06:30PM, Wednesday 27 August 2025
Arabian Crown (left) beats Caviar Heights at Windsor on Saturday. Picture: Sue Orpwood
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The two feature races at Windsor's most prestigious Flat meeting of the year both produced surprise results on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.
Arabian Crown, the 11/2 outsider of the four runners, won the Weatherbys Digital Solutions August Stakes, while 10/1 shot Silawi landed the Group 3 Weatherbys Global Stallions App Winter Hill Stakes.
Facing just three rivals, 11/2 shot Arabian Crown with Billy Loughnane in the saddle, beat William Haggas' 6/4 favourite Caviar Heights, ridden by Cieren Fallon, by a neck.
The Godolphin-owned Arabian Crown was strongly fancied for last year's Derby before being taken out due to a minor injury.
Alex Merriam, the assistant to winning trainer Charlie Appleby, said:
"He was a very good three-year-old, then had a few setbacks, so it was good to see him get his head back in front - that was positive."
Arabian Crown may now go for the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on September 14.
Military Order was strongly fancied to complete a quick double for Loughnane, Appleby and Godolphin in the Winter Hill Stakes, but the odds-on favourite was beaten three-quarters of a length by Silawai
(10/1) with Fallon aboard.
The Hamad Al Jehani-trained five-year-old bay gelding had won at Windsor in May but finished 28th of 30th in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and fifth (fourth past the post but subsequently disqualified) at Goodwood last month with James Doyle in the saddle on each occasion.
"I spoke to James (who is currently ill) this morning, and he filled me with plenty of confidence," said Fallon.
"I thought it was very straightforward. He's a horse who knows this track. He's got a high cruising speed. It was comfortable for him and uncomfortable for those behind us."
Salawi, adding another to owners Wathnan Racing's long list of winners, holds an entry for the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket on September 27.
Fallon went on to win the New Year's Day Windsor Jumps Meeting Handicap on 20/1 outsider Just Adair for Jonjo & A J O'Neill. The three-year-old was sixth at Windsor in June when a 125/1 shot.
Loughnane also completed a double in front of a large crowd on Saturday, having started the afternoon by winning the Thames Alfa Romeo Slough Handicap aboard the Adrian Wintle-trained Monsieur Patat (17/2), who was following up his win at the course in May.
Windsor has a seven-race card next Monday, due to start at 4.30, but with a large number of entries, at least one race may be split.
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