An appearance on Qipco British Champions Day and a second trip to Saudi Arabia are among the options under consideration for Annaf following his return to form at Newbury on Saturday.
Mick Appleby’s sprinter enjoyed a fantastic end to last season, landing the Portland at Doncaster and the Bengough Stakes at Ascot – and following a readying run at Lingfield, he claimed the best part of £1million with victory in the Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh in February.
The five-year-old was well held on his return from over six months off the track in the Sprint Cup at Haydock, albeit after encountering a troubled passage, but his third-place finish in the Dubai International Airport World Trophy was a significant step in the right direction.
“He ran very well, we were very pleased with him,” said Appleby. “He was probably drawn on the wrong side and the (heavy) ground was a bit against him, but he ran well.
“He’s in the Bengough at Ascot again, so we’ll decide whether we are going to go there or not, then there’s Champions Day and we’ll probably go and have another tilt in Saudi with him, I would think.
“He got murdered at Haydock, so it was nice to see him run a good race on Saturday.”
The Rutland-based trainer also provided a positive update on the well-being of the Breeders’ Cup bound pair of Big Evs and Big Mojo.
Having won the Juvenile Turf Sprint last term, Big Evs will bid to double up in the Turf Sprint, while Big Mojo is this year’s Juvenile Turf Sprint candidate.
“They’re both good and they’re both going straight there now,” Appleby added.
“They’re both in good order.”
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Saudi sprint hero Annaf nearly lost his life on a trip to Dubai in the spring, but is now raring to go ahead of his comeback in Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes on Saturday.
It may be Big Evs who garners all the headlines from Mick Appleby’s yard, but it is hard to fault the career achievements of his sprinting stablemate, who enjoyed a fine end to the 2023 season when claiming the Portland at Doncaster and the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot.
He was last seen taking his form to the next level when striking it rich in the $2million Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint, but things took a turn for the worse when travelling to Dubai in an attempt to supplement his Riyadh win in the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night.
The five-year-old took ill on the flight to the Middle East, developing pneumonia, which briefly put his life in danger and has meant he has been on the slow road to recovery ever since.
However, he is now in a position to regather the momentum he was beginning to build and despite being set a stiff task on his return to action, his handler feels this is the right level for the son of Muhaarar to compete at.
Appleby said: “He’s got over all his issues and seems in good order. He might possibly need the run but he’s as well as we can get him – hopefully he goes to Haydock and runs well.
Annaf (right) winning at Doncaster last summer (Tim Goode/PA)
“He developed pneumonia on the flight over to Dubai, because he was on there for so long, I think. He got really sick, it was touch and go at one point whether he was going to make it or not. Luckily, he’s made a full recovery and is in good form now.
“Whatever he does on Saturday, he will improve on anyway and I suppose this is his level now, so it’s worth having a go. As long as he comes back sound, that is the main thing.”
Annaf is a general 16-1 shot for the six-furlong Group One event, including with sponsors Betfair.
Kevin Ryan’s Commonwealth Cup champion Inisherin currently heads the bookmakers’ lists from Karl Burke’s Elite Status.
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Annaf will miss out on the chance to supplement his recent Saudi Arabian success on Dubai World Cup Night having met with a setback in transit.
Mick Appleby’s five-year-old enjoyed a fine 2023 season and having signed off with big wins at both Doncaster and Ascot, he has picked up from where he left off this term, going close in the Kachy Stakes before striking gold in the $2million Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh last month.
The son of Muhaarar was in line to seek an international double in Meydan’s Al Quoz Sprint on Saturday, but having picked up a respiratory illness on the flight over to Dubai, will now return to Appleby’s Oakham base to be prepared for a domestic campaign centred around a trip to Royal Ascot.
Appleby said: “He got taken ill on the flight over, but it is not life threatening or anything and he’s hopefully going to be fine, it’s just prevented him from running.
“It’s a shame but it’s a risk you take when they are flying a fair bit. He came home after Saudi and was heading back out so maybe it was just a bit too much for him.
“He should be fine and the vets out in Dubai in the hospital are happy with him – he should be fine to come back home when the other one (Roberto Escobarr) does.
“We’ll probably get him ready for Ascot now, that will probably be the main aim.”
Big Evs struck Breeders’ Cup gold (PA)
The Royal meeting could also feature on the agenda for Appleby’s leading light Big Evs who is being readied for his three-year-old season.
The son of Blue Point excelled as a juvenile, winning top-quality two-year-old races at home before giving his team a day to remember when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
His handler is keen to keep his high-class speedster to five furlongs for the early part of the season, which would see ideas of the Commonwealth Cup put on the backburner for now. However, he does concede six-furlong contests will enter the equation at some stage.
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby (Joe Giddens/PA)
Appleby continued: “He’s great and has wintered really well. He’s not far off being ready to run, we just need to decide where we are going to run.
“The obvious race (to target) would have been the Commonwealth Cup, but that is six furlongs and we don’t really want to try him over six first time back, so we’re not really sure where we will start back. The weather is not helping and it’s raining again here now.
“I think in the early season we will definitely be sticking to five furlongs. We’re obviously going to have to try him at six at some point and the way he won at Goodwood on that heavy ground, you would say he would stay the six.”
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Annaf could be in line for more Middle Eastern riches after his lucrative success in the Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint.
The five-year-old had a busy and profitable season last year, consistently turning up in top sprints and holding his own when often starting at outsider’s odds.
He was fourth when beaten two and three-quarter lengths at 50-1 in the Duke of York Stakes, after which he was defeated by the same margin at the same price when third in the Group One King’s Stand at Royal Ascot.
Even when taking up the lower places in the Hackwood, the Hopeful Stakes and the Sprint Cup, he was never beaten more than three and a half lengths when stepping up to six furlongs.
At Doncaster, he moved back half a furlong in the Portland and under top weight he claimed his first win of the turf season, a success he then followed up when landing the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot in October.
He made his seasonal debut at Lingfield at the start of February, placing second in the Listed Kachy Stakes behind Clive Cox’s Diligent Harry – who subsequently landed the Hever Sprint Stakes at Southwell on Saturday afternoon.
The Saudi Turf Sprint was Annaf’s next destination, edging up to just shy of seven furlongs in a deep race that included the reigning champion Bathrat Leon from Japan, Kieran Cotter’s speedy filly Matilda Picotte and Tim Easterby’s British Champions Sprint Stakes winner Art Power.
Under a canny ride from Rossa Ryan having started in stall 12, they found space on the inside rail and were gaining ground constantly.
As others faded Annaf began to advance and ultimately crossed the line three-quarters of a length ahead of Japan’s La La Christine to take home nearly £1million in prize-money.
Appleby said: “He’s all good, he’s come out of the race fine.
Annaf and Rossa Ryan winning the Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint (Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia/Erika Rasmussen)
“He did it really well, we were quite surprised at the price of him to be honest.
“He ran really well in the Kachy Stakes, we gave him a prep run in that and he went very well.
“The winner of that (Diligent Harry) came out and won the Listed race at Southwell, so the form has really stacked up.
“He’s always run well in good quality races and he’s always been thereabouts.”
A visit to Japan was mentioned in the immediate aftermath of the Saudi success, but connections have decided that the meeting comes too soon and he will instead return to the Middle East for the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.
“He’ll more than likely go out to Dubai on World Cup night, he was invited to Japan, but we’ve decided not to go there as the race might come too soon for him and there’s a lot of travelling as well,” Appleby said.
“He’ll come home and then probably about a week before the race, he’ll fly out to Dubai.
“Then I imagine then it’ll be Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, all the big meetings.”
Big Evs with trainer Mick Appleby, jockey Frederick Larson and head girl Tara Belfield (Joe Giddens/PA)
Appleby’s other sprint star is the rapid Big Evs, winner of the Windsor Castle, Molecomb, Flying Childers and then the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last year.
The colt has returned to training after his winter break and is progressing well as connections ponder where to begin his three-year-old campaign.
“He’s good, he’s wintered really well and he’s in training,” Appleby said.
“We’ve not really made our plans yet with him, but he’s on the go so he’ll run early season, we just don’t know where yet.”
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Mick Appleby pulled off another lucrative overseas raid as Annaf landed the Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint.
The five-year-old was drawn in stall 12 as Rossa Ryan took up the reins in Riyadh, but under a clever ride he was able to take cover on the inside rail when switched across at the rear of the field.
From there he allowed other horses to fold ahead of him and after the home turn, he accelerated away to to cross the line comfortably ahead of Takashi Saito’s La La Christine.
“He gave him a great ride – it’s all down to Rossa, not my training!” Appleby said.
“He keeps improving and keeps surprising us. Where we go next, god knows. He’s got an invite to Japan so we’ll maybe go there next.
“We’ve always thought he was a good horse and that he would get better with age, there’s more to come still.”
Of his recent successes in big oversea events, Appleby, who trained Big Evs to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November, added: “It’s becoming a habit, sky’s the limit!”
Ryan, who has struck up a good bond with the horse, said: “I’ve always ridden him for luck and it’s always just seemed to work.
“He lets the hard hitters make the running early and just picks up the pieces. Obviously today the trip was a massive concern after he’d won a Portland over five and a half (furlongs), a Group Three over six and was third in a Group One over five.
“He’d shown plenty of speed but he got six furlongs on the grass at Ascot in heavy ground, so it was probably going to weigh up the same.
✨ @MickApplebyUK does it again on the international stage ✨
“We went a right good gallop and when I got out the gates and into stride and in on the rail, I was where I wanted to be.
“Luckily the gaps came and he’s very good. I know he has the pace to get me out of trouble, which is a great thing to have up your sleeve, and he can travel into gaps like good horses can.
“I didn’t have a lot of room but he stuck his head through it and away he went.”
Tower Of London had to pass nearly the whole field but still managed to prevail in the Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap.
Aidan O’Brien’s four-year-old was partnered by Ryan Moore for the Group Three handicap, carrying 9st 5lb on his first run of the year after finishing fourth in the St Leger last season.
Moore magic in Riyadh! 🤯
Ryan Moore gets out of trouble and unleashes TOWER OF LONDON late to land the G3 @longines Red Sea Turf.
Drawn wide in stall 12, the bay tracked across to the inner rail and settled at the rear of the field where he stayed until rounding the final bend.
In the home straight he had all but one or two trailers ahead of him, picking off each rival one by one and eventually drawing level with the race leaders, fellow Europeans Enemy and Giavellotto, before just getting his head in front on the line.
“He’s a lightly-raced horse and the only time he’s really disappointed was on bad ground in the Irish Cesarewitch,” Moore said.
“He’s been working very nicely, he’s a brother to Capri and it’s a family that has done very well for the yard.
“We always held him in high regard, he was drawn a bit awkward and they didn’t have any pace in the race.
“He was able to slide over to the rail and he had to be patient when it didn’t quite pan out as there were a few horses dropping back.
“We eventually got out and put his head down at the right moment and got us out of trouble.”
Forever Young has the Kentucky Derby as his ultimate aim after winning the Boutique Group Saudi Derby for Yoshito Yahagi.
The Japanese runner finished with a flourish to edge out Book’em Danno by a head in a flying finish.
Yahagi said: “He didn’t have a good start. He was wide out and it was a tough race, but he ended up winning, so we are very satisfied. He didn’t like the kickback, so the jockey kept him wide out. Still, he had a very good performance, so I’m very happy about that.
“We will first head to the UAE Derby before hopefully the Kentucky Derby.”
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Annaf continued his fine season when edging out Commanche Falls in a thrilling finish to the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes at Ascot.
Mick Appleby’s four-year-old has been a consistent player on the sprinting scene this season, finishing third at this track in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He gained a deserved success when dropped into handicap company for the Portland at Doncaster last month and quickly added his tally when returned to Group company in this Group Three assignment.
Ridden again by Rossa Ryan, the 5-2 favourite was expertly manoeuvred into a position to challenge and stuck on resolutely in the closing stages to hunt down Michael Dods’ in-form Commanche Falls and win by short head.
“It was a great run and he just keeps improving,” said Appleby.
“He’s been so consistent this year and I just hope he’s got some more improvement to come.
“Rossa gets on so well with him and knows how to ride him. They get on really well together.
“Whether that will be it for the year now, I’m not sure. There are a couple of more races for him, but we’ll speak with the owners and decide what to do.
“We could possibly go to the Kachy Stakes again at Lingfield, but we’ll give him a break at some point.”
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Annaf’s class came to the fore as he carried top-weight to a game victory in the Betfred Portland Handicap at Doncaster.
Mick Appleby’s four-year-old has been a regular in Group-race company this season and made the podium at Royal Ascot when third in the King’s Stand Stakes.
However, the 7-1 shot was remarkably still a maiden on turf prior to making his 23rd overall career start in the hands of Rossa Ryan.
Ridden with supreme confidence by the in-form jockey, the duo picked their way through a stacked field and pulled out all the stops to prevail in a photo-finish over Julie Camacho’s Significantly.
The victory continued a fine week on Turf Moor for Oakham-based Appleby who enjoyed Flying Childers success with the Breeders’ Cup-bound Big Evs on Friday.
Ryan said: “He was third in the King’s Stand don’t forget. I’ve won on him plenty now so he’s been good to me.
“My only concern today was the ground, but he had run well enough with an ease at Sandown. He’s a classy horse.
“I’d imagine one of those nice Group races before the end of the season will be next, he’s been a star for me.
“Mick and the team have him spot-on every time, but I wasn’t sure if I’d held on. He doesn’t like being in front too long which is why I think all-weather racing suits him.”
He added: “Mick has had a good week, he’s a top trainer, he’s improving every season and he’s got training this lad down to a fine art.”
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