TDN RISING STARS

July 27, 2022 - Sandown Park, Race 3, Alw, GBP £9,900, 7.0F, .0000

Flying Honours (GB), C, 2, 2020 by Sea the Stars (Ire)

1st Dam: Powder Snow (GSW-Fr, SW-Ger), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Snow Ballerina (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Snow Bride, by Blushing Groom (Fr)

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin (GB)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Charlie Appleby's juveniles are really starting to come to the fore and Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was the latest to shine brightly as he earned TDN Rising Star status with a 9 1/2-length success in Sandown's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice S. on Wednesday. Sent off the 2-5 favourite for the seven-furlong contest won 12 months ago by El Bodegon (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), having finished fourth in the Newmarket July Festival maiden won by TDN Rising Star Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the son of the G3 Prix Fille de l'Air winner Powder Snow (Dubawi {Ire}) raced behind the leading duo early with James Doyle keen to educate him. Taking time to get to the Hannon runner Starnberg (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) once woken up three out, the Godolphin homebred was in command a furlong later and when shown the whip surged on to a 9 1/2-length success from that rival. There was another 1 1/2-length margin back to the Andrew Balding-trained Grenham Bay (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in third.

"His work was nice before Newmarket-he's worked with Highbank and the likes of him and it just shows that a first run can catch them out, as he was left on the wing there," Doyle said of the winner, who becomes the 16th TDN Rising Star for Sea The Stars. "He's put that behind him today. I was confident he'd stay this stiff seven and he relished it and galloped through the line really well and showed quality there. He was very relaxed and slightly behind the bridle, but he's a chilled character."