Buick stars at Sandown as Bayside Boy forms part of four-timer

By Graham Clark

Connections of Bayside Boy remain confident he is capable of a “big day” when conditions are right after outclassing his rivals in the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes and starring in a Sandown four-timer for title-chasing William Buick.

In what had been a slightly frustrating season up until this point, the son of New Bay returned to winning ways in first-time blinkers when making the most of a return to Listed company in the mile feature to form the highlight of a 45-1 four-timer for Buick. The victory also brought up a century of winners for the year for trainer Roger Varian.

Pitched into Group One company in the French 2000 Guineas at Paris-Longchamp and the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on his first two starts this season, the Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud-owned three year old could only finish fourth when sent off favourite for the Group Three Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood last time out.

There was to be no repeat defeat as favourite on this occasion for Bayside Boy, who after sitting in the middle of the pack for much of the race stretched away from his rivals once hitting the front inside the final furlong.

Maintaining a good gallop all the way to the line 4-6 favourite passed the post a length and a half clear of runner-up Sweet Believer, who was making her first start in 341 days, to score for the first time since last year’s Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Richard Ryan, racing manager to Teme Valley, said: “We’ve always thought an awful lot of him as Roger has. His two year old form was close to the very top and I think he made the top 10 two year olds rated in Europe last year.

“We’ve had an incredibly hot summer which hasn’t helped. We’ve had to be patient for the ground when it came and thankfully it was a chance for him to excel in conditions he relishes.

“It has been a little bit of a frustrating year but we have had to sit on our hands and wait. They (blinkers) have probably ended up being needed because we have run on conditions that have not been ideal.

“You would have probably not even run him (earlier in the year) if you had a free hand but that wouldn’t have looked brilliant on one hand either.

“He has ended up with just something to help him concentrate. We may not even need them one day but the conditions are hugely needed.

“I think he is capable of a big day when the conditions are right for him.”

Following the race Bayside Boy was trimmed from 33-1 into 14-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on October 15, however Ryan insisted that an outing in the Group One mile contest was not set in stone.

He added: “It (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) is certainly not off the table. He will go either there or the Arc weekend but we will wait and see on the conditions. They have got to be right first for him.

“There is a mile and a quarter race there (Prix Dollar) and he will also be in the mile race (Prix Daniel Wildenstein). We will see how the weather goes. He will make a lovely four year old too.”

Local Dynasty takes command

Charlie Appleby could take a tried and tested route with Local Dynasty who set up a step back up in class on Breeders’ Day at Sandown Park today when running out a stylish winner of the National Stud British EBF Novice Stakes.

After finishing fifth in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York on his last start the son of Dubawi made the most of a drop down in grade to make his first start over a mile a triumphant one – 12 months after the Newmarket handler claimed the race with Goldspur.

Travelling smartly in behind early pacesetter Sir Laurence Goff, and the prominently ridden Elwasme, the 11-10 favourite eased past both rivals inside the final quarter of a mile before being nudged out to score by three and a half lengths under William Buick.

Following the race Appleby earmarked the Group Three Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket on October 8th, which he has won with Ghaiyyath (2017), One Ruler (2020) and Coroebus (2021) as a potential target for Local Dynasty

Appleby, speaking away from the track, said: “I’m pleased with that performance. I do blame myself slightly for that last defeat at York as I probably stepped him up too soon in his career to that level in those conditions.

“More importantly he came out of that race well and learnt plenty. We went into today confident.

“Even though the ground had turned soft, we were hopeful he would handle it and he duly obliged.

“Going forward he is a horse we might potentially look at the Autumn Stakes or he could be a horse we just put away for the winter.”

Striking Star scores

There was further success for Appleby and Buick who combined to good effect 35 minutes later when debutant Striking Star looked another potential useful recruit for the Godolphin operation in the Blandford Bloodstock Novice Stakes.

Appearing to handle the soft conditions well the 15-8 chance quickly put the seven-furlong prize, which was claimed in 2019 by multiple Group One winner Palace Pier, to bed once sent on by Buick before prevailing by a length and a quarter.

Appleby added: “I’m very pleased with that performance. He is a horse that we have always liked and he has got a great pedigree.

“We went into the race with confidence with the ground, and with what he had showed us at home.

“Going forward there are no affirmative plans yet. We will see how he comes out of it and work are way from there.”

Phoenix rises to occasion

Joint owner Ian Fowler hopes to see rain in the forecast more often after Phoenix Star (4-1) scored for the first time since forcing a dead-heat over course distance on Coral Eclipse day last year after landing the Whatton Manor Stud Handicap.

Bursting through late on under Oliver Stammers the Jessica Macey-trained six year old forged past Pop Dancer, who had chartered a solo path up the stands side rail, before obliging by a length in the five-furlong event.

Fowler, who is one half of the Flying High Syndicate, said: “It’s been a while since he has won. It was here last time (on Coral Eclipse day) in a dead-heat.

“He likes a good pace and he likes horses stopping which in this ground they did today. There was one on the far side that went clear and we thought we were second again.

“He has never run on ground like this so I had no idea how he would go. When he dead heated here last time it was good to soft but Oliver (Stammers, jockey) said it is very heavy out there so maybe he likes it heavy. Let it rain and rain.”