3 minute read

Charlie Appleby looks to have another smart prospect on his hands after Maximized made it two wins from as many starts in the Betfred British EBF Woodcote Stakes at Epsom.

The Cheveley Park Stud-bred son of Mehmas – who cost £720,000 as a breeze-up – was sent off the 6/5 market leader to follow up his impressive debut success at Haydock last month.

William Buick rousted his mount to the head of affairs passing the two-furlong marker, but it certainly wasn't done and dusted from there, as Logi Bear continued to fight on along the rail and Havana Hurricane mounted his challenge more towards the center of the track.

However, Maximized was only just beginning to hot top gear and although he hung down the camber towards the inside rail, Charlie Appleby's colt soon found himself in full command, drawing clear in the closing stages to score by a length and a half from the 9/2 chance Havana Hurricane.

Raakeb stayed on late to finish back in third.

Charlie Appleby said: "It will be interesting to see what Will has to say about the ground, because when he won at Haydock he skipped along very sweetly on the sounder surface. He might just have found this good to soft ground a bit more testing."

Whilst a trip to Royal Ascot isn't completely ruled out, Charlie Appleby earmarked the July Stakes back at Newmarket as a potential target.

He said: "We won this with Pinatubo, who went on to the Chesham, but Maximized obviously can't go there as he's by Mehmas.

"I think he's a 'now' horse, but the Ascot picture is building now with respect to a few of these two-year-olds now, with Military Code maybe going for the Coventry and Wise Approach maybe going for the Norfolk or the Windsor Castle.

"I don't think this horse would be able to drop back, so if he did go to Ascot, it would be for the Coventry, but I'd have thought the July Stakes might be a nice race for him.

"I've always felt our two-year-old colts have been a strong team this year from early doors, and they've shown us that naturally. If you are not seeing it early doors, you are probably trying to make it up slightly."

William Buick added: "He's very likeable, very straightforward. He does his job, goes about his business. I really like him."