Tag: Charlie Appleby

Conditions To Suit For Local Dynasty In the Dee

Wide-margin winners trended on a rain-softened opening to Chester's May Festival and, with testing conditions set for day two at the Roodeye, it will be as you were turning to Thursday's Listed Boodles Dee S., another G1 Derby trial, and the Tote-sponsored G3 Ormonde S. for the older stayers.

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will relish the muddy track, according to Charlie Appleby, and returns off a soft-ground breakthrough score in October's Listed Pontefract Castle when last seen.

“He has done well over the winter and we know that he will handle the ground following his wins at Sandown and Pontefract,” the trainer said. “Stepping up in trip looks as though it should suit and this seems a decent starting point for his campaign.”

O'Brien Dynasty To Retain Sovereignty?

Aidan O'Brien has struck for seven of the last 10 editions and relies on Dundalk maiden winner San Antonio (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in his quest for an overall 10th triumph, which would be one shy of Barry Hills' record 11.

“He's in good form and won his maiden nicely in Dundalk,” the trainer commented. “I don't know if he's run in that ground before, so we're not sure about that, but he's in good form.”

Son Donnacha also has representation and sends forth G2 Golden Fleece S. third Alder (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who will line up off a comeback win at Cork last month.

“He's a very nice horse and we've always thought a lot of him,” said the junior O'Brien. “He was always going to make a better 3-year-old and the race is timed nicely for him. It's three weeks from his last run and then about three weeks to the Derby, so it has worked out well and we will learn a bit more about him.”

Possible Delays For Passenger's Return

It's been a long 20 years since the Dee hosted a subsequent Blue Riband hero, Kris Kin (Kris S.) doing the double for Sir Michael Stoute, but the veteran maestro's impressive Wood Ditton winner Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) is by no means a certain starter in this year's renewal.

“Sir Michael is going to review the ground in the morning and should it be deemed too soft, Passenger may not run,” revealed Niarchos Family's racing manager Alan Cooper. “He's a horse that needs good ground, so it wouldn't make sense for his second start to run the horse on an unsuitable surface.”

Ormonde Duel In Store

Later on the card, the eight-runner G3 tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde S. appears to be a straight-up duel between 2022 hero Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and Ballydoyle's G1 Derby fifth and G2 King Edward VII victor Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who annexed last year's G3 Chester Vase at this meeting.

“He carries a penalty and is very well, but could have done with a better draw,” said trainer William Haggas of the former. “He's ready to go, he enjoys a bit of cut in the ground and I believe it is going to be quite soft. He should enjoy it and we will try to take advantage of the [soft] ground while we have it.”

Ryan Moore is hopeful Changingoftheguard, who comes back off a 328-day break, is up to the task on seasonal return.

“He was very impressive in testing ground when winning the Chester Vase here last season and followed up with a good fifth in the Derby,” the rider said. “We never saw him after [the King Edward VII at] Royal Ascot as he picked up an injury, but we are obviously very happy with him now or else we wouldn't be here. Hopefully, he can get a Group 1 on his CV this season. It's a deep and tough race for a Group 3, but this is a good starting point for him.”

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Adayar Back In Style In The Gordon Richards

Waylaid for much of last year, Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) showed he is in a good place this Spring with a smooth winning return in the rescheduled G3 Gordon Richards S. very much a marker of his current wellbeing. Travelling strongly but always under William Buick's control tracking stablemate Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the early stages of the 10-furlong staging post moved to Newmarket from Sandown, the 2021 Derby and King George hero moved to the front passing two out and forged ahead to score by 2 1/2 lengths from the penalised Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) who ousted Highland Avenue late by half a length.

“He'd been settled at home and they've done a great job with him over the winter,” Buick said of the 5-6 favourite. “He was perfect there and this is a lovely stepping stone race. The ground is hard work and tacky and you need to stay on it.” Charlie Appleby added, “You always like to see those good horses win with authority and William said he got tired in that ground so there is a nice bit of progression to come. I would imagine now it will be the Prince of Wales's, as Hurricane Lane is going to the Coronation Cup now he is back on track. It was always the aim in the first half of the year to go for a group 1 over a mile and a quarter with Adayar.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Adayar's dam, the G3 Prix de la Grotte winner and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Anna Salai (Dubawi {Ire}), is also responsible for the stable's dual winner Military Order (Ire) by Frankel who currently sits near the top of the Derby market. The second dam is the G3 Prix d'Aumale winner Anna Palariva (Ire) (Caerleon), who produced three other black-type performers and also the dam of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Anna Palariva is the leading performer for the G3 Park Hill S. winner Anna Of Saxony (GB) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}), whose descendants include the GI Flower Bowl Invitational heroine Ave (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and the G2 Diana-Trial heroine Amazing Grace (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}). They descend from the G2 Preis der Diana-winning champion and blue hen Anna Paola (Ger) (Prince Ippi {Ger}), also the ancestress of the sires Epaulette (Aus) and Helmet (Aus). Anna Salai's 2-year-old filly is by Exceed And Excel (Aus).

Sunday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 GORDON RICHARDS S.-G3, £45,000, Newmarket, 5-7, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:05.37, sf.
1–ADAYAR (IRE), 128, h, 5, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Anna Salai (GSW-Fr, G1SP-Ire, SP-Eng, $158,818), by Dubawi (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Anna Palariva (Ire), by Caerleon
     3rd Dam: Anna Of Saxony (GB), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £26,640. Lifetime Record: MG1SW-Eng, 11-5-3-0, $2,381,321. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Anmaat (Ire), 133, g, 5, Awtaad (Ire)–African Moonlight (UAE), by Halling. (140,000gns Wlg '18 TATFOA). O-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd; B-Ringfort Stud (IRE); T-Owen Burrows. £10,076.
3–Highland Avenue (Ire), 128, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Lumiere (GB), by Shamardal.
1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £5,036.
Margins: 2HF, HF, 11. Odds: 0.83, 2.25, 11.00.
Also Ran: Regal Reality (GB), Migration (Ire). Scratched: Francesco Clemente (Ire).

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Hall-of-Famers and Returning Heroes

NEWMARKET, UK–With a line-up that included Hurricane Lane (Ire), Global Storm (Ire) and West Wind Blows (Ire), the G2 Jockey Club S. was ushered in, appropriately, with a deep rumble of thunder and crack of lightning. The threatened storm didn't amount to much, and by the time Hurricane Lane had blasted away from his rivals to cinch an important comeback victory by six lengths, the sky was brightening as much as the mood of Charlie Appleby.

The trainer was visibly relieved to have his 2021 dual Classic winner back in the top spot, perhaps even more so after his stable-mate  Native Trail (GB) hadn't quite sparkled earlier on in the G2 Bet365 Mile. 

“When you have a horse that has given us, and the team, what he has given us, of course you feel for them,” said Appleby. “You want them to do it and you want them to carry on. We will see if he is a Hardwicke horse in the summer, if the ground comes right. I always said I wanted to work back from an Arc. That might be a bit bold, but we will see.”

Appleby had already struck early in the opening race of the QIPCO Guineas Festival. Hopefully, the King and Queen Consort will have been so wrapped up in preparations for the coronation that they may not have noticed that the one horse to beat their highly promising colt Circle Of Fire (GB) was co-bred by their racing manager John Warren's Highclere Stud.

In fact, the Listed Newmarket S., provided a one-two for the Haras d'Etreham stallion Almanzor (Fr) when Godolphin's Castle Way (GB) led home the royal runner. The winner is a half-brother to the champion miler Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who is now ensconced at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud.

Ever the professional, Warren first addressed the matter of the staying-on run from the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Circle Of Fire in his post-race debrief, with a hint that he may head to Royal Ascot for the G2 King Edward VII S.

“He looks as of he will go up another gear if he goes over another couple of furlongs,” Warren said. “Ryan [Moore] thought that they went steady early on and probably thought that if they'd gone a bit quicker earlier on it would have suited him even better.

“It's annoying that [the abandonment of] Sandown has knocked us out timing-wise, so we'll have to get our heads around that, but without even talking to Michael yet he looks to me like he'll be a lovely horse for Ascot, and the owners will be able to attend, which will be nice.”

He added, “The most important thing is that he's with a trainer who will be able to get a proper handle on where we are going to pitch, but Ryan was impressed with him and there were some pretty nice horses in that race as a benchmark. He's out of a Galileo mare so it won't be a surprise if he will want a few furlongs more.”

Turning to Castle Way, the sixth foal of the Nayef mare Beach Frolic (GB) who was sold for 2.2 million gns in the year her current three-year-old colt was foaled, Warren was understandably similarly impressed. Castle Way himself, who was bred by Highclere in partnership with Floors Stud, was a 425,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling in the year that his illustrious half-sibling stormed to success in the G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois.

He said, “That was tremendous. We were excited about that. He was a beautiful yearling and made a good price as a yearling. She's been a wonderful mare and the family has done us proud. I am pleased that Coolmore have the mother now, which is great.”

Warren also added that Highclere Stud is now home to three foals from the first crop of Palace Pier.

“I have to say we are really impressed,” he noted. “Of course it's too early to say that, you can't judge it by just a few, but the first three that we've seen we've been mightily impressed with. Palace Pier was such a a tremendous horse and his brother looks a proper horse, too. It's very exciting.”

The Highclere team was celebrating again later in the day when the George Boughey-trained Soprano (Ire) was tuned to perfection to post a pretty sparkling win on debut in the juvenile fillies' maiden.

Shouldvebeenaring (GB) became the third Stakes winner for Havana Grey (GB) this year, and as his owners in the Middleham Park Racing syndicate collected their trophy, the colt's breeder Ed Harper watched on. It could be a big weekend for the Whitsbury Manor Stud team as not only did they breed Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), current third-favourite for the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas, but Havana Grey will be represented by his first Classic runner in Sunday's 1,000 Guineas when the G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Mammas Girl (GB) returns to Newmarket. 

Harper admitted that Havana Grey had been inundated with applications with breeders this season.

“We've tried to keep him to around 160 mares,” he said. “I must say that [head of bloodstock] Joe Callan has done a really good job managing the horse.”

Harper also confirmed that Chaldean's dam, the multiple stakes producer Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), has recently been covered again by Frankel.

On Friday evening at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket, Sir Michael Stoute and Sea The Stars (Ire) were officially inducted into the QIPCO British Horseracing Hall of Fame. Their worthiness for such an honour could be in no doubt, but it was emphatically underlined when Stoute took the Nyetimber Fillies' Maiden with the eye-catching Infinite Cosmos (Ire), a daughter of Sea The Stars bred by the late Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, and whose Classic lines are as obvious in her elegant physique as on her page.

 

 

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Hurricane Lane Steps Out Of The Last Chance Saloon

Newmarket's G2 Jockey Club S. is generally a tactical affair and Friday's renewal was no different as Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was able to boss another uninspiring renewal and bound back to form in no uncertain terms. Leaving connections pondering retirement after a no-show in Newbury's G3 John Porter S. last month, the 2021 Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger hero was understandably lacking believers as the 2-1 second favourite for this five-runner affair.

With the even-money favourite West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) giving negative signals resenting restraint in behind and outsider Outbox (GB) (Frankel {GB}) going it alone on the lead far side, it became a question of how much enthusiasm Hurricane Lane retained with just stablemate Global Storm (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) to track in what resembled a strong piece of work. That was answered with a look at William Buick's body language passing the half-mile marker and no sooner had he moved on the chestnut was the contest settled. Looking strong as he eked out a six-length advantage over the disappointing West Wind Blows, who was subsequently demoted behind Global Storm, the 5-year-old may well have enjoyed a turn in the road whose significance may only be fully appreciated later this term.

“It's been a great team effort to get the horse back, but we believed in ourselves and the horse–it was D-day for him, but throughout the Winter and into his Spring, his old demeanour had been there,” a relieved Charlie Appleby said. “We've always stated that he likes cut in the ground, but not like Newbury and that was a big ask on his first run after such a long lay-off. William said he was a different horse today and much more athletic. He worked midweek with those cheekpieces on and we were hopeful we would see that today. We will see if he is a Hardwicke horse in the summer, if the ground comes right. I always said I wanted to work back from an Arc. That might be a bit bold, but we will see.”

 

Pedigree Notes
Hurricane Lane's dam Gale Force (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), who was successful at listed level, is also responsible for his full-sister Frankel's Storm (GB) who was runner-up in the Listed Junioren-Preis. The second dam Hannda (Ire) (Dr Devious {Ire}) produced the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. heroine Seal Of Approval (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}), who is in turn the dam of the G3 March S. and G3 Princess Royal S.-placed Promissory (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), while another of Gale Force's half-siblings is the G3 Oak Tree S. third Instance (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who produced the listed-placed Sound Angela (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

Hannda, who is kin to the G3 Concorde S. winner Hamairi (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), hails from the family of the Derby and Irish Derby-winning sire Harzand (Ire) and another British Champions Fillies & Mares heroine in Emily Upjohn (GB) both by Sea The Stars (Ire). Gale Force, who was bought for 300,000gns by Charlie Gordon Watson Bloodstock at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, also has the unraced 3-year-old filly Brisbane Road (GB) (Australia {GB}).

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
JOCKEY CLUB S.-G2, £125,000, Newmarket, 5-5, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:33.86, gd.
1–HURRICANE LANE (IRE), 131, h, 5, by Frankel (GB)
     1st Dam: Gale Force (GB) (SW-Fr, SP-Eng), by Shirocco (Ger)
     2nd Dam: Hannda (Ire), by Dr Devious (Ire)
     3rd Dam: Handaza (Ire), by Be My Guest
(200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £70,888. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Eng, Ire & Fr, 12-7-0-3, $2,777,840. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Global Storm (Ire), 131, g, 6, Night Of Thunder (Ire)–Travel, by Street Cry (Ire). (200,000gns Wlg '17 TATFOA; 260,000gns 2yo '19 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Grenane House Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £13,450.
*3–West Wind Blows (Ire), 131, c, 4, Teofilo (Ire)–West Wind (GB), by Machiavellian. *TDN Rising Star. O-Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £26,875.
Margins: 6, NO, 9. Odds: 2.00, Evens, 4.50.
Also Ran: Outbox (GB), Jewel In My Crown (GB).
*West Wind Blows finished second, but was disqualified and placed third.

 

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