Tag Archive for: Charlie Appleby

Ruling Court could have Classic ambitions after Dubai spell

Charlie Appleby has not lost any faith in Ruling Court, who sprang to prominence in the ante-post Classic markets following a scintillating debut at Sandown in July.

The Justify colt cost €2,300,000 at the Arqana breeze-up sale and bolted up by five lengths on his debut, with the now 111-rated Stanhope Gardens back in third.

He was a beaten even-money favourite in the Acomb Stakes on his only other outing, but the winner, Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter, looks hugely promising and the race worked out exceptionally well.

“He’s done very well. He was a breeze-up horse so we gave him a bit of time before he ran in his Sandown maiden and he did what he did,” said Appleby.

“It was always our target to look towards the Acomb, and full credit to the race planning team with the conditions of the race changing – that race will only get better year on year.

“What we saw with Aidan’s horse winning (The Lion In Winter), James Owen’s horse in second (Wimbledon Hawkeye) who went on and progressed throughout the season. We felt that was the strongest juvenile race of the season until the Dewhurst.

“He’s done well out in Dubai. We felt that the training conditions out there would suit him and he’s on target to run in the (Jumeirah) 2000 Guineas on Super Saturday (March 5). We could potentially look at the 2000 Guineas nearer the time. I think he will stretch out beyond a mile, so it’s whether we look at him as a Guineas horse or a Dante horse after his run at Meydan.”

Notable Speech won the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes last year and stays in training
Notable Speech won the 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes last year and stays in training (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Appleby campaigned plenty of his horses in North America last season, but this year he feels he has a much stronger squad and will mostly be closer to home.

“We campaigned our horses as we did last year, and I was quite open about it, to give ourselves the best chance to win graded races,” he said.

“With the three-year-olds that we’ve got they will most definitely be campaigned in Europe, for sure.

“We were left with a hole a couple of years ago in our older horses, but this year hopefully the likes of Notable Speech, who might start in something like the Lockinge and work towards the Queen Anne, and Arabian Crown, who will be looking at mile-and-a-half races, will fill the gap.

“You’ve got to have a good one to go and win them, you can’t just turn up. I just felt we didn’t have that, but hopefully this year we will have.”



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Shadow Of Light picks up European Champion Two-Year-Old title

Shadow Of Light is set to go straight to the Qipco 2000 Guineas after being crowned the Champion Two-Year-Old of 2024, giving Godolphin and Charlie Appleby their third such success in the last six seasons.

Appleby’s Pinatubo topped the ratings in 2019 with a magnificent mark of 128 and Native Trail led the way for Moulton Paddocks in 2021 on 122.

A ranking of 120 was good enough for Shadow Of Light to edge out exceptional filly Lake Victoria by one point, having completed a rare Middle Park-Dewhurst Group One double.

The son of Lope De Vega won his opening two starts at Yarmouth and Newmarket before finishing second in the Gimcrack at York.

He stepped up to a different level when landing the Middle Park by four lengths and returned to Headquarters to shade Expanded by a neck in the Dewhurst, when trying seven furlongs for the first time.

Appleby said: “Bar last year with Notable Speech being a left-field type having not run at two, as a rule you are always hoping to be in the first three in the Dewhursts and Middle Parks and the like, otherwise you are scratching around for a serious Classic contender.

Expanded looks exciting
Expanded looks exciting (PA)

“Given what Shadow Of Light, Desert Flower and to a lesser extent Ruling Court achieved it gives you confidence going into the spring and their three-year-old careers.

“We’re definitely going to try to see if Shadow Of Light stays the mile and we’ll probably go straight into the Guineas, I don’t want to test him over the mile beforehand, firstly timing-wise and secondly I’d rather keep the dream alive going into the Guineas.

“The way the horse relaxes and his mannerisms, he gives himself a chance to see out a mile. There’s question marks on the back of some of his pedigree, but if you actually dig into it there’s enough there to say a mile should be within his compass.

“I’m very pleased physically with how he’s done, he’s lengthened and as a physical you’d have a job to knock, he’s done all the maturing you’d want to see. With a clear run into the Guineas you’d have a job to knock him in the paddock.”

Expanded finished joint-third in the table on 118 after quickly backing up a narrow Curragh maiden win with that close second to Shadow Of Light in the Dewhurst.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We thought the world of him in the spring and we kind of ran out of time and he ended up not starting until late, but we always thought he was very good.

“I suppose what we did wasn’t really fair to him, to bring him back after a maiden to go straight into the Dewhurst – and it was only a few days after, really.

“He’s an unusual horse in that he has speed and we always thought he would get a mile-plus, so we always had it in our head that he had every chance of getting the Derby trip.

“He’s out of a Galileo mare, he has a very easy, relaxed way of going. His profile always suggested that he’d have no problem getting a mile and a quarter and could get further, so he’s obviously a very exciting horse.

“From his draw (at Newmarket), Ryan (Moore) ended up having to do a lot of the donkey work on him and that didn’t suit a horse that had only run a week before, but he didn’t surrender and was still going at the line, we felt.

“So we thought it was a very good run and he’s wintered very well, you couldn’t be happier with him looking at him now; he’s very relaxed and physically he’s a great size and shape of a horse. He could be very exciting.”

The Lion In Winter has a big year ahead
The Lion In Winter has a big year ahead (Niall Carson/PA)

Stablemate The Lion In Winter was forced to miss the Dewhurst due to suffering a bruised foot but still shared third spot on 118 after building on a Curragh maiden win by taking the Acomb Stakes at York in impressive fashion.

The son of Sea The Stars is ante-post favourite for the Qipco 2000 Guineas and the Betfred Derby, and O’Brien added: “He’s good.

“We won’t rush him. He could go to the Guineas but obviously he looks a Derby-type horse, so we’re not sure and if he doesn’t go to the Guineas, we’ll start in a (Derby) trial.

“He’s not over-big, he’s a nice type of size. He looked mature as a two-year-old, obviously he has a great mind. When he went to York, I suppose he dominated the race and the way he quickened and found plenty just made him look very exciting to everybody.

“He had two very kind of easy runs; he won his maiden and then he won very easily at York, I don’t think Ryan even hit him in York. He had two very good experiences and that will stand him in good stead from two to three.”

Hotazhell (left) on the way to victory at Doncaster
Hotazhell (left) on the way to victory at Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)

On 117 were Godolphin duo Ancient Truth and the filly Desert Flower, Jessica Harrington’s Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Scorthy Champ.

Graeme Smith, handicapping team leader at the British Horseracing Authority, said: “Shadow of Light became just the third horse in more than a century to win both the Middle Park and Dewhurst, with his runaway success in the first of those earning him the title of European Champion Two-Year-Old of 2024 with a rating of 120.

“What’s unusual about this year’s classification is the level of competition at the top. There are eight horses rated between 117 and 120, and that really whets the appetite for some enthralling competition in their classic season ahead.”



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Ancient Wisdom bids for Bayern crown

A strong challenge from Britain will line up for the Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern in Munich on Sunday.

Charlie Appleby’s Ancient Wisdom appears for the first time since landing the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket’s July meeting, having failed to make the line-up for the St Leger, while recent Champions Day third Tiffany runs for Sir Mark Prescott and David Menuisier is double-handed with Panthera and Oaks third War Chimes.

Ancient Wisdom, who will be ridden by William Buick, won the Futurity Trophy on heavy ground at two and was second in the Dante on his reappearance, before finishing mid-division in the Derby.

“We had this race pencilled in for Ancient Wisdom for some time, hoping that the ground would be on the soft side,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

“It’s a very competitive event and we are coming up against some solid older horses, so he needs to step forward from his Bahrain Trophy win. The ground is the key with him and he stays a mile and a half well. He looks great and I can’t fault his preparation.”

Godolphin have a strong second string to their bow in what is the last Group One of the year in Europe by way of the Andre Fabre-trained Marquisat, whose last run was a fine third to King George winner Goliath and the ultra-consistent Hamish in a Group Two at ParisLongchamp.

Louise Benard of Godolphin said: “Marquisat is a consistent horse who has never disappointed us throughout his career. This end-of-season Group One fits well in his season and he should perform well.”



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Rebel’s Romance is Turf king again for Appleby and Buick

Rebel’s Romance produced a tremendous display at Del Mar to win the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf for a second time.

Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star won this prize two years ago, but whereas James Doyle was in the saddle at Keeneland, it was William Buick who got his moment aboard the big-race favourite this time around in California.

Buick made a key early move to take Rebel’s Romance up with the pace, sitting hot on the heels of the leader Cabo Spirit.

Rounding the turn for home Buick asked his mount for maximum effort as he left his rivals flat-footed in the charge for the line before then holding on gamely as Japanese contender Rousham Park finished full of running, having been at the rear alongside Emily Upjohn through the early stages.

It was an 11th Breeders’ Cup win for Appleby who once again showed his prowess at this meeting, although there was to be no dream reunion for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori as the well-fancied Emily Upjohn failed to figure.

But much of the gloss was taken off the race with the death of Brian Meehan’s Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe, who collapsed on the track after crossing the line, suffering what veterinary officials said was believed to be a “cardiac event”.

AAEP on-call veterinarian Dr Al Ruggles told NBC Sports: “We offer our condolences obviously to all the connections. It’s suspected to be a cardiac event, they are unusual but can occur. If in fact that is it, post-mortems don’t help answer that question generally and they are almost impossible to predict. In a horse that is training well you wouldn’t know it.”

Of the globetrotting Rebel’s Romance, Appleby said: “First and foremost he’s very much a yard favourite and he’s built up this worldwide fanbase, most notable when he went to Hong Kong when everybody knew him.

William Buick celebrates aboard Rebel's Romance
William Buick celebrates aboard Rebel’s Romance (PA)

“Throughout the race I was pleased with where he was and pleased he made the move when he did. He’s a superstar, he really is. When you watch him run, you really feel it – you want him to win.

“To be campaigned at that level for the time he has takes a lot of guts.”

He went on: “He (Buick) was pretty confident we had got the job done, but he was idling because we’d been out there for so long.

“This fella owes us nothing. Obviously we would like to take him back to Dubai for the Sheema Classic, he’s a real star and draws all the media attention.

“With a horse like him he takes the pressure off you. When you roll a horse like him out you know you are going to get everything from him.

Like any athlete it takes a good one to knock him off his peg

“We planned to come back for the Turf last year, but he’d lost all of his mojo.

“We had to build him back up. Like any athlete it takes a good one to knock him off his peg.”

Emily Upjohn could never get in a blow under Frankie Dettori, finding little racing room, and John Gosden, who trains alongside his son, Thady, confirmed she had run her last race.

He said: “She hasn’t had a hard race, but that’s it now, she’s going into retirement.”



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Appleby has every chance of continuing Mile domination

When it comes to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Charlie Appleby has been an unstoppable force and he now goes for a record fourth straight success with 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech at Del Mar on Saturday.

The Moulton Paddocks handler’s winning run began right here in the San Diego suburbs with Space Blues in 2021 and he has saddled Modern Games and Master Of The Seas to take home the prize for the last two years.

However, he now runs arguably his best contender yet in his Classic-winning son of Dubawi, who has shown his aptitude for a tight turning track when winning at Kempton in his early days and then his quality for red-hot assignments by scoring not only at Newmarket in the spring, but also in the Sussex Stakes.

Notable Speech (centre) made his first three appearances at Kempton
Notable Speech (centre) made his first three appearances at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)

Appleby said: “Notable Speech is in great form. If they go hard they will come back, but he’s one of those horses you would be comfortable about wherever he is during the race.

“He’s drawn six. I didn’t want to be any wider, but that gate still gives William (Buick, jockey) options. He’s an exciting horse and is, with his 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes wins, the highest-profile horse I’ve ever brought out here.”

Notable Speech was sunk by the ground in the Prix du Moulin last time out, with Appleby adding: “We know he doesn’t want soft ground, but he travelled and settled well and all the signs are good.”

The race lost some of its spice when Christopher Head’s Ramatuelle was ruled out of the race on Friday, but Notable Speech still faces a worthy adversary in Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna.

Porta Fortuna (left) winning the Matron Stakes
Porta Fortuna (left) winning the Matron Stakes (Healy Racing/PA Wire)

Second in the 1000 Guineas before landing the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, she has since cemented herself as one of Europe’s leading performers at the distance by adding Group One victories in the Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes.

“She ran a belter in the Guineas first time out and after that, she hasn’t missed a beat since,” said O’Brien.

“We’ve had a great year with her, it’s great to bring her back here and hopefully we can finish the year on a high.

“She’s trained very well, we’re very happy with her, she’s healthy and happy and everything has gone to plan, so all is good so far.”

Porta Fortuna will be partnered by Tom Marquand and the trip to Del Mar represents a chance to go one better than when just touched off at Santa Anita 12 month’s ago.

O’Brien added: “We learned last year that she handles it very well, she handles the travel good and she’s travelled over well again this year.

“You can never be sure how they will cope with a long flight like that and adjusting over here, it can be very different for them, but she’s got a great temperament, so we’re lucky that way.”

Donnacha’s father Aidan O’Brien will not have a runner after Diego Velazquez was scratched. Chad Brown’s Carl Spackler and Tim Yakteen’s Johannes appear the pick of the US contingent, both arriving on a winning streak.



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Charlie Appleby launching dual assault on Juvenile Turf

Charlie Appleby could be in possession of all the aces as Aomori City and Al Qudra go for Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf glory in Del Mar.

The Moulton Paddocks handler has an exceptional record at the Breeders’ Cup with his first victory at the Stateside event coming in 2013 in this event with Outstrip.

He has since got his hands on the one-mile contest a further twice with Line Of Duty striking in 2018 and Modern Games landing the spoils the last time the Breeders’ Cup visited Del Mar in 2021.

Modern Games’ success had a dash of controversy as he was scratched in error by the stewards after an incident at the start, before being reinstated to run for ‘purse only’ purposes and excluded from the betting.

Charlie Appleby has a fantastic record at the Breeders' Cup
Charlie Appleby has a fantastic record at the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)

Modern Games returned to some boos from disgruntled patrons then, but Appleby is hoping one of his crack pair can spark a joyous return to the California track’s winner’s circle this time around.

“Aomori City and Al Qudra are hard to split on what they have achieved in the Juvenile Turf,” he said.

“Aomori won the Vintage (Stakes at Goodwood) and ran creditably on slower ground in the National Stakes (at the Curragh). He’s neat, he’s sharp and he fits in very well.”

Aomori City is the choice of William Buick, leaving former Godolphin number two James Doyle to once again don the white cap aboard Al Qudra.

The son of No Nay Never will try to reverse Woodbine form with Andrew Balding’s Summer Stakes scorer New Century, but the colt was somewhat unfortunate in running during that Canadian Grade One, with Appleby also able to take comfort from his charge’s two previous defeats of the Qatar Racing-owned son of Kameko.

“Al Qudra was beaten by a nice horse in Canada, which I felt was like his first start (as he had not run since July),” continued Appleby.

“He’s drawn in four and we’re happy with that. He’s trained well.”

Another British handler with two contenders is Hugo Palmer, who has taken both The Waco Kid and Seagulls Eleven on a transatlantic mission following some likeable displays this term.

Seagulls Eleven not only sports the colours of Brighton football club but will also carry the hopes of some of their star players, with the likes of James Milner and Danny Welbeck amongst the colt’s ownership.

“Seagulls Eleven always showed us a little bit more at home and is a bit more highly tried, but he’s actually only the winner of a novice race, despite being third in the National Stakes and second in the Superlative,” said Palmer.

Seagulls Eleven has performed with credit this season
Seagulls Eleven has performed with credit this season (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

“He showed such incredible gate speed in the National Stakes and he’s definitely better on faster ground. He just bogged down in the Dewhurst on soft ground (fourth) and was possibly on the unfavourable bit of the track.”

Meanwhile, The Waco Kid landed the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket when last seen and has built up plenty of experience this term.

“The Waco Kid has just improved all season and with every run has got better, which has been exciting,” continued Palmer.

“After his last run there were two Group Ones left in Europe and no Group Twos and if you add the value of the two Group Ones together and double it, you don’t get to the Breeders’ Cup (value), so it was relatively easy to persuade the owners to go to Del Mar.

“Both of the horses we brought out here I feel are crying out for the mile.”

Henri Matisse has won three times this season
Henri Matisse has won three times this season (Brian Lawless/PA)

This race has been won by Aidan O’Brien the last two years and it is Henri Matisse who is tasked with making it three in a row.

Deeply exciting when winning his first three, his form has somewhat tapered off of late, but that is not dissuading the master of Ballydoyle who is predicting a Stateside resurgence.

He said: “We think he’ll bounce back. The ground was a little bit soft in Longchamp and I put blinkers on him when I shouldn’t have.

“He was a little bit immature when he got to the front in the National Stakes and it was probably a kneejerk reaction to put blinkers on him that quick – I should have left them alone. He got tightened up early on at Longchamp and it frightened him a little bit, so I think it was more my fault than his.

“He came out of the race very well and that’s why we decided to come here – lovely ground and a flat track. We think it will do him good and we’ll learn a lot about him and he will learn a lot.

“He’s drawn wide, so I think Ryan will take his time on him, but he’s a horse who has shown he doesn’t mind coming from the back.”

Hopes of a European winner in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf appear to rest firmly on the Ballydoyle handler’s shoulders with O’Brien responsible for leading fancy Lake Victoria and able second string Heavens Gate.

The former arrives unbeaten and having proven her versatility by winning Group Ones at both six and seven furlongs of late, she now bids for a third straight success at the highest level – this time at a mile.

Lake Victoria is unbeaten
Lake Victoria is unbeaten (Mike Egerton/PA)

O’Brien continued: “She’s very good. What she’s done this year has been exceptional.

“Ryan thought she could run in the Fillies’ Mile but the lads decided that if she was to go over a mile this year, this would be lovely for her. It’s a lovely, flat track, she’s a filly with a lot of class, so we’re looking forward to seeing her run.”

On Heavens Gate, he added: “She’s been working well and her last piece of work was very good.

“I remember when Ryan rode her first time at Navan, he said she felt like a filly that wanted seven furlongs or a mile.

“We never went to seven until the last day and then she won that. She’s a big, hardy filly and I’m very happy with her and she could run a big race.”



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Appleby looks to Anno Domini for Futurity double

Charlie Appleby feels Anno Domini is worthy of a step up to the highest level as he bids to give the Godolphin handler back-to-back victories in Saturday’s William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster.

Appleby has assembled a crack team of juveniles this term and having won both two-year-old Group Ones at Newmarket recently with Desert Flower and Shadow Of Light, the unbeaten Anno Domini will now put his own top-level credentials to the test on Town Moor.

Appleby saddled Ancient Wisdom to pick up this prize 12 months ago and his latest contender heads to South Yorkshire with a perfect record having won at Newbury on debut before comfortably accounting for a cast that included Beresford Stakes third Windlord at Sandown in July.

“He’s two from two and he’s a breeze-up horse who won well on debut and went and backed it up with a cosy performance at Sandown,” said Appleby.

“I think he might appreciate slower conditions as long as it’s not heavy, because he is a horse I’m stepping up in trip and coming off the back of a bit of a lay-off.

“It’s always a race where you need to see it out well in conditions, but his homework has been good and we’re going there with a bit of confidence behind him.

“He beat some nice horses at Sandown and as I say, he’s a breeze-up horse who had those two runs and everything came quite quick, so he deserved to have the break and he’s done very well physically for it.”

No one can match Aidan O’Brien’s record in this particular contest, with the likes of High Chaparral (2001), St Nicholas Abbey (2009), Camelot (2012) and more recently Auguste Rodin (2022) on the roll of honour.

Delacroix (left) is Aidan O'Brien's Doncaster representative
Delacroix (left) is Aidan O’Brien’s Doncaster representative (Brian Lawless/PA)

The master of Ballydoyle now bids for a record-extending 12th win with Autumn Stakes victor Delacroix, who proved too strong for Stanhope Gardens at the conclusion of that recent Newmarket Group Three.

One of the likely favourites is James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye, who split O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter and Appleby’s Ruling Court in the Acomb at York before serving up an ace in the Royal Lodge.

The son of Kameko was a length and a half ahead of Andrew Balding’s reopposing Royal Playwright on that occasion and has the chance to provide his trainer with a first Group One success under rules if following in the footsteps of his sire who won this in 2019.

Owen said: “I’m excited and nervous at the same time and it’s a massive race for us. It is lovely to have a runner in a Group One during our first season, especially a homebred of the Gredleys.

“He looks a hugely exciting horse with a bright future and not only were we thrilled with him in the Royal Lodge, but thrilled with him all season and how he has progressed.

Wimbledon Hawkeye (right) was a taking winner of the Royal Lodge
Wimbledon Hawkeye (right) was a taking winner of the Royal Lodge (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He’s training great and we couldn’t be happier with him at home. He’s drawn in the middle and the ground is looking like it could be on the better side of soft – I can’t see it being any worse than soft – and we handled soft well at Newmarket.

“We’ve got our fingers crossed for a big run and if he can put up the same performance as he did at Newmarket, then hopefully he will have a good chance.”

John Gosden has yet to win this race and now training alongside son Thady, he will launch a two-pronged attack as he looks to right that statistic.

Wootton Bassett colt Detain cost owners Juddmonte €340,000 as a foal and is now given the chance to confirm the promise of his opening displays at Kempton at the highest level.

“He’s done nothing wrong in his two novices and has been impressive,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

Detain has looked smart in two Kempton victories
Detain has looked smart in two Kempton victories (Adam Davy/PA)

“It looks a cracking renewal of the Futurity with a deep field. James Owen’s horse and Aidan O’Brien’s horse both looked good when winning at Newmarket and I thought Andrew Balding’s horse was a big price the way he finished off behind Wimbledon Hawkeye the last day.

“It’s a deep race but we’re happy with Detain and looking forward to seeing what he can do at this level.

“I think his future probably is ahead of him, he’s a big horse and physically he was a little weak during the year.

“John and Thady have brought him along slowly, hence they went for the second novice rather than jumping into stakes company and I just think the manner of it and the way he won the last day, it gave us the encouragement to give the Group One a try.”

Detain is joined in the line-up by stablemate Nebras – a half-brother to the recently retired Nashwa, and a taking winner on debut at Newmarket.

Nebras won well on debut at Newmarket
Nebras won well on debut at Newmarket (Joe Giddens/PA)

Like Nashwa, the son of Dubawi will be ridden by owner Imad Al Sagar’s retained jockey Hollie Doyle, who said: “It’s exciting, he’s got so much ability but obviously this is a big step up into Group One company.

“It won’t be easy to win but it will be very interesting as I think he’s got a big engine. It’s just whether he can apply himself at that level at this stage of his career after just one run.

“He’s taking on horses with more experience but I think he’s got so much ability and he’s definitely one to look forward to next year.”

Doyle’s anticipation is matched by the owner’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe, who added:” The important thing is that Imad is very excited about his prospects, not only this year but next year as well and he could be a nice horse.

“Given his pedigree, if he could get some Group One black type at two, or Group One black type at any time, it is a big help.

“We think he’ll handle the soft. There’s rain forecast and it doesn’t take much at this time of year to turn it testing, but you’d expect it at this time of year. The main thing is to go into it positive.”

Jessica Harrington’s Beresford Stakes winner Hotazhell is another to make the trip over from Ireland, while Billy Loughnane is handed the ride on Paul and Oliver Cole’s ready Newmarket scorer Seaplane.

Loughnane said: “He was good when winning his novice and is stepping up in grade, but we’ll see how we go.

“He was very impressive here last time and will have to step up given the tough company, but hopefully he can do.”



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‘He’s a big player’ – Appleby looking forward to Rebel’s Romance

Returning champion Rebel’s Romance and the “very dangerous” Notable Speech are set to lead Charlie Appleby’s small but highly select team into battle at the Breeders’ Cup next week.

Globetrotting star Rebel’s Romance will be looking to regain the Breeders’ Cup Turf title he lifted in 2022 off the back another fine campaign which has seen him win Group One prizes in Dubai, Hong Kong and Germany, as well as finish third in the King George at Ascot.

Appleby believes the six-year-old will return to California as a “big player” on Saturday week.

Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the Breeders' Cup
Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Rebel’s Romance is an international star, as we know. He’s been rock solid all year, even in his defeat at Ascot he went down with a lot of credit,” said Appleby at Newmarket on Wednesday.

“We purposely gave him a little bit of a break. We toyed with the idea of going to America, but we decided to stay a little bit closer to home and go to Germany for a race he’d won before and he spring-boarded from that into a Breeders’ Cup win.

“We all know the draw is important around Del Mar or Santa Anita, but over a mile and a half you’re a little bit more relaxed about it because you’re able to ride your race over that trip.

“If he goes there and ticks all the boxes whilst he’s there, he’s a big player.”

Notable Speech goes for the Breeders’ Cup Mile with a point to prove, having twice disappointed since his brilliant 2000 Guineas victory in May, which was preceded by three victories on the Polytrack at Kempton Park.

The Dubawi colt was well beaten in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp, but did win the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in between and Appleby – who has won the last three runnings of the Mile – is hopeful he will show his true colours at Del Mar.

He added: “With Notable Speech, his challenge is going to be the travelling and the week there. For a horse that as soon as you pull him out of his stable and he’s as good as gold and you’d think he was a pony leading round, he challenges himself a little bit.

“What we did learn and what we were very happy with was what we saw at Longchamp. We learned he travels and settled in well and doesn’t handle soft ground, so it was always going to be straight to the Breeders’ Cup after that.

“If he gets a good draw and has a good week there, he’s going to be very dangerous because it’s something everyone has had on their minds since Kempton to be honest with you, before the Guineas.”

Aomori City winning the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood
Aomori City winning the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Moulton Paddocks handler plans to be fire a twin assault at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, with Al Qudra set to be joined by stablemate Aomori City, while he will also saddle two runners in the Filly & Mare Turf.

Of the juvenile pair, Appleby said: “I genuinely can’t split them on what they’ve achieved on the racecourse and it could come down to the draw.

“From William’s (Buick) point of view, and we’ve spoken in depth over the few days, it’s a hard one for him. He could go and pick either horse and get drawn 14, or if you’re lucky and get drawn six you’ve got a chance.

“Looking at the field I think that’s how it’s going to play out, I don’t think there’s a standout horse in the race. Both have got plenty of experience and one has obviously got experience over there.

“Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love are in the Filly & Mare. Both have got experience over there now, Cinderella’s Dream has a higher profile being a Grade One winner out there and a Grade Two winner on her last start. I feel she’ll be a live player.

“The other filly will see the trip out well and deserves to be in the line-up after what she has achieved out there. She’s a Grade Three winner and you could probably say she was unlucky on her last start.”

Appleby’s squad for the two-day fixture is completed by Star Of Mystery in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

He added: “Star Of Mystery is rock solid. She was just touched off the other day and was probably a bit unlucky, but I was relaxed watching it as it was very much a pipe-opener ahead of the Breeders’ Cup.

“She’s small, she’s quick and has experience over there now. It’s always going to be tougher taking on the colts and the older horses, but she’s shown her worth by running creditably in the Al Quoz and doing what she’s done in America and deserves to be there.”



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Appleby all smiles after profitable Future Champions Festival

Sometimes it is OK to change your mind, and a change of heart from Charlie Appleby has been rewarded with a 2000 Guineas prospect destined to end the season as the champion two-year-old colt.

Two weeks ago, Shadow Of Light was an impressive Middle Park winner supposedly being put away to dominate the sprint division next season.

Now, he has played himself into the Classic considerations by adding the Darley Dewhurst Stakes to his CV in a battling display at Newmarket.

The son of Lope De Vega was all speed as he sluiced his way to Middle Park glory last month, but he showed an extra dimension as he became the first horse since US Navy Flag in 2017 to do the Newmarket Group One double.

For Appleby, the decision to supplement the colt into the race on Monday at a cost of £35,000 was vindicated in style and he explained he felt his star youngster was in a no-lose situation when making an extra outing for the year on the Rowley Mile.

“It’s important when they are fit and well to run them, and this horse came out of the Middle Park well and we made a collective decision that he had nothing to lose and everything to gain,” explained Appleby.

“Those people who don’t change their minds are often those ones who get stuck in a rut and you have to be open-minded in this game, because at the end of the day, they are living and breathing animals.

“We don’t know what we’re going to wake up to the next morning and you can come here with a horse you think is thriving and you wake up the next day and you don’t know what he might have done – and he could be coughing, have a temperature, anything.”

The winning connections of Shadow Of Light
The winning connections of Shadow Of Light (Mike Egerton for The Jockey Club/PA)

It was an extra race that not only provided Appleby with another Group One triumph on his local patch, but also leaves the Moulton Paddocks handler with a question to ponder over the winter.

The winner was trimmed to 10-1 by Paddy Power for next May’s opening Classic of the season and Shadow Of Light could now bid to thrive again in Newmarket early next season.

“William (Buick) said I have to train him towards a Guineas,” said Appleby. “On Guineas day, if he doesn’t stay, he can then drop back and go for the Commonwealth Cup – and that is the great thing about our programme, the way it is.

“William said he did it the right way round today, was finding all the way up the hill, and when they came to him, he really found again.”

Shadow Of Light thrived once again at Newmarket
Shadow Of Light thrived once again at Newmarket (Mike Egerton/PA)

It proved a profitable Future Champions weekend for Appleby, who made the short drive home with plenty of Classic aspirations, having also watched Desert Flower dazzle in the Fillies’ Mile on Friday.

It is safe to say there will now be no more U-turns by Appleby and both will have done enough for the year, with the 49-year-old able to head into the colder months with some hot prospects to warm up the fire, as he aims to dine out at the top table regularly during 2025.

“When you finish the season with what is looking like the champion filly and champion colt, you head into winter with a lot of nice dreams,” added Appleby.

“Most importantly from the team’s point of view, we had a few years where it was fantastic and we were on a wave that you just don’t want to die.

“Unfortunately, it did and we’ve had to regroup and rebuild – and to do that, it doesn’t happen overnight.

“We’ve made a conscious effort with the two-year-olds and some have asked why we have campaigned some of the older horses who have gone to America the way we have.

“Those horses going to America have done what they were asked to do and have served a purpose and have protected some of those horses back here.

“Horses like Arabian Crown, admittedly he hit a setback, Ancient Wisdom, Notable Speech, we’re going to need those horses next year. You need those older horses in your camp if you are hoping to campaign at the top table.”



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Shadow Of Light storms home to shade tight Dewhurst tussle

Shadow Of Light justified the faith connections placed in him earlier in the week having been supplemented for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes by getting up late in determined style.

Winner of the Middle Park over six furlongs just two weeks ago, trainer Charlie Appleby intimated afterwards that his colt would likely be put away for the season and aimed at the Commonwealth Cup next term.

Therefore, it was a surprise on Monday morning when Shadow Of Light’s name was added to the Group One, which traditionally decides the leading juvenile of the season.

Not many colts win the Middle Park and the Dewhurst, and for some years they were on the same day, which rendered it impossible, but US Navy Flag did manage the double in 2017.

Appleby already had one leading contender for the Dewhurst in unbeaten youngster Ancient Truth, but William Buick kept faith with Shadow Of Light, despite having an extra furlong to travel.

However, with each drop of rain turning the ground softer by the minute, confidence began to waver in the eventual even money favourite, despite the absence of The Lion In Winter due to a foot problem.

Only five went to post yet they still split across Newmarket’s great expanse, with Seagulls Eleven leading Shadow Of Light and Rock Of Cashel, while Expanded gave Ancient Truth a lead until two furlongs out.

Having initially been behind, the smaller ground held sway heading into the dip and James Doyle went for home on Ancient Truth, but he could not shake off Aidan O’Brien’s once-raced Expanded.

As the two groups began to get closer, Shadow Of Light once again displayed his smart turn of foot and for the first time showed off his stamina, as he stayed on strongly to get home by a neck from Expanded, with Ancient Truth another neck back in third.

Appleby said: “He’s some horse to do what he has done the last few weeks and full credit to the team. He’s another homebred who is a half-brother to Earthlight.

“Going forward into the spring, we can look at both divisions, I suppose. What Will was most encouraged by was the way he raced – and when he hit the rising ground, he just kept finding and found again when they came close to one another.

Dubai Future Champions Festival – Newmarket Racecourse – Saturday 12th October
Jockey William Buick with the trophy after winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Shadow Of Light (Nigel French/PA).

“Will said he can’t tell me not to look towards a Guineas in the spring. If we go there and don’t stay the mile on the day, he wouldn’t be the first horse to drop back into the Commonwealth Cup. We’ve seen it done before and I imagine that would be our programme in the spring now.”

He added: “I was delighted with Ancient Truth’s run, he was a bit fresh off his lay-off there and James (Doyle) was just having to manage him a little bit for the first two furlongs and got him into a rhythm.

“I actually thought he was going to be the one who was going to hit the rising ground and see it out the best, because at that stage William was under the pump a little bit.

“But as William said, ‘he kept finding for me’, and when the others came closer, he found again.”

Buick said: “He’s a good Middle Park and Dewhurst winner now and he’s obviously an exceptional horse. The race didn’t really play to him at all. A five-runner field, you just think we will race up the middle and everyone will have their chance.

“I needed cover and he was a six-furlong winner stepping up to seven in soft ground, so I had to conserve where I could.

“I knew if I showed him daylight too early, he would probably burn out, so I had to follow Oisin (Murphy on Seagulls Eleven) wherever he went, and Ryan (Moore on Expanded) and James went on the stands’ rail and we were far-to-middle.

“Oisin was cooked approaching the three and I had to make my way home from there and luckily, I’ve managed to make touch with Ryan and James and I just managed to get over a little bit to them – once I did, my fellow got really competitive.

“He hit the rising ground and was well on top in the end. He is really tough and responded to everything I asked him – and what really pleased me the most is, for such a quick Middle Park winner, how he showed that stamina over seven furlongs on this soft ground here.

“I can’t remember many horses I have ridden, especially two-year-olds, who would be able to do that.

“He was running on his own doing fine but once he got a sniff of the opposition, he found another gear. It was a big performance and through that you can definitely mark it up.

“You have to give credit to Charlie and the team for having a crack – he was a four-length Middle Park winner and now two weeks later he’s a Dewhurst winner.”



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Desert Flower demolishes Fillies’ Mile rivals to stay unbeaten

Desert Flower stamped her class on the bet365 Fillies’ Mile with a stunning success at Newmarket.

Unbeaten in her previous three races, Charlie Appleby’s Night Of Thunder filly took her form to another level in the Group One feature.

Perhaps not to the liking of everyone when taking the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, Aidan O’Brien fielded three very highly-regarded fillies against her, with Ryan Moore choosing January, a length and a half behind the winner on Town Moor.

Heading into the dip as Dreamy, another O’Brien inmate, dropped away, there were still three in contention, the Ballydoyle pair of Ballet Slippers and January and the eventual winner, who at the time just looked a bit unbalanced.

When they met the rising ground, though, the race was over, and as William Buick straightened her out she powered away, with the 10-11 favourite running out an impressive five-and-a-half-length winner from January.

Desert Flower and jockey William Buick after winning the bet365 Fillies’ Mile
Desert Flower and jockey William Buick after winning the bet365 Fillies’ Mile (Mike Egerton/PA)

Coral cut the winner to 4-1 from 10s for next year’s 1000 Guineas behind 3-1 favourite Lake Victoria.

Appleby said: “You couldn’t be any more impressed and of course at Doncaster when you have an unbeaten filly going into a May Hill everyone was expecting a bit of a ‘wow’.

“She was harder to manage – going down to post she took William on, I wasn’t there that day and Alex Meriam (assistant) and the team did a great job, but she took some managing.

“William wasn’t sure what sort of filly he was going to have that day but once she jumped off in the race and he popped her in behind one, ultimately she switched off and did it the right way round.”

He went on: “Today I thought she paraded very well and everything was nice and calm and collected. It is always nice at this level to control all that energy. She will be a more mature filly for this in the spring.

“She is a filly who has pleased us, we were confident in her maiden and she has just kept pleasing us throughout. She’s not an exciting filly in the morning, but the way she does stuff and pulls up at the end of a gallop, it is as if she hasn’t been through a gallop.

“She won’t go five-lengths clear in a gallop but she will go a length ahead of a nice lead horse, pull up and walk home and that gives you encouragement. The team were very positive coming into today that if she was good enough she had done everything right at home.

“I think we’ve all seen her going round the paddock and she is a big, scopey filly, if she puts another 20 kilos on over the winter I will be delighted to see her in the spring. She hasn’t got to and she’s running well enough in the condition she is in, but naturally you would love to see her put a bit of condition on over the winter.

“That is definitely her done for the year. I don’t see much point going away from where we are at the moment (a mile) next season. Could she stretch out to 10 furlongs? Possibly. She’s a nice horse to go into winter with and we will be back in the spring.”

O’Brien said of his three runners, with Ballet Slippers behind January in third and Dreamy fourth: “I’m delighted and they all ran great races really. They ran as we thought they might and ran nice races.

“They are three to look forward to next year and they are all Classic-type fillies.”



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Palmer looking for Wolf Of Badenoch to show true worth

Hugo Palmer feels Wolf Of Badenoch has a genuine excuse for his disappointing run last time out and expects him to be right in the mix in the Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

A winner on his debut at Doncaster, he then chased home Aomori City in the Vintage Stakes.

Strongly fancied for the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Palmer felt he was inconvenienced by Chancellor, who kicked out in the stalls and was withdrawn. Wolf Of Badenoch ran but finished down the field.

“He was disappointing at Doncaster, but he’s in good order,” Palmer said. “He banged his head when the Gosden horse (Chancellor) hit the gates – we hit the gates as well.

“We thought we were going and he banged his head. Whether he ran a little bit dazed or not, I don’t know.

“We’ve been very happy with him since, but obviously he needs to step back in the right direction.

“The ground might have been a little bit lively for him as well at Doncaster, I know he’s run well on fast ground at Goodwood but a bit of ease in the ground at Newmarket on Saturday would suit.

“If he comes back to his Goodwood form, then he’s probably the one to beat.”

Charlie Appleby’s Silver Peak will bid to give the stable a fifth consecutive winner in the race.

Charlie Appleby is aiming for a fifth straight win in the Autumn Stakes
Charlie Appleby is aiming for a fifth straight win in the Autumn Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

One Ruler, Coroebus, Silver Knott and Ancient Wisdom have seen Appleby dominate in recent years.

Appleby told Godolphin on X: “Silver Peak is a Dubawi who broke his maiden at Haydock and the form has worked out very well.

“He’s done very well physically at this time of year, as they always do, the Dubawis, so we’re testing ourselves at Pattern level to see what sort of a career he’s going to have in the early part of his three-year-old season.”

Ryan Moore is on Delacroix, rather than his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Genealogy, and appears hopeful.

The jockey told Betfair: “He stepped back up to the mile at Leopardstown after landing his maiden over seven furlongs at the Curragh and stayed on really well after becoming a little outpaced early in the straight there. He sets a decent standard here.”

Delacroix is building up a nice profile for Aidan O'Brien
Delacroix is building up a nice profile for Aidan O’Brien (Brian Lawless/PA)

Appleby has also won the last three renewals of the Palace Pier Zetland Stakes but he is not represented this time around.

James Doyle fancies his chances on the Wathnan Racing-owned Dunamase, trained by John and Thady Gosden

“He ran well on debut at Sandown and then was a novice winner at Kempton, so obviously this is a jump into deeper waters and we will find out what level he is at,” said Doyle.

“We’re kind of unknown at the minute where we are with him, so we’re dipping our toes in a bit to find out.”

Again, O’Brien runs two, with Moore on Shackleton and Wayne Lordan on County Mayo.

Shackleton looks a promising type
Shackleton looks a promising type (Niall Carson/PA)

“Shackleton got off the mark at the Curragh the last day when he was a decisive winner of a nine-furlong maiden after making all the running,” said Moore.

“A lovely Camelot colt who is a smart prospect for next year, he answered every call at the Curragh and was strong at the line.

“He probably sets the standard here. Our other runner, County Mayo, is out of a half-sister to Danedream and comes from a family with plenty of stamina in the pedigree.

“He took a nice step forward from his Tipperary debut to win in good fashion at Gowran Park last month and should run well.”

Ralph Beckett’s Starzintheireyes is another likely player.



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Notable Speech on course for Breeders’ Cup Mile challenge

Charlie Appleby is confident Notable Speech has all the attributes to thrive at Del Mar when the 2000 Guineas hero will attempt to become the trainer’s fourth straight winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The Moulton Paddocks handler has farmed the race in recent years, with Space Blues, Modern Games and Master Of The Seas all striking in the Stateside showpiece for the Godolphin trainer.

However, it is easy to argue that his Classic-winning son of Dubawi will be the best he has saddled in the event, with the colt a best priced 7-2 to make it four in a row in California.

He has already shown he is capable of bouncing back from a disappointing display once this term, when leaving his St James’s Palace defeat behind him to claim the Sussex Stakes, and will have to do so again having suffered a second loss in the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp last month.

Testing ground in the French capital stunted his trademark turn of foot on that occasion, in a race dominated from the front by Andre Fabre’s Tribalist.

However, Appleby is taking the positives from his trip to the French capital and following an easy time in the aftermath of that reversal, is getting ready to turn up the intensity ahead of Notable Speech’s American adventure.

“America is still the aim and he’s in good order,” said Appleby.

“We’re just going through the motions at the minute but we’ll start to wind him up over the coming weeks.

“Until you have actually been on one of those trips, you don’t really know, but we were pleased at Longchamp by the way he conducted himself on the travelling side of it.

“We had to try the ground to know whether we were going to go to Ascot (for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) or not, but the one box he did tick is he travelled well.

“Going to America, you would say he is tailor-made for the mile – he will be going a couple of turns and he travels well. All we do need on the day is a good draw.”



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Appleby backing Desert Flower to bloom at Newmarket

Desert Flower will put her unbeaten record and Classic aspirations to the test in Friday’s bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.

Charlie Appleby’s daughter of Night Of Thunder was thoroughly impressive in two starts on the July Course in the summer before taking a step up in class in her stride when making it a perfect three out of three in the Group Two May Hill Stakes last month.

She is heading most bookmakers’ lists for Friday’s Group One event and having had to work slightly harder than some expected for her cosy length-and-a-half success on Town Moor, the Moulton Paddocks handler is confident there is more to come from his exciting youngster.

Desert Flower came home alone at Newmarket in August
Desert Flower came home alone at Newmarket in August (Nigel French/PA)

“I’m pleased with her and she’s a filly who is three from three,” said Appleby.

“Listening to people on the day, I think people thought there was going to be this big ‘wow’ factor at Doncaster. But she’s a filly who is still learning and you saw her pricking her ears there when she got to the front.

“She’s a filly who is going to get better with the more experience she gets, and experience is going to become more valuable as she keeps climbing the ladder.”

Already a 7-1 chance for next year’s 1000 Guineas, a Fillies’ Mile victory would cement Desert Flower’s position as one of the market leaders for next season’s Classics.

However, Appleby will be unflustered if she was to taste defeat for the first time, in a race that could feature Rockfel winner Bubbling and her unbeaten Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Dreamy.

“It’s very English to not want to get beat, but I don’t mind mine getting beat,” explained Appleby.

“She hasn’t been beat but she had to race a bit more at Doncaster and the odd time they do get beat, they learn plenty from it – when you are heading into Group Ones or Classics, I don’t think there is any harm in it.

“Hopefully on Friday she will put herself bang there as being one of the leading Guineas contenders for next year.”



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Regal performance from The Dragon King at Newmarket

The Dragon King miraculously came from last to first to scoop the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket.

Clive Cox’s youngster was not even in the frame as 7-4 favourite Brighton Boy passed eventual third Ruby’s Profit and made his bid for home.

However, flying home at a rate of knots was William Buick aboard the Middleham Park Racing-owned 5-1 chance, to storm to a length success.

Tom Palin of Middleham Park Racing was left speechless with the result and although entered in the horses of training sale later this month, The Dragon King may have earned himself another appearance in the blue and orange of the owners.

Palin said: “That’s not the conventional way to win a race at Newmarket!

“I don’t really know what to make of the entire race, I was kind of wondering how I explain this and thinking it could be a long day if the one I thought had the best chance (out of all the owners runners) had done that.

“He’s a horse who always gives his all and he needed to give his all there, fair play to William for keeping going. For once I’m speechless, I’m lost for words.

“We haven’t won this one before but we’re working our way through them and there’s a couple more to come. I need to speak to Clive and he is in the sale, but he might have given himself a stay of execution there.

“There’s a Group Two Eddie’s Boy was second in behind Charyn (Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly) and we could supplement for that, that could be an option, but I will speak to Clive. This was the race we had in mind, but maybe not now.”

Ashariba was one of two winners for Harry Davies
Ashariba was one of two winners for Harry Davies (Joe Giddens/PA)

There was a double for Harry Davies aboard David Menuisier’s Ashariba (6-1) in the British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap and William Haggas’ Chorus (7-1) in the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap, while Charlie Appleby’s Secret Theory won the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Maiden Stakes at odds of 9-4.

Appleby said: “He’s a nice little horse with a pedigree to die for. There is improvement in him and he’s only come to hand in sort of the last six weeks.

“He’s a horse that has slightly disappointed me over the course of the year and my heart was sort of ruling my head slightly because I love the family and it has been so good to us – I wanted him to be a good horse but he just wasn’t showing it.

“I imagine we will put him away now and have another look in the spring. Will he be a stakes horse? He has a pedigree to be a stakes horse but we will see in the spring.”

There may have been no joy for Nashwa in the feature Sun Chariot Stakes, but her half-brother Nebras made a winning debut in the hands of Hollie Doyle in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back EBF Maiden Stakes for John and Thady Gosden.

Nebras could have a bright future
Nebras could have a bright future (Joe Giddens/PA)

“It was a very pleasing start and he has taken a while to come to himself,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Imad Al Sagar.

“He went into training quite late and John has brought him on and he’s been very straightforward which is really encouraging.

“The nice thing was he was sort of half-asleep through the race and then picked up nicely as you would want him too. You always hope, but first time you never know and it looked a smart race. When the other horse came to him he then found a bit more and went on.

“We will see how he is and I think in John’s mind he would have liked to have given him another run, but I think he was thinking we might finish second or third and then slot in a maiden so we weren’t chasing one of those in the spring.

“Now I think we have to think about where we want to be and whether he needs it and how he comes out of it. Plans may have slightly changed.”



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