Castle Way charts winning course in Listed Newmarket Stakes

Promising three-year-old Castle Way earned himself a potential Royal Ascot date following another clear-cut Newmarket success in the Listed Newmarket Stakes on Friday, 5 May.

The half-brother to dual Champion Miler Palace Pier, who ended a progressive juvenile campaign with a nursery handicap win at the same course, was prominent throughout the 10-furlong contest, initially racing in a close second behind Forca Timao.

Castle Way took up the running with half a mile to race and the Charlie Appleby-trained colt kicked away from the field entering the final furlong, galloping out powerfully under William Buick to beat Circle Of Fire by a length and three-quarters.

Stable-mate Victory Dance made late headway from the rear to press for second in the closing stages but could not quite get on terms with Circle Of Fire, finishing a neck further back under James Doyle.

Charlie Appleby said: “You couldn’t split Castle Way and Victory Dance that much at home, apart from the fact that Castle Way had proven himself over the trip. William [Buick] has always been a fan of this horse on the track and at home, which is why he sided with him.

“We will speak with connections, but I would imagine that we will look towards the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. We ran him at Epsom last year and he didn’t like the track.

“James [Doyle] said that he couldn’t fault Victory Dance, who was having his first try over a mile and a quarter. He has an action where you could see that he might just come down on his knees in the dip here, so a more conventional track like York or Ascot will help him.”

William Buick added: “I am very pleased with Castle Way. It was his first run of the year and he will improve physically. I think he will get a mile and a half. He has got that nice combination of speed and stamina over that trip. He is a well-balanced horse, which you have to be at Newmarket. He couldn’t have done anymore today.”