Words Of Truth denies Into The Sky in Mill Reef

Charlie Appleby is looking ahead to next season after Words Of Truth brought up a hat-trick in determined fashion to deny Into The Sky close home in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Jim Boyle’s Into The Sky was attempting to prove his 80-1 course and distance debut success was no fluke as he ran for the first time in the colours of new part-owner Doreen Tabor.

The son of Starman made a bold bid for home in the hands of Pat Cosgrave and a memorable success for the Epsom handler looked on the cards a furlong from home, as the runners charged up the straight track in grim and gloomy conditions.

However, William Buick aboard Charlie Appleby’s Words Of Truth received an honest response once switching his mount to the stands rail and powered home in the final furlong to register a length verdict at 7-2.

It was a notable victory for the gelded son of Lope De Vega who is likely to be saved now for a three-year-old campaign.

Appleby said: “It’s unlikely we would look at the Breeders’ Cup and I would say we would put him away, he’s had a few runs this season now.

“I haven’t spoken to William yet, but I thought we might work back from something like the Jersey Stakes (at Royal Ascot) with him, stepping up to seven furlongs at some stage during the season next year.”

It was both Appleby and Buick’s first victory in the Group Two event which was this year’s run in honour of the late Geoff Lewis, the man who guided Mill Reef to Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory in 1971.

It was something not lost on the Godolphin number one, who spent many of his formative years with the Balding family at Mill Reef’s historic Kingsclere home.

He said: “The statue of Mill Reef in the yard is really special for Park House Stables and of course I spent many years there when I was young through my apprenticeship.

“It’s my first time winning the Mill Reef and it was run in honour of the great Geoff Lewis as well so it’s very special having had the association with Park House and Kingsclere.”

Meanwhile, Boyle was refusing to be despondent after the run of runner-up, as he also turns attentions to next season, with an early return to Newbury for the Greenham Stakes mooted.

Boyle said: “It’s mixed feelings but we’re utterly delighted with him and he’s a big, raw, weak horse still.

“You could see he was a bit lonely in front and he just lugged away to the left a little bit but Pat was absolutely delighted with him and said he has so much raw ability.”

He went on: “To do that on his second start was something a little bit special and I think the winner will prove a decent horse. They pulled a long way clear and I’m a little bit gutted but I have to be thrilled.

“It’s the hope that kills you when for a brief moment you think he’s going to win and it gets snatched away from you, but I’m delighted.

“I won’t run him again this season as he’s a big frame of a horse. Pat said ‘what a horse he is going to be next year’ and that’s always the way we have felt about him – he’s next year’s horse and what he has done this year is phenomenal.

“We’ll speak to all the owners and come up with a plan but you might have to be thinking of training him for something like the Greenham.

“He showed so much speed but at home we always thought he would be a seven furlong to a mile horse and we’ll put him away, let him strengthen up and maybe have an eye on the Greenham and see where we go from there.”