ONE of the main factors in the shake-up of Godolphin which saw the departure of John Ferguson last was alleged to be a contrast of talent amongst the two chief stables – that of Charlie Appleby and Saeed Bin Suroor.

The self-effacing Bin Suroor, normally a model of reticence and politeness, was clearly unhappy with the ammunition at his disposal and any unbiased observer would see his point regarding the two-year-olds.

It became even more obvious at Newmarket on Saturday, when the first meeting on the July Course saw Appleby and William Buick complete a hat-trick with Glorious Journey, Folk Tale and Culturati, the first two of them juveniles.

John Gosden and Martin Dwyer won the seven-furlong handicap between times, giving Godolphin the first four winners on the card.

With the future in mind, all eyes were on Glorious Journey, a 2,600,000 guineas yearling by Dubawi out of the Coronation Stakes winner Fallen For You.

Sent off at even money in the first division of the six-furlong maiden, he pulled hard enough but came through to lead inside the final furlong and was always doing just enough to hold market rival Grand Koonta by a neck, with Take Me With You third.

PURCHASED

Glorious Journey was purchased by Ferguson last October and Appleby was understandably diplomatic when talking to the press last week.

“John made his decision and we’re moving on. He was a great help to me during his time at the stable but I’m employed by Godolphin to prepare horses, which is what I shall continue to do,” he said.

“It was pleasing to see how he won, given they went no pace. He’d brought himself forward at home so we decided to give him a run. He could go up to seven furlongs for something at the July meeting, but we’ll let him tell us.”

Stable-companion Folk Tale also pulled a shade too hard in the second leg of this Margaret Giffen Memorial but his Goodwood fourth stood him in good stead and he just outpointed Brian Meehan’s newcomer Faraasah by a neck, completing a quick short-priced double for connections. As if to underline how steadily the first race was run, the time was two seconds quicker here, without being exceptional.

Appleby and Buick completed their hat-trick on an outstanding afternoon for Dubawi when Culturati overcame a 610-day absence to land the Porsche Centre Cambridge Handicap, quickening nicely out of the Dip to beat Scorching Heat by a length and a half.

“We knew he was fit because he’d been working well with my top sprinters Jungle Cat and Comicas. We’ll have a look at the Wokingham,” Appleby said.

The four-year-old was cut to 14/1 by some of the top firms.

For a Derby-winning jockey, Martin Dwyer’s career has gone quiet in the last few seasons but he is picking up very good rides now, as well as receiving calls from television.

The Gosden yard booked him for 11/1 chance Parfait in the Animal Health Trust Handicap over seven furlongs and Dwyer, having done his homework on a horse in first-time cheekpieces, kept him away from the others and made all to score most impressively by seven lengths.

The other jockeys seemed lost in admiration, or possibly nodded off. They did not include Gerald Mosse, who is a welcome addition to the Newmarket ranks and gave John Ryan’s 6/1 chance Lady Freyja a fine ride in the fillies’ maiden over seven furlongs, making all and kicking clear at precisely the right moment to become another seven-length scorer.