Nabati claimed victory in the Newbury Mill Reef Stakes on Saturday, winning the Group 2 feature at 7/4 for trainer Charlie Appleby. William Buick steered the Irish colt to a narrow success, prevailing by just 0.1 lengths from Jolivette in a tightly contested finish over six furlongs on good-to-firm ground.
The winning margin proved deceptive; the first three home were separated by just half a length. Arapaho Gold, the 5/4 favourite and centrepiece of our morning analysis of the Newbury Mill Reef Stakes, could not find the necessary acceleration in the final furlong and finished third, ridden by Connor Beasley for Michael Dods.
Appleby’s Colt Edges Clear At Newbury Mill Reef Stakes
Jolivette made a brave challenge for Andrew Balding, with Colin Keane aboard. The runner-up was alongside the winner entering the closing furlong and stayed on gamely, only to fall short in the closing strides. She clocked the same speed rating as both the first and third, a measure of how tightly matched the field proved.
Arapaho Gold had been backed on official rating credentials as the horse most likely to dominate, but the juvenile lacked decisive acceleration when asked for her effort inside the final furlong. Revels made some late progress at 22/1 to claim fourth, one and a quarter lengths adrift, with Cut A Dash a further length back in fifth at 28/1.
The winning time of 1m 10.61s underlined the quality of the winning performance. Appleby, saddling the winner, extends his tally to four victories from the three-day Newbury meeting.
