Wuheida a Classic contender
Appleby's filly was impressive as she charged home late to take the Prix Marcel Boussac and has Appleby dreaming of Oaks success next year
WUHEIDA stuck to her guns to claim victory in a British and Irish-dominated finish to the Total Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly.
The Charlie Appleby-trained filly lined up in the Group One contest off the back of a solitary maiden success at Newmarket in early August and was a 10-1 shot in the hands of William Buick.
John Gosden's Dabyah, also a winner on her Newmarket debut before an impressive display at Newbury, took the field along for much of the one-mile journey under Frankie Dettori, but Wuheida tracked her every move.
Dabyah briefly looked to have cut loose after kicking a couple of lengths clear in the straight, but Wuheida stuck to her task and got up to score decisively.
Aidan O'Brien's Promise To Be True came home well to narrowly beat Dabyah to the runner-up spot.
Appleby said: "We did not expect her to win like that, but we knew stepping up to a mile was the way forward.
"She saw out that trip well, and I've always thought of her as an Oaks filly.
"The further she goes, the better she'll be."
He added: "It's Dubawi's first Group One winner as a two-year-old, so that's such a nice feather in the cap.
"It was a fantastic ride by William. We thought Frankie would be on the front end and try to dictate (on Dabyah), so we were always going to be positive."
O'Brien said: "She's still a bit of a baby, but she's run very well. My first reaction is not to take her to the Breeders' Cup and to leave her and wait for next year."
Gosden felt Dabyah just found the petrol tank emptying close home.
He said: "A great run, but she was quite keen from that draw and she has got the seven and a half but not the mile.
"Making so much use of her just told in the end and we will call it a draw for the year."
