By Sean Cronin
Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}–God Given {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}), whose yearling half-brother sold for 1,500,000gns at Tattersalls' Book 1 sale during the week, bounced back off a below-par effort–behind subsequent G1 Dewhurst S. hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB})–in last month's G2 Champagne S. to deliver a game victory in Saturday's G3 Emirates Autumn S. at Newmarket and completed a hat-trick for connections following in the wins of Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the two most recent editions of the seven-furlong test. August's G3 Solario S. victor, burdened with a three-pound penalty for that win, was steadied to race under a firm hold in a handy fifth after a smart exit from the gates. Inching into fourth at halfway, the 4-1 third favourite was angled into the clear passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on strongly up the hill once launching his challenge inside the furlong pole to deny the rallying 'TDN Rising Star' Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) by a neck. Nick White and Elaine Burke's dual Group-placed Listed Chesham S. victor Holloway Boy (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) finished 1 3/4 lengths further adrift in third.
“It was a disappointing run last time, but we had a genuine excuse and felt the step up in trip was always going to suit him as was being back on a sound surface,” explained Charlie Appleby. “He got caught up in the mud at Doncaster, but went there off the back of a nice performance at Sandown where he quickened up and I think we saw that again today. A key factor today was the distance as he has a stout pedigree, being out of God Given. He doesn't do anything flash and I know we were getting excited after Sandown, but that sort of race broke down in front of him as they went hard and came back in front of him up the hill. He got the penalty for a reason, but he was up against a competitive field. He is a horse that you will see at 10 furlongs in the middle of next summer, but we will likely put him in one of the trials in the spring.”
Champion jockey-elect William Buick added, “The ground went against him at Doncaster, but on a nice surface he travels well and he has seen out a mile very well today. He's a big horse and that gives you confidence for next year. This lad is a 3-year-old type and anything he does as a 2-year-old is a bonus. He has plenty of scope to improve.”
Silver Knott, a half-brother to the aforementioned yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire), is the first of two foals produced by multiple Group winner God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), whose career high came in the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio. The March-foaled bay's second dam Ever Rigg (GB) (Dubai Destination), who also threw multiple Group 1-winning sire Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), is a daughter of G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse). The latter is also the granddam of GIII Beverly Hills H.-winning GI Yellow Ribbon Invitational second Turning Top (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and G3 Winter Derby victor Robin Hoods Bay (GB) (Motivator {GB}). Silver Knott's Group-winning fourth dam Birch Creek (GB) (Carwhite {Ire}) is responsible for G1 Moyglare Stud S. second Hotelgenie Dot Com (GB) (Selkirk), herself the dam of G1 Fillies' Mile and G1 Falmouth S. winner Simply Perfect (GB) (Danehill).
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
EMIRATES AUTUMN S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 10-8, 2yo, 8fT, 1:36.00, gd.
1–SILVER KNOTT (GB), 132, c, 2, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: God Given (GB) (G1SW-Ity, MGSW-Eng & GSW-Fr, $492,122), by Nathaniel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Ever Rigg (GB), by Dubai Destination
3rd Dam: Bianca Nera (GB), by Salse
(725,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, $102,676. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Epictetus (Ire), 129, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Thistle Bird (GB), by Selkirk. 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-George Strawbridge (IRE); T-John & Thady Gosden. £12,900.
3–Holloway Boy (GB), 129, c, 2, Ulysses (Ire)–Sultry (GB), by Pivotal (GB). (60,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 60,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Nick White & Mrs Elaine Burke; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Karl Burke. £6,456.
Margins: NK, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 4.00, 2.25, 2.00.
Also Ran: Dancing Magic (Ire), Killybegs Warrior (Ire), Exoplanet (Fr).
🥇 Smart performance from Silver Knott in the Gr.3 Autumn Stakes at @NewmarketRace.@godolphin bought him for 725,000gns at #TattsOctober Book 1 from @whattonmanor.pic.twitter.com/JB3dXSnyFo
— Tattersalls (@Tattersalls1766) October 8, 2022
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