Muffri'Ha scores at Newmarket

Muffri'Ha opened her account for the campaign with an authoritative success in the Muhaarar British EBF Rosemary Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained mare won twice on the Rowley Mile last season, including a Group Three triumph in the Darley Stakes last October.

She made a fine start to 2017, notably going close at Group One level in Dubai, but this was her first competitive appearance since finishing fourth in the Dahlia Stakes here back in May.

The 5-1 shot played up before the race, but was as good as gold during it, travelling strongly and picking up well once meeting the rising ground to score by a length under Pat Cosgrave.

"She's a funny thing, she's different at different meetings. You just have to let her do her own thing and eventually she comes round to your way of thinking," said the winning rider. "She's a bit of a diva but a talented one.

"I was a bit slowly away, she hasn't run for a while and was a bit fresh.

"I was a bit worried she wouldn't finish off her race but she was just too good in the end.

"I think William is looking at next week and the Sun Chariot, it may come too soon but we'll see."

Permission finished strongly to deny Tisbutadream the runner-up spot.

Amabilis, the 4-1 favourite, was disappointing.

Haggas said: "That's her, she's quirky. I'd like to give huge thanks to Michael Tebbutt (former jockey) who rides her every day, he's been brilliant with her, he's put so much time and effort in, it's all down to him and no one else.

"As much as I'd like to say it was down to me, he has done everything.

"She had a tremendous time of it this time last year and ran three Saturdays running, getting better and better.

"We've brought her here for gallops a couple of times and this was her third time here, she'll now come here for the Sun Chariot.

"She was flat in the Dahlia, she had a long autumn and went to Dubai so we had to give her a rest at some time. Fortunately she's come back and hopefully she'll have a good autumn again and then be retired."

Apphia repelled the late challenge of Pleasant Surprise to claim Group Three honours in the Princess Royal Nayef Stakes.

The Hugo Palmer-trained Apphia was sent off at 20-1 in the hands of Josephine Gordon and helped to force the pace for the duration of the mile and a half contest.

Luca Cumani's Pleasant Surprise, on the other hand, was dropped out last by Jamie Spencer, who barely moved a muscle until two furlongs from home.

By that stage Apphia had set sail and while Pleasant Surprise loomed up ominously in the final 100 yards, Palmer's filly dug deep to see her off by half a length. To Eternity was best of the rest in third.

Gordon said: "She had every right to run, but obviously it was a big ask.

"She didn't show much last time at Chester, but she didn't like the track or the cheekpieces, so today we made the running knowing she'll stay and she loved every minute.

"We talked beforehand about where to go and I think the ground is pretty much the same everywhere.

"I'd love to get 100 winners for the year, that's 87, but I was at the same stage last season."

Palmer said: "Having been fifth in the Ribblesdale she showed she had the ability and she's been close in two Listed races since.

"We would have settled for third but coming out of the dip we thought there was no way she could be third.

"Josephine gave her a magnificent ride and did exactly what we discussed beforehand, the plan was to get out and stretch them and she kept finding.

"The only other option this season is Champions Day and she'd need supplementing for that."

Cumani said of the runner-up: "She ran very well and I'm delighted. It's another step up from Listed races to Group races and she's now shown she belongs in Group races.

"She can only improve next year being by Mastercraftsman. Jamie said she travelled beautifully and has a high cruising speed.

"She was last off the bridle and maybe the last 50 yards were a bit too far for her and that might be because she still has some maturing to do.

"We might bring her back to 10 furlongs. I think she's showing more speed now but in the spring she looked like she needed a distance.

"Next year we might be looking at the Middleton (York)."

To Eternity's trainer John Gosden said: "She was a little keen early, she's now a Listed winner and Group Three-placed."

Thrave confirmed debut promise with victory in the Derrinstown British EBF Maiden Stakes.

Henry Candy's Sir Percy colt was runner-up on his introduction on the July Course in late August and was a 9-4 chance to go one better.

He did so in good style under Harry Bentley, galloping all the way to the line to score from Elwazir, with even-money favourite Coat Of Arms third.

Candy said: "He's the most gorgeous horse with an incredible temperament.

"Harry says he never lets anything bother him on the way down to the start, he was totally professional.

"He was showing plenty before his first race and I think he came on two or three lengths for that. You know what my horses are like first time out.

"I think he's a proper horse. He's not a Derby horse as he won't get beyond 10 furlongs and I think he'll be a miler.

"I'll leave him alone now as it's getting late in the season and he needs to build up quite a bit.

"We'll be looking at a Guineas trial next year."

Frontiersman led home a one-two-three for Godolphin in the Mukhadram Godolphin Stakes.

Charlie Appleby's charge came into the Listed contest as a dual course and distance winner and the class horse in the field having finished second in both the Coronation Cup and the Princess of Wales's Stakes during the summer.

Fitted with blinkers for the first time, the 13-8 favourite committed for home early under James Doyle and had enough in the tank to hold off Red Galileo, who raced alone in the middle of the track for much of the mile and a half journey, by half a length.

Best Of Days was a close-up third, with the trio a long way clear of the remainder.

Appleby said: "I'm pleased for him as he deserves it. I'm delighted the horse has got his head back in front.

"He's not been frustrating since Epsom, he met Hawkbill on his 'A' game on the July Course and then he's been beaten by some progressive types, while it was proper soft ground at Newbury

"The only disappointment was in France and that's why we went for cheekpieces. James rode 100 per cent to instructions.

"Hopefully that will give him confidence and that's him finished for the year."

Newmarket trainer William Haggas topped and tailed the card when Addeybb just came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Shadwell Farm Handicap (Silver Cambridgeshire) to add to Muffri'Ha in the opening contest.

Boots And Spurs led the bulk of the field in the centre of the course until they started to move over to the stands rail, which was grabbed by Ryan Moore on Addeybb (7-2 joint-favourite).

The three-year-old had to knuckle down to see off Afaak by half a length with Fire Brigade just a short-head away in third and Chiefofchiefs fourth.

Haggas said: "He's a nice horse, but he is an immature one so we'll call it a day now and concentrate on next year. "I hope he will develop into a stakes horse, he didn't win by far but I think the right horses were in front and he's tough and genuine. "He will probably go up in trip next year. He didn't appear to get home at Goodwood, but I think he's just a baby and if we look after him then hopefully he will look after us. He's had a nice first season."