SPACE Blues rocketed home to upset home favourite Earthlight in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville.
Charlie Appleby’s four-year-old sat in the rear throughout and moved through the field with a devastating turn of foot under a cool Will Buick.
Fellow British raider Hello Youmzain stuck on for second, with Aidan O’Brien’s Lope Y Hernandez third.
Odds-on favourite Earthlight could only manage fourth with Clive Cox’s Golden Horde weakening late into fifth after cutting out much of the running with his usual gusto.
After winning the Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, Space Blues showed no signs of the recent outing with a taking performance.
And the well-travelled Godolphin colt could head back to France for the Prix de la Foret next, with Paddy power going 5-1 for the seven furlong Group 1.
How about this for a turn of foot…
A maiden Group 1 for Space Blues as he rockets home in the Prix Maurice de Gheest
Ice cool from Will Buick
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— Sun Racing (@SunRacing) August 9, 2020
Appleby said: “I’m delighted – this horse deserves a Group 1.
“Last season as a three-year-old he was placed in two Group 1s and was a very consistent little horse.
“This year he’s been faultless and every time he’s been stepped up in grade he’s been winning more impressively. Today it all worked out well for him.
“William rode him with so much confidence. He said from halfway he knew he was going to win.”
“He’ll have a break now and we’ll aim for the Foret.”
