Betfred Sandy Lane Stakes |
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| Group 2, Haydock Park 15:00 £125,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 6f, Class 1  |
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1 Symbol Of Honour 2/1F
2
Arabian Dusk 18/1
3
First Instinct 11/1
9 ran NR: Dash Dizzy Distances: shd, ¾l, ¾l
Time: 1m 12.18s (slow by 1.68s)
Two wins in seven days for Symbol of Honour and was part of a treble on the day for @WilliamBuickX pic.twitter.com/LyVxR7ZGYD
— Haydock Park Races (@haydockraces) May 24, 2025
Just seven days after lighting up Newbury, Symbol Of Honour returned to the track with another statement of intent, grinding out a tenacious success at Haydock.
Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting grey had already showcased his credentials with a pair of wins at Meydan earlier this year, and while the step up to seven furlongs at the Guineas Festival saw him come up short behind Cosmic Year, a return to six furlongs last week in the Carnarvon Stakes brought him firmly back on track.
Installed the 2-1 favourite here, expectations were high—but so was the calibre of opposition. This was no gimme. A furlong out, it was anyone’s game, with Ain’t Nobody, First Instinct, and Big Mojo all poised to strike.
But when the chips were down, it was Symbol Of Honour, under a typically ice-cool ride from William Buick, who found that little bit extra. Locked in battle with the filly Arabian Dusk, he edged the verdict by the narrowest of margins—a short head the official call.
A place at Royal Ascot won’t be on the cards—being a gelding rules him out of the Commonwealth Cup—but this was a performance full of guts and class.
Alex Merriam, assistant to Appleby, reflected:
“He toughed it out. Maybe not quite the same sparkle as last week, but he showed the right attitude. He deserves a break now. He’s done Dubai and two tough races here in quick succession. He might head back there next winter—what he does before that, we’ll play it by ear.”
He holds an entry in the July Cup—now trimmed to 7-1 from 8s with Paddy Power—but any immediate plans will be made with caution.
“It would be lovely to run him all year round, but it doesn’t work like that,” Merriam added, while tipping his cap to a stable flying high in the run-up to the Derby and Royal Ascot.
Buick, for his part, gave credit where it was due:
“Full marks to Charlie and everyone back at home. Winning twice in a week, in two different parts of the country, isn’t something you see every day. It takes some doing.”
And Symbol Of Honour? He’s earned every second of that mid-season rest.
Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
£125,000 guaranteed, 3yo only, 6f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (3) Symbol Of Honour 3 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 2/1
2 (8) shd Arabian Dusk 3 8-13 Simon & Ed Crisford Harry Davies 18/1
3 (9) ¾ First Instinct 3 8-13 William Haggas Cieren Fallon 11/1
4 (7) ¾ Big Mojo 3 9-2 Michael Appleby Jason Hart 11/2
5 (4) ¾ Ain't Nobody 3 9-2 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 14/1
6 (1) nk Arizona Blaze 3 9-2 Adrian Murray David Egan 11/4
7 (5) 8½ Candy 3 9-2 Richard Spencer George Wood 50/1
8 (6) nse Powerful Glory 3 9-2 Richard Fahey Oisin Orr 17/2
9 (2) 2¼ Kullazain 3 9-2 James Tate Daniel Tudhope 33/1
NR 5 (10) Dash Dizzy 3 9-2 Charlie Johnston NON RUNNER
