Military Order produces smart Kempton reappearance

Military Order showed no signs of rustiness after over a year on the sidelines when making short work of his rivals in the Listed-class Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.

The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old was sent off as second-favourite for the 2023 Derby after winning the Lingfield Derby Trial, but trailed home last of 14 behind Auguste Rodin.

After being gelded, he returned to form when landing last year’s Winter Derby but was then beaten again in the Prix d’Harcourt in early April and had not been seen in action since.

Despite that absence, William Buick enjoyed a smooth ride on Military Order in this 10-furlong contest, turning into the straight in a midfield position but then storming through to hit the front at the furlong pole before stretching clear to score by two and a quarter lengths at 11-2.

Military Order is a full-brother to the stable’s 2021 Epsom hero Adayar, and Buick told ITV Racing: “He’s a big horse and he’s probably taken a bit of time to come into his own. It’s the first time today I’ve got on him for a while and he feels like a much stronger version of himself and I think he’ll improve for that today.

“It’s the sharpest track he’ll have been round to date, I know he went round Epsom and he didn’t have too good a time, but I think he did really well there today.

“When you get in a position on the inside of the track here, it can be tricky but he travelled supremely well and he picked up nicely.

“He travelled beautifully throughout the race, he’s got a high cruising speed and he kicked off it, so that was a good performance and I think he should build on it.

“I’m sure there’s a good programme for him over here, a mile and a quarter and a mile-and-a-half races, so hopefully he can have an effective season.”

Buick also provided an update on Godolphin’s Betfred 1000 Guineas favourite Desert Flower, who impressed in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last week.

He added: “She was faultless last year, very impressive in the Fillies’ Mile, and she looks to have wintered very well, so everything she has done so far has been faultless and with just under two weeks to go, it’s fingers crossed.”