Symbol Of Honour shines in Hackwood Stakes

Symbol Of Honour took a step forward from his UK comeback at Newcastle to make a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure in the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.

Winner of the Carnarvon Stakes over the course and distance last year, Charlie Appleby’s gelding had been without a victory since following up that success in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.

However, after a spell in Dubai he made an encouraging reappearance on home soil when third in last month’s Chipchase Stakes and showed his class as a 7-2 shot in Berkshire, powering home to a one-and-a-quarter-length victory over Charlie Hills’ evergreen Mitbaahy, who finished a game second.

Winning rider William Buick said: “He definitely came on for his run at Newcastle where he ran well and this sort of flat track and fast ground is really to his liking.

“He won the three-year-old race (Carnarvon) here last year so we knew he would like the track and I thought that was a good performance.

“He likes to be produced late, but he’s a very genuine, honest horse and that was a straightforward win for him really.

“There’s never much between the sprinters so hopefully he can go on to mix it with the better ones.”

Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam added: “It was nice to see him back winning again and he came on for his run at Newcastle.

“I think this probably his trip and fast ground suits him. Charlie didn’t have any immediate plans but we might have a look at a Group Two and step up and see where he is.”