BOY, did Charlie Appleby need that.
It’s been a rotten season for the champion trainer, but his promising two-year-old Aablan eased the pressure at Sandown.
Appleby and Godolphin drew a blank at the big summer festivals at Ascot, Goodwood and York and most of his older stars have been retired.
So he must have been breathing a sigh of relief after the well-bred, unbeaten son of Dubawi got his head in front in the Group 3 Solario Stakes.
He is by no means the finished article, having pulled on his way to post and for the first few furlongs.