Wednesday’s Unibet Supports Safer Gambling Maiden Stakes at Kempton looked, on paper, like another typical Charlie Appleby benefit. On the track, it proved exactly that. Palladas (6/5f) didn’t just win; he confirmed himself as a genuine Classic prospect, continuing a lineage of Kempton maiden winners that includes Measured Time and Notable Speech.

The Winner: Palladas (1st)

Costing 750,000gns as a yearling, this son of Lope De Vega lived up to the price tag. In a race where the early tempo was “very slow” (15.24s opening furlong), Palladas showed professional poise before unleashing a devastating turn of foot.

• The Data: He clocked a final furlong of 11.06s—the fastest in the field. His Finishing Speed Percentage (FSP) of 115.8% reveals a horse with massive gears.
• The Verdict: Jockey Connor Planas was glowing, calling him one of the best he’s ever sat on. He’s already been introduced into the 2,000 Guineas market at 33/1. Follow him to the ‘European Road to the Kentucky Derby’ conditions race here next month.

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The Eyecatcher: Shafdar (3rd)

If Palladas is the “Group horse,” Shafdar (20/1) is the “handicap plot.” This Aga Khan-bred gelding produced a performance that screamed “win coming soon.”

• The Run: Settled at the rear in a race with zero pace, he was badly hampered over 1f out. Once clear, he flew, recording a final 2f of 22.26s (only 0.10s slower than the winner).
• The Potential: He recorded the highest top speed of the race (41.16 mph). Bred for middle distances, he will be a different animal when stepped up to 10 or 12 furlongs in handicaps.

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Key Performance Metrics

Horse	Top Speed	Stride Length	FSP %	Notes
Palladas	41.06 mph	7.07m	115.8%	Elite acceleration.
Al Azd	40.03 mph	6.86m	112.8%	Solid benchmark; gelding op worked.
Shafdar	41.16 mph	6.98m	116.2%	Strongest finisher. Follow over further.
Exmoor	40.24 mph	7.36m	112.4%	Massive stride. One for 1m2f+.

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Summary

While Al Azd (2nd) ran a respectable race, he was simply outclassed by a superior animal. Oro Palacio (5th) got the soft lead but lacked the stamina to capitalise.

Bottom line: Keep Palladas in your tracker for Class 1 company and get Shafdar into your notifications for his handicap debut.