CHARLIE APPLEBY @GODOLPHIN ENJOYS BIGGEST SUCCESS IN AT THE RACES CHAMPAGNE STAKES

Outstrip won the seven-furlong Group Two At The Races Champagne Stakes, the opening race at Doncaster on Ladbrokes St Leger Day, in great style, scoring by three lengths eased down by Mickael Barzalona. The Godolphin two-year-old, who gave trainer Charlie Appleby his biggest success to date, was slow into stride as Barzalona wanted to hold up the grey Exceed And Excel colt. Outstrip raced a bit keenly initially in third but was then settled last of the four runners. He made good progress on the outside to challenge below the distance and took the lead by the furlong-pole.   Outstrip went clear and Barzalona was able to take things easy in the closing stages. The winning time was 1m 26.90s. Appleby, who started training for Godolphin on July 25, said: "I was very confident, without being too confident, coming into the race. When he ran in the Vintage (at Glorious Goodwood), we just got touched off on the line and Mickael said that, if he knew that the horse had such a turn of foot, he would have waited longer that day. "They were two nice colts that went away from the rest in the Vintage, so I was confident today. Hopefully, the winner will frank the form in Ireland. " We were always going sit and wait today - drop him in and ride him for that turn of foot that he showed us at Goodwood. He is a nice horse and I thought he would handle the conditions today. He has got a turn of foot as we saw again today and it was a decent performance. "Going forward, we will look at the Dewhurst (Group One, Newmarket) or go to France for the Lagardere (Group One, Longchamp). Those are the two options we have in place and we will see how the horse comes out of this race. "He is a horse who will strengthen. I would like to see him do that and a mile will be his trip next year. We will cross those bridges when we come to them." Mickael Barzalona added: "I wanted to give him the best experience that I could - drop him in, make him relax and quicken well in the end. He's a nice horse - he has improved plenty since his last run. It was maybe my fault last time that he didn't win but today I gave him a good experience and he will improve again. "I think he has the potential to win a Group One and he will be a serious horse for next year." This was Godolphin's sixth success in the At The Races Champagne Stakes following on from  Noverre (2000), Dubai Destination (2001), Almushahar (2002), Poet's Voice (2009) and Saamidd (2010). First race: 2.05pm TheAt The Races Champagne Stakes Place Quotes GATSBY COULD RETURN TO DONCASTER Trainer Kevin Ryan was very happy with The Grey Gatsby after he finished the three length runner-up to Outstrip in the At The Races Champagne Stakes at Doncaster this afternoon. The 13/8 joint-favourite has been remarkably consistent this season and finished second in the Acomb Stakes at York last month after making a winning debut on the Knavesmire in July. "We're delighted with that given the fact that he's still a little inexperienced," said Ryan. "He's improving with every run and it looked like he was going to get beaten for second at one point but he keeps sticking his neck out. He's very genuine and was going on again at the end. "He's in the Dewhurst (at Newmarket) and the Racing Post Trophy back here at Doncaster so we'll take a look at those two races and see how they pan out. "There were no excuses with the ground as he needs a bit of juice in it which should mean he has his conditions later on in the year. Time will tell whether he'll be a miler but I suspect he may end up over a mile and a quarter as a three-year-old. We've got plenty to look forward to." Charles Hills was also looking to the future with Cable Bay after the 5/1 shot had finished a further head back in third. "He was a bit short of room at a crucial point and was probably intimidated a little bit," said the trainer. "He's run a very solid race but I just wonder whether the trip stretched him a bit. He's in the Dewhurst and the Racing Post Trophy but there's a decent Group Two race at Maisons-Laffitte over six and a half furlongs later on in the year that I've got my eye on and he may end up there." First race, 205pm: The At The Races Champagne Stakes Quotes GOING VIEWS AFTER THE FIRST Mickael Barzalona, partner of 13/8 joint favourite and winner Outstrip, said: "Soft." Graham Lee, jockey of the three-length second The Grey Gatsby, said: "A bit dead." Jamie Spencer, on board third Cable Bay, said: "A bit dead but lovely ground."           James Doyle, on board fourth Treaty Of Paris, said: "It is tacky - very tacky." FIRST RACE RESULT 2.05pm At The Races Champagne Stakes (Group 2) £89,200 total prize fund. For 2yo, 7f. Weights: 8st 12lb. Penalties: a winner of a Group 1 or Group 2 race 3lb. Penalty value 1st £50,585.32 2nd £19,178.00 3rd £9,597.92 4th £4,781.12 5th £2,399.48 6th £1,204.20 1) OUTSTRIP (Godolphin) Charlie Appleby 2-8-12 Mickael Barzalona [5] 13/8jf 2) THE GREY GATSBY (IRE) (F Gillespie) Kevin Ryan 2-8-12 Graham Lee [6] 13/8jf 3) CABLE BAY (IRE) (Julie & David Martin & Partner) Charlie Hills 2-8-12 Jamie Spencer [7] 5/1 4) TREATY OF PARIS (IRE) (One Too Many Partners) Henry Candy 2-8-12 James Doyle [1] 6/1 4 ran                            Non-runners: Anjaal (Going), Exogensis (Going), Picks Pinta (Going) Time: 1m 26.90s           Distances: 3, hd, 13 Breeder: Darley  Breeding: Exceed And Excel (AUS) - Asi Siempre (USA) (El Prado (IRE)) Tote     Win £2.20         Exacta £4.20 Winning trainer:-Name: Appleby, Charlie Date of Birth: 5/7/1975 Based: Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket Background: Worked for Godolphin since 1999 in a number of roles before being granted a training licence in July, 2013. Previously had spells with Susan Piggott and David Loder. First Runner: Velvety (Sky Bet EBF Fillies' Handicap, York, July 27, 2013) First Winner: Expressly (Ascot Lawyer's Fillies' Maiden, Ascot, July 28). Big Race Wins: Champagne Stakes (2013 Outstrip), Gordon Stakes (2013 Cap O'Rushes) Win in 2013: 32 Winning jockey:-Name: Barzalona, Mickael Born: August 3, 1991, Avignon  Background: Nephew of former Flat and National Hunt jockey Armand Barzalona and grandson of Corsican trainer Christian Barzalona. Spent four years at the French Jockeys' School in Govieux before joining the legendary stable of Andre Fabre in 2009 under the recommendation of former jockey Sylvain Guillot. Rode for Fabre and was retained by the Wertheimers as their second jockey in France behind Olivier Peslier. Started riding Godolphin's French runners in the September 2009 and rode out for the operation in Dubai the following winter. Appointed Godolphin jockey on March 2, 2012 British Classic winners (2): Pour Moi (2011 Investec Derby), Encke (2012 Ladbrokes St Leger) First Ride for Godolphin: Colonial (6th),Prix de la Rochette, Longchamp, September 6, 2009. First Win in Britain: Ocean War, Download Blue Square iphone App Maiden Stakes, Newmarket, April 13, 2011 (his second ride in the country) First Group One Win: Wavering, Montjeu Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary , Longchamp, May 22, 2011 Other Big Race Wins Include: DRC Gold Cup (2010 Sabotage), UAE Derby Sponsored by the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (2011 Khawlah), Premio Roma GBI Racing (2011 Zazou), Dubai World Cup (2012 Monterosso), Shadwell Fillies' Mile (2012 Certify), Prix Jean Prat (2013 Havana Gold), Champagne Stakes (2013 Outstrip) UK Wins (2011-2012): 12; 66 Wins in 2013 (UK): 56