It's O'Brien versus Appleby again as Silver Peak bids to continue Godolphin dominance in Autumn Stakes

Much like in the Fillies' Mile and the Dewhurst, the Autumn Stakes can be billed as a showdown between Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby.

It is Appleby who has dominated the race in recent years and wins in 2017 and every year since 2020 ensure he is the race's most successful trainer. And, if you add in the Saeed bin Suroor-trained duo Best Solution and Military March, Godolphin have owned seven of the race's last eight winners.

They also later bought into the odd one out Persian King, one of five of those eight to go on to score at Group 1 level, and it is his relative Silver Peak who represents Appleby this time.

The €1,250,000 yearling looked an archetypal Autumn Stakes type when sweeping from last to first on testing ground at Haydock last month, and that rates a decent effort as the second Sir Dinadan fetched 200,000gns at the sales himself and went on to justify cramped odds in a Pontefract novice.

O'Brien has never won this race, yet it is his Delacroix who heads the market. With a rating of 109 he sets the form standard after finishing second behind Green Impact, who also beat him on his debut, in the Group 2 Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown last time.

If there is one to upset the market leaders it could be Stanhope Gardens. Ralph Beckett's colt made a striking first impression when third at Sandown before making light work of his rivals in a Beverley maiden. The son of excellent 2017 winner Ghaiyyath has plenty of scope for improvement.

Nightwalker has an identical profile to Stanhope Gardens and can also step forward, but unlike the top four in the market he was not deemed precocious enough to warrant a Futurity entry.
Analysis by Maddy Playle

What they say

Barry Mahon, racing manager for Juddmonte, owners of Nightwalker
He ran a big race considering he was green and hung across the track and didn't get beaten very far in what turned out to be a good novice first time out. He took a good step forward next time although Ryan [Moore, jockey] felt he was still very green. Sir Michael Stoute is confident he's improved again and was keen to give him another run this year to further his education.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Silver Peak
He progressed from his first to second start, and the form of his Haydock win has been boosted with the runner-up going on to win well at Pontefract. We're trying to find his level heading into the winter, but we've been very pleased with him so far.

Aomori City: impressive winner of the Vintage Stakes

Wolf Of Badenoch (right) chases home Aomori City in the Vintage Stakes at GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Stanhope Gardens
Stanhope Gardens has trained well since his win at Beverley and we think the mile and the Rowley Mile will suit him well.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Wolf Of Badenoch
He needs to leave a disappointing run in the Champagne behind him, but we think he banged his head in the gates – he had blood on his head when he came back, while the ground might have been a bit lively for him too. He' ran a super race at Goodwood and he has a future.
Reporting by Scott Burton

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