Highland Avenue gets his day in the sun in G3 Earthlight Darley Stakes

Highland Avenue secured a deserved first G3 success as he stormed to victory in the Earthlight Darley Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday, 14 October.

The Dubawi five-year-old had run well on his two previous appearances on the Rowley Mile, winning the Listed Feilden Stakes in 2021 and finishing third behind G1 winners Adayar and Anmaat in the rescheduled G3 Gordon Richards Stakes earlier this year.

Highland Avenue raced in a close third of a group of five that came up the stands’ rail and continued to hold a prominent position when the nine-strong field converged approaching the final three furlongs.

William Buick kicked on into a clear lead a furlong and a half from home, with Highland Avenue responding gamely to put the race to bed in a matter of strides. The Charlie Appleby-trained runner saw out the nine furlongs well, coming home four lengths clear of Silver Sword.

Charlie Appleby said: “Highland Avenue has been a great lead horse for us in all the work for those nicer horses in the spring – the likes of Modern Games and Adayar. He would turn up three days a week leading them a good, solid gallop.

“He ran a creditable race here in the spring and again in the Diomed. In his last run at Newbury, we tried to change tactics but it did not work. The conditions were there to suit him today as we knew he handled the track and ground.

“He deserved to win a race like that. William said he was full of enthusiasm at the two-furlong pole and felt the result was never in doubt. He has an engine and is bred to be a good horse!”