The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes (1m5f) at Newmarket overnight had a hot favourite in Galileo colt Tower of London, but he was edged out at the finish by Almanzor colt Castle Way, an expensive yearling purchase for Godolphin.
Bought for 425,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Castle Way was the most expensive yearling by his sire at that sale and is a half-brother to five time Group I winner and Champion Miler Palace Pier, who covered his first book of mares in Australia for Darley last spring, but remains in the Northern Hemisphere this year.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Castle Way was having his second run of the year and made it back to back wins with this tenacious effort, which took his overall record to four wins and a second from six starts.
“I'm delighted with Castle Way. He's done little wrong and we were confident a step up in trip would suit him. I thought it was a good ride by William and he rode him like the trip was never going to be an issue. William said they went very steady and then they sprinted, and I was a little worried that we'd committed and he had to find again, but to be fair to the horse he dug deep,” said Charlie Appleby.
“We'll probably go down the natural route with him which is the Great Voltigeur at York and use that as a springboard to him being a St Leger contender.”
Castle Way is the fifth winner from six to race out of Beach Frolic, an unraced half-sister to Group winners Bonfire and Joviality.
He is one of nine stakes-winners for Cambrigde Stud shuttler Almanzor (Fr), who is priced this spring at $55,000 following a good season where he has had five Group I performed three year-olds headed by Victoria Derby winner Manzoice.
