Tag: Charlie Appleby

Yibir Back To Winning Ways In The Princess Of Wales

Back at the July Festival at which he first showed his hand 12 months ago, Godolphin's Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) benefitted from an ultra-cool William Buick ride to arrest a brief recent decline in Friday's G2 Princess Of Wales's Close Brothers S. at Newmarket. Upset by Living Legend (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) when second in the G2 Jockey Club S. on the Rowley Mile here Apr. 29 before finishing a deflating third in the May 14 GI Man o'War S., the reigning Breeders' Cup Turf hero had it to prove returned to the scene of his G3 Bahrain Trophy win at last year's meeting. Sent off the 11-8 joint-favourite alongside the ultimately disappointing Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the Charlie Appleby stable stalwart made his customary move from rear under the exaggerated hold-up tactics that suit to well to pick up Living Legend a furlong out and register a 2 1/4-length success. “Shane Fetherstonhaugh has been on about him for the last 10 days saying he is as good as we have had him,” Appleby explained. “He looked a picture in the paddock today and has been moving so well at home.”

 

Yibir, who is set to ship to the States again for his next outing, has come a long way since this riding ploy paid off so handsomely in the card's 13-furlong Bahrain Trophy in 2021. After garnering the Breeders' Cup Turf, Jockey Club Derby Invitational and G2 Great Voltigeur S. later that term he put one of his finest efforts to finish second off a slow pace in the Mar. 26 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic prior to his two reversals. “William just said that when he has a pace to run at, he is a different animal,” his trainer added. “People on the outside may have been scratching their heads wondering what has been going on, but he needs a gallop. He's a big unit and if you take a pull on him he just gets a bit disorganised and then it takes him a little while to get warmed up.”

“Hopefully now we'll head to Saratoga for the Sword Dancer,” Appleby concluded. “All roads are leading to the Breeders' Cup, but it's at Keeneland this year and it can come up soft there. One thing he does like is to hear his feet rattle, so if it came up a bit slow we might have to think about it, but it's great he's got his head back in front.”

Yibir's dam, the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. scorer Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), is also responsible for Dubawi's G1 Nassau S., G1 Prix de l'Opera and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Wild Illusion (GB), the Listed Montrose Fillies' S. scorer Really Special (GB) (Shamardal) and the G3 Prix d'Aumale runner-up Ceratonia (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The second dam is the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin winner Royal Dubai (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), a half to the GI Beverly D. heroine Royal Highness (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}). Also connected to the G1 Dubai World Cup and G1 Juddmonte International hero Electrocutionist (Red Ransom), Rumh's useful 3-year-old full-brother to the winner and Wild Illusion, Wild Crusade (GB), has also been gelded while she also has a 2-year-old colt by Golden Horn (GB) and a colt foal by Sea The Stars (Ire).

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
PRINCESS OF WALES'S CLOSE BROTHERS S.-G2, £115,000, Newmarket, 7-7, 3yo/up, 12fT, 2:28.91, g/f.
1–YIBIR (GB), 134, g, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
     1st Dam: Rumh (Ger) (SW-Eng), by Monsun (Ger)
     2nd Dam: Royal Dubai (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
     3rd Dam: Reem Dubai (Ire), by Nashwan
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £65,217. Lifetime Record: Ch. Turf Male-US, GISW-US & G1SP-UAE, 16-7-3-3, $4,274,138. *1/2 to Really Special (GB) (Shamardal), SW-Eng, SP-UAE, $108,180; Full to Wild Illusion (GB), G1SW-Eng, MG1SW-Fr, GISP-US, $1,590,217. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Living Legend (Ire), 137, g, 6, Camelot (GB)–Jazz Girl (Ire), by Johar. (€25,000 RNA Ylg '17 GOFFEB; 22,000gns Ylg '17 TAOCT). O-Barbara & Alick Richmond; B-A Oliver (IRE); T-Charlie & Mark Johnston. £24,725.
3–Global Storm (Ire), 134, g, 5, 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. £12,374.
Margins: 2 1/4, NK, 6. Odds: 1.38, 18.00, 16.00.
Also Ran: New Mandate (Ire), West End Charmer (Ire), Mostahdaf (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Adayar Ruled Out Of King George Defence at Ascot

Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will miss the defence of his G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes crown having been taken out of the race at the latest scratching stage.

The 2021 Derby winner memorably got the better of Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) in the Ascot showpiece 12 months ago-a double last achieved by Galileo (Ire) in 2001-and was poised to make his belated seasonal reappearance in the July 23 feature, having previously been ruled out of Royal Ascot and the G1 Coral-Eclipse this campaign.

Joining the 4-year-old in missing Ascot are stablemates Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), while others to exit the picture include Sir Mark Prescott's recent G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the Queen's Reach For The Moon (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Sir Michael Stoute has won the race a record six times and goes for victory number seven with his Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel  {Ire}). He is one of 15 who remain in the hunt for the mile-and-a-half prize alongside Irish Derby hero Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who could be given the chance to atone for his troubled passage at Epsom and try to turn the tables on Desert Crown.

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for a fifth of the possible field and could be represented by High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Royal Ascot scorer Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), while last year's shock Arc winner Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) could make an exciting raid having bounced back to form at Hamburg over the weekend.

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Appleby Expects to see ‘Sharper and Tighter’ Hurricane Lane at Saint-Cloud

Last season's first two from the G1 Irish Derby-Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–will meet once more in what promises to be an informative G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

Hurricane Lane, who just snared Lone Eagle in the Irish Derby 12 months ago, went on to finish a gallant third in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Well-beaten on his return in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, Hurricane Lane is reported to be much sharper ahead of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, according to his trainer Charlie Appleby.

He said, “There's a bit of rain forecast, so it looks like being on the slower side of good for sure. Any quicker and it might have raised concerns.

“I'll be honest, I was pleased with his run post-race (at Ascot). Pre-race I was confident that we'd got his level of fitness up there but turning four he's done very well physically, and he's certainly tightened up for the run, that's for sure.

“William (Buick) was happy with the way he travelled, he went through his girths and stayed on at the pace that we all saw.”

Appleby added, “What we've seen since the race is a sharper, tighter model. Some might ask if 15 days is enough time between runs, but 15 days was always our plan–the Hardwicke and then the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and what we saw last year was he thrives on his races.

“He went to the Derby, Irish Derby and then Grand Prix de Paris last year and that was probably his most impressive victory, so he thrives on his racing and we're very happy.”

Appleby has made no secret that his season revolves around another crack at the Arc, with one more run somewhere else before that.

“This is a horse that we're working back from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He ran a solid race in it last year. We know he's happier in slower conditions and in the first week of October it is likely to be that,” he said.

“He'll have one more prep run before the Arc and whether that will be in Ireland, England or France, we'll make that decision closer to the time.”

Lone Eagle has a few more questions to answer. After his great run at the Curragh he was last of five in the G1 King George in which he picked up an injury. He was also beaten on his comeback at Goodwood.

Now jointly trained by Freddie and Martyn Meade, the former told Sky Sports Racing, “He had some of the best form in the book last year and he's done well. We're really excited to see him run again.

“It was very important to get that run into him, as he showed last year in the (Sandown) Classic Trial. He then came out and ran really well in the Cocked Hat S.

“I think we're in a good spot with him and I think he's earned his place. It's a very tough race, but it fits well in the calendar for a few people's plans. It's by no means easy, but hopefully we're entitled to be there.”

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NYRA’s Caesars Turf Triple Leans Heavily on European Invites

The Caesars Turf Triple, the New York Racing Association (NYRA)'s series for 3-year-olds on the grass, will kick off July 9 at Belmont Park and may include a major European contingent. NYRA released the invitees Saturday for both the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational, worth $1 million, and the $700,000 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. Both the male and female divisions begin at the distance of 1 1/4 miles. Of the six races in the series–three each for colts and fillies–four were won last year by European-based trainers.

Aidan O'Brien, who took the 2021 Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks with Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), respectively, has Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the Derby and Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for the Oaks this year. Joseph O'Brien, who saddled State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to capture the 2021 GI Saratoga Derby (second leg), secured an invitation for Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) for the Oaks. Charlie Appleby won the 2021 Jockey Club Derby (third leg) with Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and has Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) for the Derby this year, as well as With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) for the Oaks.

Other Europeans include Charlie Johnston with Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (Derby); Pia Brandt with Implementation (Constitution) (Derby) and Hot Queen (Fr) (Recorder {GB}) (Oaks); Fabrice Chappet with Machete (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (Derby); and Francis-Henri Graffard with Know Thyself (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Oaks).

“It looks like the trip, track, and ground–all the conditions at Belmont–should suit him well,” said Johnston of Royal Patronage. “I'm looking forward to taking him out there.”

Many of the European-based trainers echoed Johnston's remarks regarding their own runners. All Europeans are expected to ship and arrive Friday, July 1.

A total of 26 horses combined for the two races have been invited, including contenders from the barns of Todd Pletcher, Shug McGaughey, Chad Brown, Mike Maker, Ken McPeek, Bob Hess, Christophe Clement, Brendan Walsh, and Graham Motion.

“You're going to encounter the best and that's why the series was designed,” said Pletcher on meeting top foreign-based horses on the track. “That's what you would expect in these big million-dollar races. It will be a challenge, I'm sure.”

The second legs of the Caesars Turf Triple are scheduled at Saratoga for Aug. 6 (GI Caesars Saratoga Derby) and Aug. 7 (GIII Saratoga Oaks) at 1 3/16 miles.

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