Mill Reef Stakes: Charlie Appleby's Nabati reverses Arapaho Gold form at Newbury
Partnering Nabati, former Kingsclere jockey William Buick won the 2026 instalment of the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes, which was run in honour of Ian Balding; Also on the card, Jack Nicholls won his first Group prize aboard Miss Yechance
Saturday 19 September 2026 17:05, UK
There were emotional scenes after the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes on an afternoon where Newbury paid tribute to the late Ian Balding.
Kingsclere graduate William Buick and Nabati thwarted Andrew Balding's Jolivette in a finish fitting of a race named after Park Stables' most famous resident.
Returning to the track a little over a week after finishing third in the Flying Scotsman Stakes to Balding's Forbidden Fire at Doncaster, Charlie Appleby's youngster this time turned the tables on the Kingsclere team as the 7-4 chance successfully dropped back in trip to six furlongs with the narrowest of short-head verdicts.
Michael Dods' 5-4 favourite and Gimcrack hero Arapaho Gold - who beat Nabati over course and distance in July - also played his part in an excellent finish to the Group Two feature, but the aftermath centred on the Balding family and a winning jockey firmly taken under their wing at the distinguished Hampshire academy.
Buick said: "I was 12 during the first summer holiday I started going to Kingsclere and I have some great memories. When I was watching the videos on the screens before racing of Ian talking about Mill Reef it brings back so many great memories and it's amazing to have had the time there I did. I was so lucky.
"I woke up this morning and thought this lad is running back a bit quick, but it's in honour of Ian Balding so I better do my best as he will be watching.
"I hope he would have been pleased to see us both going at it from the furlong post to the line and he would have nodded and said you both did your best. A dead-heat would have been perfect but it's great to win this race."
Nabati was giving Appleby and Buick back-to-back Mill Reefs after the triumph of Words Of Truth 12 months ago and Buick added: "He was tough there today, we thought we would ride him a bit more forward today but he came out the stalls a bit awkward and ended up where we were.
"I got him in a nice rhythm and I got after him a little bit earlier than planned and he had to fight, which he did.
"At Doncaster the action unfolded away from us and he probably didn't have a hard race as a consequence of that, but it was a great call by Charlie and the horse has repaid him."
Reflecting on the brave effort in defeat from Jolivette in second, Balding said: "I was delighted with the run, she put it all in but just couldn't quite get the job done. She's a lovely filly and it's great to get her Group Two-placed.
"She's a talented filly and goes on any ground and she's a bit of a star.
"I'm very grateful for Newbury and Dubai Duty Free for giving dad the honour of having his name attached to this race and it was almost the perfect result, but at least Will won it and he's a Kingsclere boy."
Miss Yechance a first Group winner for Jack Nicholls
Jack Nicholls continued his fine association with Miss Yechance as the jockey landed the biggest race of his career to date in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes.
The 20-year-old had guided the speedy three-year-old to handicap success at York's Ebor meeting and was entrusted with steering Karl Burke's filly once again, making all for a neck success at 12-1 over Clive Cox's Shagraan, whose stablemate Diligent Harry grabbed third from 9-4 favourite Starlust.
It is perhaps fitting the first major triumph of Nicholls' fledgling career has come aboard a sprinter given the exploits of both his father Adrian and late grandfather Dandy over the shorter distances, with the Group Three victory another notable moment in what is becoming a fine season for the apprentice.
Nicholls said: "I rang my dad on the way down and said I think I can be in the first four and if I can do that I would be over the moon and he just said, 'keep a level head kid, don't do anything you normally wouldn't'. I did that and it worked out, so I'm over the moon.
"He was some man for sprinters to be fair to him so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps."
He went on: "It's been the season of dreams really and I've ticked off everything I wanted.
"I said after I won the heritage handicap on her at York I'd love to win a Group race on her and for my first ride in one to be a winner is pretty special.
"I loved that and there is no bigger buzz and especially for the boss, who has been superb to me since the start of my claim. For him to trust me in a Group race is really special. The owners also put a lot of trust into me being a 3lbs claimer, so this is great."
