already established himself as one of Charlie Appleby’s leading juveniles with an emphatic win in the G3 Solario Stakes, although the son of Lope de Vega had subsequently failed to act on slower ground in Doncaster’s G2 Champagne Stakes.

Covered up in mid-division by William Buick, Silver Knott quickened strongly after being angled out to deliver his challenge approaching the final quarter-mile.

The Godolphin colt pressed for the lead with just over a furlong to race and went on with Epictetus soon after. Silver Knott established a narrow advantage half a furlong out and rallied bravely, hitting the line well for a neck success.

Charlie Appleby said: “William [Buick] said that Silver Knott was never happy on the ground in the Champagne Stakes – it was a disappointing run that day but we had a genuine excuse. Coming into today, we always felt that the step up to a mile was going to suit, as well as being back on a sound surface.

“It’s nice to get these horses back on track and we will potentially put Silver Knott away for the winter, although we will keep the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at the back of our minds.”

William Buick said: “The ground went against Silver Knott at Doncaster but he travels well on a nice surface and saw the mile out very well today. He is a big horse, which gives us plenty of confidence for next year.

“Both he and Flying Honours are very much three-year-old types and anything they achieve at two is a bonus. They are both doing it on raw ability.”