Charlie Appleby | Horse Racing Free Tips

Red-Hot Charlie Appleby Talks Arc, Breeders’ Cup On Writers’ Room

It takes a lot for a European trainer to become the biggest story in North American racing, but that's exactly what Charlie Appleby has accomplished, among many other things, this year. Capturing three of the four Grade I races at Woodbine plus the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont last weekend to follow up several other successful raids of top-level events in the U.S. this summer, Appleby has quite simply taken the racing world by storm at just 46 years old. Wednesday, during a short break from shopping the Goffs Orby Sale in Ireland, Appleby joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to talk about his whirlwind year, his contenders for the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup and all the history he is still trying to make.

Asked about this weekend's Arc, where he has two of the top contenders in standout 3-year-olds Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Appleby, calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week said, “Adayar won the [Epsom] Derby and went on to win the King George, the first horse since Galileo to do so. We met with a minor setback in preparation for a trial [for the Arc], which was always annoying, you don't want to have a setback at any stage, but I told myself during that point, no horse has actually won the Arc trial and gone on to win an Arc, so I took it as a positive that someone was telling me not to go. Subsequently since then, he's not missed a beat and he couldn't afford to miss a beat either. So he looks great, and he's the best horse in the race. Hurricane Lane is a rock-solid horse, he's won an Irish Derby, a Grand Prix de Paris and a St. Leger. No horse has won a St. Leger and gone on to win an Arc. So along with the excitement of running in the 100th Arc, there's the potential to create history with Hurricane Lane. We don't look back on history, we try to make history. So we'll have a crack at it.”

Appleby also discussed his upbringing in racing and the wealth of experience he accrued that has allowed for his unprecedented success in recent years, saying, “I was brought up in the west country of England. You become more hands-on down there in dealing with the horses. From there, I moved up the country and went to my first stable in Newmarket with [11-time British champion jockey] Lester Piggott. In terms of racing knowledge, I don't think I could have been in better hands. I spent a lot of time watching racing with Lester and the great [trainer] Barney Curley. I learned how to read a race out there and understand the styles of racing and the pace of a race. Then I went on to David Loder's yard, which was a force to be reckoned with in the '90s and 2000s, where I learned a lot about 2-year-olds, how far to push them and what we needed to achieve to get them to Group 1 status. Then I joined Godolphin at the age of 19 or 20 and from then on have been very lucky. I've had a management position throughout my whole career in Godolphin. It allowed me to travel worldwide and go overseas. I spent a lot of time at Arlington and Belmont. It allows you to meet people out there who I never normally would have met in the racing world. You see these entrepreneurs and they influence you, you get a buzz, and you learn how they strive for success. It gets instilled in you in a way. So 'can't' isn't in our vocabulary. We strive to achieve, and if it doesn't happen, we take the positives out of it and move on. The negatives are brushed aside.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Spendthrift Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers reacted to the news of Arlington Park's official sale to the Chicago Bears, lamented the case of a horse who shouldn't have been allowed to race at Belterra Park and looked forward to a massive weekend of racing on both sides of the Atlantic. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Adayar and Hurricane Lane in Top Form Ahead of Arc

Godolphin 2021 Classic winners Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) both exited their Saturday works in good shape and are pleasing trainer Charlie Appleby in advance of the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 3.

A winner of the G1 Cazoo Derby-with his stablemate third-in the spring, Adayar added the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizibeth QIPCO S. on July 24. A setback ruled the bay out of an intended Arc warmup in the G2 Prix Niel on Sept. 12, but he is back in good order and will have William Buick aboard on Sunday.

Appleby said, “I'm very pleased with both horses this morning. As we know, Adayar met with that setback before the Arc trials and missed two pieces of work–which we felt was enough to make us not go to the trials, because as we said before he's a horse that didn't need to earn his stripes.

“Since then he's done very well–we had a very easy piece of work last Saturday, and the first chance William had to sit on him was on Wednesday of this week.

“All the signs were very good, William was pleased with him–he said he felt great and was fresh on the back of having that easy period. He took him through the gallop very well and picked up well. He came out of that gallop in good order and went back into a nice, routine gallop yesterday morning–more of a stronger pace in the gallop, and he drew up it very well, again ridden by William.

“Again I'd emphasise William was very happy with him. He was happy with him on Wednesday, and that's why after discussions with him he was the horse he felt he would like to ride in the Arc. William is obviously first jockey, and if that is the horse he chooses to ride then I feel that's positive going into any race.

“We're very pleased with the way Adayar is–and most importantly how he has come out of both of those gallops, Wednesday and yesterday.”

Hurricane Lane exited the G1 Cazoo St Leger S. with a 2 3/4-length win on Sept. 11, to go with earlier season triumphs in the June 26 G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris. The only concern for the chestnut is ground that could be firmer than he prefers. James Doyle will ride.

Appleby added, “I felt the St Leger was the easiest of his last three victories. I know the Grand Prix de Paris was very emphatic, but what we've seen of him and the figures that we get to see and his general well-being, that's the race he seems to have come out of the best. He hadn't done a piece of work until yesterday morning–he'd gone through routine exercise, but that was his first solid piece of work.

“James was in the saddle and couldn't have been any happier–he moved well and did his usual work. He's always been a pleasing work horse. He's not an exciting work horse–neither are really–but it's just the mannerism in the way they do it, they do it the right way round.

“We're very pleased with the way he has come out of it this morning as well.”

“After discussions, we're very confident if we can have a good week this week that we have two horses going into an Arc in great shape,” Appleby said. “Two exciting horses with two different profiles–and with the way the forecast looks at the moment, it looks as if there's going to be a bit of rain during the course of the week, and that will suit us.

“The only negative I can give to the participation of Hurricane Lane is if it was to become fast ground. That is a conversation that would have to take place nearer the time.”

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Buick Chooses Adayar For Arc

Jockey William Buick will ride this year's G1 Cazoo Derby and G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Adayar (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Oct. 3 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, should both he and Charlie Appleby stablemate Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) line up at ParisLongchamp. Hurricane Lane finished third in the Derby and has since gone on to win the G1 Irish Derby, G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G1 St Leger.

Both colts will work on Saturday, with Hurricane Lane's Arc status to be decided next week.

“A week is a long time in racing, particularly when you are coming into a race such as the Arc,” said Appleby. “We obviously have to take on board the well-being of both horses, but also the way the race is taking shape, and, very importantly, the ground at Longchamp. The one thing Hurricane Lane does not want is a quick surface. Adayar comes into the versatile category, but we have always felt ease in the ground enhances Hurricane Lane's prospects. Unfortunately, the weather in Paris is out of our hands.

“Hurricane Lane gallops [on Saturday]. Adayar will also gallop. Then there will be discussions with the team, and we will see where we stand during the week, whether we will have one or two Arc runners.”

Of Buick's decision, Appleby said, “It's a hard choice, but William is confident he's picking the right horse. I'm always happy for jockeys to be able to choose the horse they would like to ride. That means they have confidence in the horse and they take that into the race. James [Doyle] will partner Hurricane Lane in a simple piece of work tomorrow. Then discussions will take place next week on his participation.

“The exciting part is that it could be history in the making. Adayar has already made his mark becoming the first in 20 years to complete the Derby/King George double, while Hurricane Lane would be attempting something that's never been done, winning the St Leger and the Arc in the same year.”

Nominating the horse he sees as the greatest threat, Appleby said, “Fillies at this time of the year, if they are going in the right direction, can be very hard to beat. Tarnawa is a Group 1 winner over course and distance [in the Prix Vermeille], she's a Breeders' Cup winner and finished a very good second in the Irish Champion S. Her credentials are first class.”

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Majestic To Bid For Rockfel Glory

Day two of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire Festival plays host to five black-type heats with the Unibet-sponsored G2 Rockfel S. and G2 Joel S. sharing top billing on the seven-race card. The former contest's honour roll features a swathe of subsequent Group 1 winners since the turn of the century, headed by Classic heroines Speciosa (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley) and Just The Judge (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}). However, the seven-furlong juvenile fillies' prize has never made its way to Kingsclere, and last month's G3 Sweet Solera S. victrix Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}), acquired by Doreen Tabor from Gearoid Costelloe in the interim, bids to break that sequence for the Andrew Balding stable in an open renewal. The 350,000gns Tattersalls December foal will head postward as the likely favourite.

George Boughey is set to saddle G3 Prix Six Perfections winner Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), who also ran third in the G2 Prix du Calvados, and Listed Empress Fillies' S. and Listed Winkfield S. third Cachet (Ire) (Time Test {GB}). The trainer has enjoyed a banner campaign with his juvenile band and has high hopes for both. “Oscula just got caught late on last time, but she got bumped into and that lit her up and she ran keen, which she's never done before,” he said. “I think she's up to this level and I think she'll run a massive race, but she's got to handle Newmarket. She wouldn't have done a huge amount of work on the track so that's a little bit new to her, but her style of racing should suit it. Cachet and Oscula both worked nicely on Tuesday morning. Cachet was slow out of the gate and unlucky in France. She jumps out fine at home so hopefully we'll tidy that up before this. I think you'll see a different Cachet as the race wasn't run to suit her in France, but she looks great now.”

Cachet's first-crop sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) gets two shots at the prize with G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. winner Romantic Time (GB) (Time Test {GB}) seeking to push conditioner William Stone another rung up the ladder after achieving a career high in that Salisbury contest earlier in the month. Amo Racing's Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) has finished just off the board in two outings for David Loughnane since placing in both the G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. for Ralph Beckett. She goes postward coming back from a close-up fourth in last month's G3 Prestige S. at Goodwood. “Hello You is improving with every run,” explained Loughnane. “She's starting to settle down as she's been overly keen on her last two starts and was arguably a bit unlucky in running. She's definitely up to this level and deserves to get a group win beside her name. She's been very consistent and has run some solid races so hopefully we'll have a good run.” Other contenders of note include the hitherto undefeated duo Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}, who snagged wins at Leicester and Kempton for Roger Charlton, and John and Tanya Gunther's Girl On Film (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}), a Ralph Beckett trainee coming back off a seven-furlong maiden win at the town's Summer venue last month. “It's a big ask, but her homework indicates she's ready for it and we'll see what happens,” said Beckett. “She's a big, raw-boned filly and I'm very hopeful that it works out on Friday. If it doesn't, she'll be a better filly next year. I'm looking forward to it.”

Benbatl Seeks Joel Record

Godolphin's three-time top-level scorer Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) annexed the penultimate renewal of his home town's G2 Joel S. and, if successful this time around, will become the first dual winner of the one-mile contest. The Saeed bin Suroor-trained veteran globetrotter also ran third last year and came back off a 337-day break to be denied by pixels in last month's G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood in his only subsequent outing. “He has done well since his last race and he's in good form,” said bin Suroor. “He ran a big race in the Celebration Mile after missing the break from the stalls. This has been his target since Goodwood and his last piece of work was very good. It's going to be a good race, but we are looking to see a big run from him.” His seven rivals include the Charlie Appleby-trained 3-year-old Master Of The Seas (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who garnered last term's G2 Superlative S. and this year's G3 Craven S., lining up off a short-head second over course and distance in May's G1 2000 Guineas. “Master Of The Seas was unfortunate to meet with a setback after the 2000 Guineas, but his preparation into this has gone well and we are very pleased with him,” revealed Appleby. “There will be improvement to come on whatever he does here as we have an eye on the Breeders' Cup or Champions Day afterwards.” Former Mike de Kock trainee and dual winner of South Africa's G1 Paddock S. Queen Supreme (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) adds flavour to an already spicy affair and makes her debut for the Andrew Balding team. “This is her first run since January, but she was a Grade 1 winner in South Africa when trained by Mike de Kock,” said rider Ryan Moore. “She would have had a tough trip over here and would have had to spend time in quarantine. She's running against two very good horses in Master Of The Seas and Benbatl so it's a tough ask, but we'll see how she goes.”

Albaflora A Late Bloomer?

Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud nursery has enjoyed a season for the ages and is represented by homebred G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G2 Lillie Langtry S. placegetter Albaflora (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) in the G3 Princess Royal S. over 12 furlongs. The 4-year-old distaffer, who also ran fourth in this term's G1 Coronation Cup, will go postward as a likely warm order and faces a competitive cast of 10 in a sixth attempt to break her pattern-race duck. Elsewhere on the card, Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor join forces to launch a three-strong Godolphin assault on the one-mile Listed Rosemary S. with last year's G3 Prix Six Perfections second Wedding Dance (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) coming back off a 419-day sabbatical and representing the former. Dubai Love (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who has had a wind procedure since earning minor prizes in this year's G2 Cape Verdi and G2 Balanchine at Meydan, returns for this distaffers' test off a 218-day break of her own. Her Saeed bin Suroor-trained stablemate Soft Whisper (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another on the comeback trail after finishing lame in Meydan's Mar. 27 G2 UAE Derby and makes her first start since. Appleby's G2 Princess of Wales's S. third Star Safari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) encountered soft ground for the first time when a close-up seventh in last month's G3 Prix de Reux at Deauville and is back on a sounder surface for the Listed Godolphin S. over 12 furlongs.

HQ Juvenile Contests Take Shape

Newmarket's week of bloodstock sales and racing builds to a crescendo on Saturday with a trio of Juddmonte-sponsored juvenile contests–the G1 Cheveley Park S., G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Royal Lodge S.–sitting alongside the Cambridgeshire meeting's titular event. The six-furlong Cheveley Park has attracted a 13-strong field, headed by the hitherto undefeated Ger Lyons trainee Sacred Bridge (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), who has drawn stall three, with last month's G2 Lowther S. exacta of Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) in one and two, respectively. Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) is the one to beat in the 10-runner Middle Park and has drawn the one hole while Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Masekela (Ire) (El Kabeir) will be up, up and away from stall five in the seven-runner Royal Lodge.

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