First Conquest, Symbol Of Honour & Creative Story shine at Meydan

Victories for First Conquest, Symbol Of Honour and Creative Story ensured an excellent night for Godolphin at this week’s Dubai Racing Carnival fixture at Meydan, UAE, on Friday, 10 January.

First Conquest (pictured) backed up some notable 2024 UK form with a dominant seasonal return for Charlie Appleby in the Lord North Handicap over nine furlongs.

The son of Teofilo had beaten subsequent multiple G3 winner Lead Artist on his debut in April and was making his first start since taking a valuable handicap at Newmarket’s July Festival.

Drawn wide in gate 15, First Conquest found plenty of cover towards the rear of the 16 runners and quickened powerfully when switched out by Mickael Barzalona a furlong and a half from home.

After taking up the running from Silver Sword just inside the final furlong, First Conquest streaked away from the field to score by nearly four lengths over See Hector. Arabian Light made late inroads after finding traffic to grab third, a further half-length in arrears.

Charlie Appleby said: “First Conquest put up a very pleasing effort. It would have been an interesting race if Arabian Light had enjoyed a clear run, but First Conquest has won nicely in the end. He is relaxing in his races now and you could see him staying a mile and a quarter, so the Dubai Millennium Stakes might come into consideration.”

Mickael Barzalona added: “First Conquest broke OK but not fast enough to get a position near the pace, so we decided to take our time. The rhythm of the race was OK and he finished very strongly once he got a clear run. He is still an immature horse and this was his first time going a mile and a furlong. He did it all pretty well.”

Symbol Of Honour emulated Star Of Mystery to provide Charlie Appleby and William Buick with back-to-back wins in the Al Wasl Stakes as he produced a game display in the turf sprint for three-year-olds.

A Listed runner-up at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival in September, Symbol Of Honour tacked over towards the middle of the course to race in a close fourth behind Jungle Drums, Midnight Thunder and Dark Saffron.

Symbol Of Honour quickened between the leading trio to hit the front with a furlong and a half to race and rallied gamely to deny a persistent West Acre, with the Godolphin runner finding more for a head success.

Charlie Appleby said: “It was a pleasing performance from Symbol Of Honour and I think he will come on for today’s run. We will keep him over six furlongs for the Dubai Trophy next month and he could potentially be a horse for something like the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.”

William Buick said: “It was a good, honest pace all the way and Symbol Of Honour was in a nice rhythm. I think he probably needed the race after a bit of a lay-off, but I really liked that when he was headed, he battled back gamely and was well on top at the line.

“I think he is a six or seven-furlong horse, as he showed in England that he gets seven furlongs. He is probably not a horse to drop down in distance.”

Creative Story notched a first career success with a comfortable victory on his first Meydan outing in the evening’s seven-furlong turf handicap.

Having placed on all three of his previous starts in the UK, the Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old was ideally placed throughout by William Buick, who tracked the leaders before launching a potent challenge down the outside of the field a furlong and a half out.

Creative Story swooped to take the lead from The Camden Colt approaching the final half-furlong and quickened away to prevail by a length and a half.

William Buick said: “It worked out nicely for Creative Story in the end. You need things to happen for you from that draw [13], but at the same time he showed he was a class above.

“He always showed a good level as a younger horse, without it quite happening for him, so it is great to get him off the mark.

“An evenly run seven furlongs felt good for him, but I see no reason why he would not stay a mile. It is hard to say what level he is going to get to as he will improve after a relatively long lay-off.”