Charlie Appleby looks to have yet another exciting prospect on his hands after Ancient Truth produced a power-packed performance in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket.
The striking son of Dubawi's task was made somewhat easier by the defections of Pap's Turf, Pentle Bay and The Parthenon, but he remains a colt with a bright future having brushed aside his remaining five rivals with the minimum of fuss.
Charlie Appleby's colt made an impressive winning debut on the Rowley Mile before carrying a penalty to victory in a novice event over today's course and distance last month. Connections always seemed confident their promising colt would handle the step up into group company and they proved correct when Ancient Truth strode clear for a commanding one-and-a-half-length success.
Buick, who was completing a treble for trainer Charlie Appleby and Godolphin having landed the opening maiden on Desert Flower and bet365 mile handicap on First Conquest, was happy to take a lead on the 4/6 market leader. The Karl Burke-trained Assertively took the field of six along at a decent tempo, but his effort began to dwindle approaching the two-furlong marker, Buick manoeuvred Ancient Truth around rivals towards the near side rail.
A smart turn of foot took Ancient Truth into a clear advantage with a couple of furlongs to travel and although he hung left-handed in the closing stages, the result never looked in doubt with the chasing group unable to bridge the gap.
The Hugo Palmer-trained Seagulls Eleven kept on well to grab the runner-up spot, while James Owen's Wimbledon Hawkeye stayed on strongly up the hill to finish a further two lengths behind in third.
Appleby, who has landed the Group 2 prize with the likes of Quorto, Master of The Seas, and Native Trail in the past, was pleased with the performance but expects there to be more to come from his colt as the season progresses. "He picked up well here, you could see William was having to take him back and round horses," explained the winning trainer.
"Full credit to the horse, I think there's definitely some improvement still to come. He appreciated this ground and is definitely going the right way.
Appleby also revealed the colt has always been held in high regard and that regular work-rider Shane Fetherstonhaugh was expecting a big performance this afternoon.
"The team at home have done a great job. Shane Fetherstonhaugh rides him in work and he's renowned for riding a few of our nicer horses now. I always respect what he says, and he came into the first run and said he wasn't quite happy with him, second run he said he still wasn't happy with him, and he went and won again. Then this morning he came in and said I'm delighted with him, so I turned around and said I'm a bit nervous now!"
Paddy Power cut the winner to 10/1 (from 16s) for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket next season and Appleby confirmed he'd be a potential Classic contender over a mile.
He added: "The mile will probably be his maximum, but he'll be a horse that we'll definitely work back from the Guineas with.
"I've just spoken to William, we'll let the horse settle down and make a decision as a collective, but our previous winners of this have tended to go on to the National Stakes in Ireland and that has worked quite well.
"One thing I did feel, is he's happier with a bit of cut in the ground, he hung a little bit on quick ground on his first two starts. He looked happier today.
"He's up there in our pecking order. If I was to say he'd come to life the last six weeks, I'd be telling fibs, he's always been up there, and I'd have been disappointed if the horse had got beaten today."
