Charlie Appleby, the highly respected trainer, and the talented jockey William Buick had a day etched in gold at Lingfield, clinching an extraordinary Derby-Oaks double for the esteemed Godolphin stable during the trials day.
Their seamless teamwork was strikingly evident as Military Order, a three-year-old bay colt and a progeny of Frankel, clinched a triumphant victory in the Derby trial, outpacing his competition as the favoured contender and carving an encouraging pathway to the Classic on June 3rd, Saturday.
Earlier the same day, Eternal Hope, another horse from the Godolphin stable, pulled off a remarkable victory in the Oaks trial. Despite the saturated turf, the day’s events unfolded smoothly on the all-weather track.
Military Order, the younger sibling of the 2021 Epsom Derby victor Adayar, eclipsed his brother’s second-place achievement in the previous year’s trial by seizing a glorious first-place finish this time.
Maintaining a measured pace behind James Tate’s Regal Empire, Military Order exploited an opportunity on the inside, with Ed Walker’s Waipiro being the sole challenger who could keep up with Frankel’s offspring. The two horses battled for supremacy down the final stretch, with Military Order asserting his superiority, crossing the finish line a full one-and-a-quarter lengths in the lead. King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Circle Of Fire lagged in third place, further four-and-a-quarter lengths behind.
With this victory in hand, Military Order’s attention now turns to Epsom, where he stands as a credible threat alongside Auguste Rodin.
Appleby’s aide, Alex Merriam, commended Military Order’s commanding finish despite a sluggish start. He assured the horse is adequately prepared for Epsom, having tested his mettle on grass and downhill terrains. He stated that while the previous year saw a good crop of milers, this year’s contenders look promising in the mile-and-a-quarter and mile-and-a-half categories, with Military Order exhibiting potential akin to Adayar but employing a more agile strategy.
In an earlier race, Eternal Hope, a 9-4 shot in her third outing, outperformed the favourite Be Happy, a horse trained by Aidan O’Brien, by one and three-quarters lengths. However, she’s currently not slated for the June 2nd race and would need a £30,000 supplement for entry.
Buick was highly impressed with Eternal Hope’s performance, especially considering her extended break from racing since February. He praised her straightforward and earnest racing style, underlining her ability to manage the distance efficiently despite a comparatively slow pace. Nevertheless, he indicated that she has plenty of scope for improvement. Although she isn’t officially entered for Epsom, he hinted at the potential for the team to consider her inclusion earnestly.
The Godolphin-owned bay colt, Military Order, born on April 5th, 2020, has been creating quite a stir in the racing scene. Guided meticulously by Appleby, who boasts a recent record of nine wins from 34 races, a success rate of 26%, Military Order has demonstrated consistent and impressive form.
Military Order’s pedigree is indeed noteworthy: sired by the illustrious Frankel, famed for his middle-distance prowess, and his dam is Anna Salai, a product of the Irish stallion Dubawi. Both his sire and dam’s sire have shown exceptional stamina and speed in their respective careers, characteristics that Military Order seems to have inherited.
A review of Military Order’s racing record reveals why he’s been the talk of the town. His flat racing placings are impressive, with four wins and a single fourth-place finish under his belt. Military Order’s record is exceptional, with total earnings of £172,552 from his seven starts. He has crossed the finish line first in three of these races and has never finished below fourth place. His highest official rating stands at an impressive 106, with his best Racing Post Rating (RPR) reaching 109.
On May 13th, 2023, Military Order delivered a spectacular performance at Lingfield on the all-weather track, winning the 1 mile 4 furlongs race with jockey William Buick expertly guiding him. The duo triumphed over Waipiro by a comfortable 1¼ lengths.
On April 21st, 2023, Military Order claimed victory in the 1 mile 2 furlongs race at Newbury, outpacing Exoplanet by an impressive 4 lengths, with Buick again at the helm.
Following a break of 184 days, Military Order made a triumphant return to the track on October 19th, 2022, securing a win in a one-mile race at Newmarket. He outperformed Ancient Rules by ¾ lengths, asserting his supremacy on the turf.
His debut race took place on October 1st, 2022, at Newmarket, where he secured a respectable fourth place, 2¼ lengths behind the winner, Enfjaar. Despite this being his only non-winning race, it served as a solid launching pad for the young horse and laid the foundation for his subsequent victories.
Given his recent performances, it’s clear that Military Order is a horse to keep an eye on. His blend of an illustrious pedigree, expert training, and innate talent signal a promising future in the racing circuit.
