Emotionless Excels In Champagne

Emotionless produced a scintillating performance as he cruised to victory in the Group Two At The Races Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs at Doncaster, UK, on Saturday, September 12.

The Charlie Appleby-trained two-year-old, stepping up in class following an easy win in a Newmarket maiden on his August 7 debut, broke well and was soon covered up behind the leaders, racing a bit keenly.

He moved powerfully into the race and cruised up on the bridle to join the leader Ibn Malik a furlong and a half from home.

William Buick asked Emotionless to extend inside the final furlong and the Shamardal colt immediately opened up daylight over his rivals before being eased to score by three and a half lengths in 1m 27.49s on ground described as good, good to soft in places.

Charlie Appleby commented: "Emotionless has an immense amount of talent and the fact that he is still able to show it while he's still learning is very good.

"He's shown today that he can act on easier ground, which is a bit of a relief as these are the conditions he'll get heading into the autumn.

"He is in the Dewhurst (Group One, 7f, Newmarket) and the Racing Post Trophy (Group One, 1m, Doncaster) back here, but he has so much pace that we'll stick to the seven-furlong route at Newmarket. He travels extremely well and there is no need to stretch him to a mile just yet - we can leave that to next year.

"He's a very exciting horse, with the natural ability to show what he can do even when he's still growing up. I am delighted for all the team and delighted for the boss.

"It's nice to have an exciting horse on our hands and that is potentially what he looks like. He has travelled extremely well and proven what he shows us at home.

"Everyone was very excited on the evidence of his first racecourse appearance and while I'm not saying winning maidens is easy, with the calibre of horse we have, you would like them to win maidens like he did.

"Most importantly, he has progressed from that maiden on to today. Full credit to the team - they have done a great job with him. William has been sat on him many a time at home and he's played a big part in bringing this horse forward along with Martin, Ollie, Marie and all the guys at home.

"It's a big team and they have all contributed in getting this horse here today."

"Sheikh Mohammed has given us the confidence to handle these type of horses and when you get to the big days you want to deliver. That is what Emotionless has done.

"We are here to put winners on the board and more importantly to make Classic horses and stallions.

"We have a horse here in Emotionless who could tick both of those boxes. We will get back, regroup and go again hopefully."

William Buick added: "Emotionless was keen early on, but it was a slowish pace and he's inexperienced, so I don't hold it against him.

"He has such a lovely stride and he's an exciting prospect for the future.

"He had been pleasing us at home but you don't want go into these races from a maiden too bullish.

"We were very hopeful and he is the real deal. He has got everything and he's got the temperament to go with it, which is a huge plus.

"I was really, really impressed. There wouldn't be many that could lay up with him at this stage of the season."

Emotionless is Godolphin's seventh winner of the Champagne Stakes following Noverre (2000), Dubai Destination (2001), Almushahar (2002), Poet's Voice (2009), Saamidd (2010) and Outstrip (2013).