Godolphin made their presence felt at Newbury this weekend, winning four of the meeting's main races. Trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick led the way, with Nabati, Surinjil, Bin Jahor, and Catullus each taking first place in their respective events. The Dubai Duty Free-sponsored meeting became a showcase for Godolphin's current strength and depth.
The highlight came when Nabati won the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (Group 2) over 1200 metres, just holding off Jolivet, the only filly in the field, by a head. Buick's ride and Appleby's preparation were key, with Nabati finishing in 1:10.61 after a close finish. This result kept Andrew Balding, last year's winning trainer with Array, from repeating, despite Jolivet's strong run. Racing Post and BBC Sport list Nabati as a two-year-old colt trained by Appleby and ridden by Buick, with Godolphin as owner.
The official prize fund for the 2026 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes was increased to £175,000, making it one of the feature races of the Newbury weekend.
- Newbury Racecourse
Surinjil added another win for Godolphin in the Dubai Duty Free Full of Surprises Stakes for two-year-old fillies over 1400 metres. Buick rode again, and Surinjil finished in 1:26.30. Racing TV noted that this win further showed Godolphin's depth, with the stable also listed as owner.
Bin Jahor kept the momentum going by winning the Haynes Hanson & Clark Conditions Stakes for two-year-olds over 1600 metres, clocking 1:37.61. Catullus then secured the team's fourth win in the Dubai Duty Free Cup. Racing Post confirmed Catullus as the winner and Godolphin as owner, with £34,026 awarded for first place. These results show Godolphin's success across different age groups and distances at the meeting.
Other stables also had their moments. Miss Itchans, trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Jack Newcles, won the Dubai International Airport World Trophy (Group 3) over 1000 metres in 0:59.01. Pearl River, with Silvestre de Sousa riding for Richard Hannon, took the Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap over 2600 metres. Balzac, ridden by Ryan Moore for Jane Chapple-Hyam, won the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at 2000 metres. Silver Sovereign, with Rosa Ryan up for Clive Cox, won the Dubai Duty Free Nursery Handicap for two-year-olds over 1400 metres in 1:25.18.
Godolphin's Nabati was officially recorded as a two-year-old colt, trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, with a winning time of 1:10.61 over 6 furlongs in the Mill Reef Stakes. The Godolphin racecard listed the prize money for the race as £172,148, reflecting the high stakes at this year's meeting.
- Godolphin
The meeting also included a tribute to local trainer Ian Balding, whose connection with Mill Reef was recognized in the presence of the Balding family and Dubai Duty Free officials, including Sinead El Sebai and Salim Dahman. This gesture reflected the event's mix of tradition and competition.
Godolphin's representative, Hof Anderson, commented, "We apologise for not allowing more success for the Balding family, but these results are important in light of yesterday's wins and Nabati's performance today. Godolphin is used to being at the top, and Charlie Appleby has kept his composure, as have his horses, even when things did not go as planned in the first half of the season. He works within an exceptional system, surrounded by a team of outstanding talent."
For UAE racing fans, the Newbury Dubai meeting showed that Godolphin's approach-built on Appleby's steady management and Buick's consistency-remains a standard for international stables. After a slow start to the season, the stable's four wins at a major UK meeting highlight both the depth of talent and the patience behind their success. The message from Newbury is clear: when Godolphin's system is working, the rest of the field is left to catch up.
