Blue Point is at peak of his powers, says delighted Appleby

BLUE Point cemented his place in the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night next month with a facile success at Meydan to spark a terrific treble for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.

All three were short-priced favourites, with Poetic Charm and Art Du Val also giving the Godol- phin team the opportunity to make big plans for the future.

Appleby said: “I’m delighted. The team have been in great form and coming in we had three odds-on shots and on the book they were there to do the job.

“More importantly they are nice horses going forward.”

Back-to-back victories in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot is the ultimate aim for Blue Point, who had no trouble dealing with Group Two opposition in the Meydan Sprint.

The 1-4 shot broke well and Buick was happy to take a lead from his main rival, Faatinah, until two furlongs from home, where he made his move.

Blue Point quickly asserted and put the race to bed, crossing the line five lengths to the good.

“Blue Point is an exciting horse. He’ll head straight to the Al Quoz now and hopefully go for the King’s Stand again,” said Appleby. “For me he’s at his peak now. He’s a five-year-old and is a strong, professional sprinter.”

Victory at the top level will now be the objective for Poetic Charm (2-7 favourite) after she followed up her Cape Verdi success with another dominant display in the Balanchine.

Held up in fifth place through the early stages, the daughter of Dubawi came with a storming run on the outside to lead a furlong out and win by two and three-quarter lengths from the Charlie Fellowes-trained Mia Tesoro.

“She’s a typical Dubawi. From three to four, she’s done nothing but improve again,” said Appleby. “She deserves us to try to win a Group One with her if we can.”

Art Du Val (evens favourite) struck in the Meydan Trophy on his first run in Dubai.

The son of No Nay Never bounded into the lead a furlong and a half from home to score by four lengths from Bila Shak.

Appleby said: “His likely target now will be the Al Bastakiya on the dirt (on Super Saturday) in respect of seeing whether we have a UAE Derby candidate.”

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Mountain Hunter (11-2) gave Godolphin a four-timer on the card in the Wheels Handicap.