3 minute read
Symbol Of Honour overcame a troubled beginning with a gritty performance in the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes.
William Buick was seen to great effect once more when galvanising Symbol Of Honour to victory just seven days on from their success in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury.
Despite an awkward beginning, Symbol Of Honour found himself settled nicely off the pace under Buick, who was happy to bide his time before pressing the button with a furlong to travel.
The striking grey picked up nicely between rivals to strike the front and although Arabian Dusk loomed up large to throw down a huge bid in the closing stages, Symbol Of Honour and Buick were in no mood to be denied as Charlie Appleby's gelding stuck his neck out to prevail.
"He just jumped up in the air and came out a bit awkward," said Buick on ITV Racing.
"He was in the stalls quite a while, but I was happy with where I was. I'm delighted with him.
"It was only a week after his win at Newbury, so credit to Charlie and the team at home to bring him here. He's backed up very quickly and in a competitive race.
"He's a horse that has always threatened to perform at this level and I'm delighted that he's now doing it.
"He has plenty of speed, but he probably gets six and a half, touching seven furlongs. It's a big help in these races when you ask him for more in the latter part of the race."
Being a gelding, the winner is not eligible for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, although he could run in the July Cup at Newmarket, with Paddy Power trimming him to 7/1 (from 8s) for the sprint.
Buick added: "I think all those races have to come under discussion. He's a very high-class sprinter, who has proven that today. He loves fast ground and flat tracks."
Earlier on the card, Buick and Appleby were in the winners' enclosure thanks to a pleasing reappearance success from Dancing Rain in the Listed Betfred 'Nifty 50' British EBF Hedge Of Oak Stakes, which was being run at Haydock for the first time having formerly been staged at Ayr.
A beautifully bred daughter of Shamardal out of the Classic-winning mare Dancing Rain, Charlie Appleby's filly, who was sent off the 9/4 joint favourite on her return to action, stayed on strongly to get the better of the Gosden-trained pair of Running Lion and Place Of Safety by a length and three quarters.
Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said: "That was very good. She's a big old girl and she will have strengthened up.
"We'll see what Will has to say but she's seen that trip out, so the Lancashire Oaks is a possible maybe. She's a big filly, so you think she'll want further, but Will has always said she's got plenty of pace. That was a good starting point.
"At one point, she just hit a bit of a flat spot but once she got rolling, I always thought she'd get there."
