Charlie Appleby | Horse Racing Free Tips

Euro Invader Looms Large in Summer

Charlie Appleby makes the trip across the pond with a strong chance to earn a spot in the gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf when he sends out Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in Woodbine's GI Summer S. Sunday. Graduating at second asking at Haydock June 9, the Godolphin homebred followed suit with a decisive score at that oval July 17 and captured the Stonehenge S. at Salisbury Aug. 20. Frankie Dettori also makes the trip to Canada to ride.

Mark Casse has won this event four times, including last year, and he sends out a solid contender in First Empire (Classic Empire). A second-out winner when switched from sythetic to grass here Aug. 1, the dark bay captured the Soaring Free S. over the local lawn Aug. 21. Casse also saddles a trio of longshots in Souper Legacy (Hard Spun), Grafton Street (War Front) and Luckman (Empire Maker).

Shug McGaughey is very rarely seen in the Woodbine entries, but he makes the trip north with Dripping Gold (Lemon Drop Kid), who won on debut in a two-turn turf test at Saratoga Aug. 7.

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Wild Beauty Looms Large in Natalma

Three years ago, the Godolphin-owned and Charlie Appleby-conditioned La Pelosa (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) used placings in the Listed Star S. and in the G3 Sweet Solera S. as a stepping-stones to victory in the GI Natalma S. at Woodbine. Connections will be hoping that lightning strikes twice Sunday with Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who has charted precisely the same course into the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf at Del Mar Nov.5.

Whereas La Pelosa finished third in the Star S. at Goodwood, Wild Beauty went one better, chasing home hot favorite Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who subsequently hacked up at 20 cents on the dollar in Doncaster's G2 May Hill S. Sept. 9. Wild Beauty and La Pelosa both finished runner-up in the Sweet Solera contested over a straight seven furlongs at Newmarket and she should appreciate the extra eighth of a mile Sunday.

D J Stable and Nexus Racing's Diabolic (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looks to take her unbeaten streak to four while stretching out in trip for the first time. Purchased for £90,000 out of last year's Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, the gray filly validated 8-5 favoritism with a neck success sprinting five grassy furlongs at Gulfstream May 20 before adding the My Dear S. over the local synthetic surface July 31. It was back to the turf when prepping for this in the Aug. 21 Catch a Glimpse S. and Diabolic made a run from next to last to report home a length to the good of Royal Engagement (Palace Malice), with Mrs. Barbara (Bodemeister) another length and three-quarters back in third.

Bobby Flay homebred Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) holds the distinction of being the lone runner in the field of 10 with a victory going long, having graduated by three-parts of a length at first asking at Saratoga July 22. Joel Rosario retains the mount for Christophe Clement.

Ready Lady (More Than Ready) belied generous odds to score by a half-length on her seven-furlong debut Aug. 28 and will try to follow in the hoofprints of her half-sister 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), who won this event last year by 3/4 of a length off a somewhat more decisive first-out success.

Eminent Victor (Mr. Z) earned a competitive 74 Beyer for a debut score over the Arlington Poly and has since been acquired by Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Louis Lazzinaro. She makes her first appearance for Chad Brown here.

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Yibir Rates Edge In Jockey Club Derby

One of three overseas raiders in the field of eight, Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks to ring up another big race in the Empire State for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby in Saturday's $1-million Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. at Belmont, which offers the winner an all-expenses paid trip to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.

It has been something of an up-and-down season for the homebred full-brother to MG1SW Wild Illusion (GB), runner-up to Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill. A close third in the G3 Sandown Classic Trial Apr. 23, Yibir was a disappointing fourth in the Listed Dee S. at Chester in early May and was gelded following a runner-up effort in Goodwood's Listed Cocked Hat S. May 21. A comfortable winner of the G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket July 8, he tired to beat just two home at short odds after overracing in the G3 Gordon S. back at Goodwood July 29. Fitted with a hood for the G2 Great Voltigeur S. at York last time Aug. 18, he switched off and stayed on beautifully through the long straight to record a 1 1/4-length victory in a race customarily used as a springboard to the G1 St Leger. As a gelding, Yibir was not eligible for that Classic.

The Appleby-trained Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) defeated stablemate Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in the GI Just A Game S. and GI Diana S. earlier this year.

Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gets a third American stamp in his passport, having overcome stretch traffic to outfinish the re-opposing Tokyo Gold (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in a modestly rated renewal of the GI Belmont Derby July 10. The bay raced handier to the speed before weakening to fourth in the Aug. 7 GI Saratoga Derby Invitational and he was programmed for a G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trial in last weekend's G2 Prix Niel at ParisLongchamp, only to be withdrawn at the 11th for a reported outdated vaccination.

Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was a bit under the radar at 14-1 in the Saratoga Derby, having won two of four in lesser company in France for the legendary Andre Fabre. The bay was off slowly from the inside stall and lagged well back, but turned in a powerful stretch rally up the fence that saw him finish just a length adrift of the victorious State of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). Further improvement could see him get his picture taken here.

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Walton Street, Desert Encounter Square Off in International

Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), still lightly raced as a 7-year-old, is pegged as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GI Pattison Canadian International S. going a full circuit of the E. P. Taylor turf course at Woodbine. And if his current form is anything to go by, they might all be running for second prize money.

The bay gelding, Group 3-placed in France in 2019, closed an abbreviated 6-year-old campaign with a victory in the Listed Godolphin S. at Newmarket and resumed witha five-length tally in the Listed Dubai Racing Club Classic at this year's Dubai World Cup Carnival Jan. 21. He completed a three-bagger with a facile success in the G3 Dubai City of Gold S. on Super Saturday Mar. 6 and led into the final furlong of the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic before yielding to finish fourth behind the world-class trio of Misriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) and Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who have since bagged Group 1s in England, Japan and Hong Kong, respectively. His latest third in the G1 Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin Aug. 8 looks strong as well, as the second home that afternoon, Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), took out the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in his next start, defeating Godolphin's Passion and Glory (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), among others.

Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) looks to join Joshua Tree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as three-time winners of the International. Victorious here in 2018 and 2019 (the race did not take place last year), the 9-year-old has not seen the winner's circle in 15 starts since, but retains his zest for racing as evidenced by a trio of stakes placings this term, including a runner-up effort in the G3 Gordon Richards S. on seasonal debut in April. The bay was most recently second in the Listed August S. at Windsor Aug. 28 behind 3-year-old filly Teona (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who caused a 17-1 upset in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille Sept. 12. With Danny Tudhope unable to make the trip, Emma-Jayne Wilson has the call from trainer David Simcock.

Half of the eight-strong field prepped in the 10-furlong GIII Singspiel S. Aug. 21, in which Corelli (Point of Entry) came home 1 3/4 lengths to the good of English Conqueror (English Channel). A further length back in third was Belichick (Lemon Drop Kid), the 2020 Queen's Plate runner-up who counts the age-restricted Breeders' S. over this course and distance as his biggest career success.

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