Appleby Wins Second Consecutive Flat Trainers’ Championship

For the second straight year, Newmarket-based trainer Charlie Appleby was honored with the Derby Award as 2022's champion flat trainer by the Horserace Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA).

The 47-year-old Appleby so far this year has been represented by 150 winners and 225 seconds from 478 starters-a 31 percent win rate-and his runners have earned £6,225,397. Among those victories were 18 European Group winners-three Group 1s-including a one-two finish in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas with Coroebus (Dubawi [Ire]) and Native Trail (Oasis Dream {GB}), a first victory for the conditioner in the prestigious Classic.

The HWPA award completes a clean sweep of the 2022 jockeys', trainers' and owners' championships for Godolphin, who in addition to Appleby also employs jockey William Buick.

“I'm hugely proud of what myself and the team have achieved in backing the Trainers' Championship up for a second consecutive year,” Appleby said. “I'm very lucky to have the team at Moulton Paddocks and Godolphin and I'm extremely appreciative of their dedication.

“Winning the QIPCO 2000 Guineas was the highlight. It's something that personally I hadn't done before and had finished close on a few occasions. It's one of those races that I was very keen to get on the board. That was a very proud day.”

Appleby-trained runners collected three victories at Royal Ascot in the shape of Coroebus (G1 St James's Palace S.), Naval Crown (Dubawi {Ire}) (G1 Platinum Jubilee S.) and Noble Truth (Kingman {GB}) (G3 Jersey S.). He also took the leading trainer title at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and tightened the girth on three winners in this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland-Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf).

“On behalf of all of us at Godolphin, I want to offer huge congratulations to Charlie Appleby on winning the trainers' championship for the second year in a row,” Hugh Anderson, managing director of Godolphin (UK & Dubai), said. “It's a great achievement and testament to his own skill as a trainer – the high points of this season are almost too many to mention but I would point to the three 2000 Guineas with 3 different colts and the Breeders' Cup hat-trick as being particular standouts.”

Appleby received his award on Monday night at the Royal Lancaster hotel in London.

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Appleby Aiming To Outstrip Last Year’s Breeders’ Cup Hat-Trick

NEWMARKET, UK–The Breeders' Cup has special resonance for Charlie Appleby, who trained his first Grade I winner at the championships not four months into his tenure as trainer for Godolphin back in 2013.

That important first milestone was provided by Darley homebred Outstrip (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) in the Juvenile Turf, and if the American race fans didn't pay much attention to Appleby that day, they do now, for it was a win which set the tone for the years to follow, not just at the Breeders' Cup, but in top-level races in North America generally. Rarely does an Appleby runner under-perform when sent stateside, and more often than not they will return with another trophy to add to the overflowing sideboards in the trainer's office at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket. 

Behind his desk, neatly spaced, are three matching trophies from Del Mar last year, when Appleby and his newly-crowned champion jockey for 2022, William Buick, took Del Mar by storm. As important as those victories were for the racing stable, the icing on the cake for Sheikh Mohammed's vast breeding operation was the fact that Yibir (GB), Space Blues (Ire) and Modern Games (Ire) are all homebred sons of Darley's flagship stallion, Dubawi (Ire).

“It was a big win,” says Appleby casting his mind back to Outstrip while catching up with some Australian racing on TV before heading out to oversee his first lot. “And it was one of those very surreal moments. To stand at Santa Anita with that backdrop and watching your first Grade 1 winner go by the line…”

He tails off, momentarily reliving a significant moment in his own career, which has gone from strength to strength in subsequent seasons to see him crowned champion trainer in Britain last year for the first time. It is a title he is odds-on to retain as 2022 draws to a close.

“Look, I'd been in the operation for a long time before that, so you always know what these moments mean, but when you're holding that trophy, and my name was next to it, that does really give you an amazing feeling, and a feeling that you want more,” he adds.

“So the Breeders' Cup always been a meeting that we've campaigned. I'm not saying we've campaigned hard, but I feel that we've always tried to find the right horses to be the most competitive anyway. And thankfully, it's so far been a lucky hunting ground.”

In 2017 came the turn of Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Filly & Mare Turf, while Line Of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gave Appleby his second strike in the Juvenile Turf the following year. That race has now gone the trainer's way three times, though last year's success was not without drama. One of his two intended starters in the race, Albahr (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), became fractious in the stalls, forcing him and his stablemate Modern Games to be removed from the gates. In a tumultuous few moments ahead of the start, it initially appeared as if both horses had been scratched from the race, but eventually Modern Games and Buick were reinstated and went on to win, with chaos ensuing for punters. 

“Last year was an amazing year. I felt that we added plenty of drama to the meeting as well,” says Appleby with no little understatement.

“Walking away with three homebred winners and all three of them by Dubawi, I did say to the team there, as much as we say 'well, that was great', we must try harder next year to better that. That might take a little bit of surpassing though, because it was a huge achievement by everybody and we were very proud to walk off the racetrack with what we'd achieved.”

Indeed, it will be hard to top those results at Keeneland this year, but the Appleby team—and the trainer consistently refers to the stable's success as 'we' rather than 'I'—certainly plans to give it a good old rattle.

The one thing I'm confident of with Naval Crown is that he's got gate speed in abundance

The seven runners bound for Kentucky all came through their last piece of fast work on Wednesday in good heart, and will continue with routine canters until shipping on Saturday. With Space Blues now at Kildangan Stud in Ireland and Yibir not travelling, it falls to Modern Games to lead the raiders as he bids to add the Breeders' Cup Mile to his victory last year. In the interim, he became Appleby's third Guineas winner of 2022 when landing the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, following the victory of the late Coreoebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 2000 Guineas and Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. Modern Games has already made another trip back across the Atlantic this year to win the GI Woodbine Mile. 

“When unfortunately Coroebus didn't turn up for the Sussex Stakes, it was felt that Modern Games was the substitute. But he posted one of the closest finishes to Baaeed when finishing second in the Sussex. He then went to Canada and won very well there,” says Appleby. 

“Then with the QEII on Champions Day, as the rain came down again on the day, I thought 'should we really be running this horse?'. But he was in great order, and as always, he went out on his shield, finishing second in ground that William said he hated from start to finish. 

“It won't be too soft at Keeneland. I imagine Kinross will start favourite, but he's up there and in great order.”

The statuesque Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of two Godolphin runners, along with Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), being aimed at the Breeders' Cup Turf, claimed last year by Yibir. The four-year-old has had quite the season, with four straight wins culminating in back-to-back Group 1s in Germany over 1m4f.

Appleby says of Rebel's Romance, “He's a past UAE Derby winner and he went out to America on the back end of that winter in Dubai to potentially participate in the Kentucky Derby, but he met with setbacks out there so that didn't materialise. We went back out to Dubai to try and continue his dirt career, which again didn't materialise last winter, but he's been a revelation since we switched him to the turf.

“He stays well, he's got the experience, he's well travelled. I think he's a big player on the night. He'll be joined by Nation's Pride, who's a three-year-old coming into it with a similar profile to Yibir. Obviously they both won the Jockey Club Derby Invitational en route to the Breeders' Cup. But prior to that, Nation's Pride does bring a bit more American experience to the table as well.”

That experience  was provided by the son of Teofilo heading straight from his eighth-place finish at Epsom in the Derby to take second in the GI Belmont Derby before winning the GI Saratoga Derby.

Appleby adds, “Nations Pride will probably go off favourite on the day. William [Buick] will ride him and James [Doyle] will ride Rebel's Romance; they're two live players.”

If he gets a good draw, [Silver Knott] is probably the horse they've all got to beat realistically

The trainer is also double-handed in the Turf Sprint with the Dubawi duo of Naval Crown (GB) and Creative Force (Ire), who finished first and second, a neck separating them, in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot.

“They are both rock solid little horses,” states Appleby. “Creative Force had a break after the summer and we were delighted with his reappearance run on Champions Day, finishing third. He's definitely come forward for that run.

“Naval Crown has got quicker, dare I say it, as the season's gone on. But it hasn't quite gone right for him since the Platinum Jubilee. He ran a good race in the July Cup [when second to Alcohol Free] but was disappointing on very quick ground [at Haydock] and then obviously disappointed on the soft ground on Champions Day. “But the one thing I'm confident of with Naval Crown is that he's got gate speed in abundance. That's what's needed over there, so that's a tick for him. He's got experience and I think he'll enjoy being back on a turning track.”

Appleby also takes aim once more at the Juvenile Turf, this time with the smart Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who already has a pair of Group 3 wins to his credit, and whose yearling half-brother by Dubawi was recently recruited to the Godolphin team for next year to the tune of 1,500,000gns at Tattersalls. 

“His form has worked out quite well and, dare I say it, he has a profile similar to Outstrip,” notes the trainer. “He's competed at a nice level and a sounder surface will suit him, so hopefully we will get that. If he gets a good draw, he's probably the horse they've all got to beat realistically.”

Completing the septet is the G3 Sirenia S. winner Mischief Magic (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), who was subsequently fourth to Blackbeard (Ire) in the G1 Middle Park S. and will line up in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. 

“He's got plenty of natural pace and he's definitely a player,” Appleby adds.

“As we all know, you've got to have a lot of luck around there. You've got to travel well, you've got to acclimatise well. And in the shorter-distance events, you have to have a draw. So there's still a few more hurdles to get over, but it's an exciting team to be taking out there.”

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Appleby Quartet Lined Up For Saudi

Trainer Charlie Appleby is preparing a team of four for next weekend's Saudi Cup card: 3-year-olds Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) and Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for the G3 Saudi Derby, Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for the Red Sea Turf H. and Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for the Turf Sprint.

Noble Truth and Sovereign Prince will be trying the dirt for the first time, and Appleby said, “they have never raced on dirt before but judging by what we have seen in their gallops at home, they will have no problems handling it. They have been training on the Marmoom track in Dubai, which has a surface very similar to what they will experience in Saudi. I'm very happy the way they have been training on it.”

Noble Truth, winner of the Listed Flying Scotsman S. in September, has not raced since finishing fourth in the G3 Horris Hill S. in October. He was previously second in the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere.

“He was slightly disappointing in the Horris Hill on very soft ground, but he put up such a great performance in the Lagardere [on heavy], it took the edge off him for Newbury,” said Appleby. “He was sent to Dubai in November purposely to be aimed at the Saudi Derby, and if he brings his best 2-year-old form to the race, he'll be a very live contender. He's adapted well since embarking on a more American-style training programme in Dubai since travelling over.”

Sovereign Prince, who broke his maiden at Epsom in September, is two-for-two this season at Meydan, including a most recent win in the Listed Jumeirah Classic going a mile on the turf on Feb. 4.

“He has earned his stripes following two creditable performances at Meydan,” said Appleby. “He's a typical Dubawi in strengthening and moving forward at a rate of knots as he gets more mature. He's had plenty of racing experience in the UK and Dubai.”

The 4-year-old Siskany was likewise a listed winner at Meydan last out, taking the Al Khail Trophy going a mile and six on Jan. 28.

“Siskany was a progressive middle-distance handicapper who showed marked improvement at 2800 metres,” said Appleby. “We are hoping that in stepping up to extreme trips he can take it to another level. He has come out of his last race really well, and the second and third have franked the form by being placed subsequently behind Global Storm at Meydan. We are looking to him to run a big race.”

The 4-year-old Naval Crown, who was fourth in last year's G1 2000 Guineas, looks to give his trainer back-to-back wins in the Turf Sprint, following on from Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) last year. Naval Crown returned from almost six months on the sidelines with a win in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort on Jan. 21.

“We deliberately finished his season early last year to get ready for this,” said Appleby. “He was a model of consistency as a 3-year-old and he has come back in great form. It was a nice performance to win the Al Fahidi Fort and he has come forward for that run.”

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Naval Crown Asserts His Class in Al Fahidi Fort

by Alan Carasso

Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) provided his all-conquering sire his third winner in the last four runnings of the G2 Al Fahidi Fort S. and 143rd worldwide scorer at graded/group stakes level with a deceptively easy success in the seven-furlong test Friday at Meydan.

Away alertly from a low barrier, the athletic bay found himself forwardly placed and was locked away at the fence as the veteran Ajwad (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) was ridden for speed from gate 13 and came across the field to lead at a good gallop. Quietly ridden on the bend by William Buick while holding his position, Naval Crown was waited with in upper stretch, muscled his way into the clear with about two furlongs to race, hit the front going well at the 200-metre peg and remained comfortably in front as Story of Light (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) chased him home in vain. Shadwell's Zainhom (Street Cry {Ire}) rallied from near the tail of the field to grab third.

Multiple Group 3-placed in France at two, Naval Crown was a creditable third in a single try on the dirt in the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas last February before bouncing back to take the Listed Meydan Classic going a mile over the local turf three weeks hence. Beaten less than three lengths into fourth by Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) as a 50-1 chance in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May, Naval Crown backed up to this trip to be runner-up in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 19 and was last seen struggling home eighth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville July 11.

In a post-race interview, winning trainer Charlie Appleby said he'd be inclined to pass the upcoming stc1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia next month, a race won last year by Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and instead take in the 1400-metre $300,000 Ras Al Khor conditions race on Super Saturday Mar. 5 as a steppingstone to his 4-year-old season in Europe.

Pedigree Notes:

Naval Crown is the first foal from his dam, winner of the Listed Prix Amandine for Andre Fabre at Maisons-Laffitte in 2016 before visiting Dubawi for her first cover the following spring. Come Alive is one of five winners from eight to the races for her dam Portrayal, a listed winner and Group 3-placed in England and twice place at group level in France, including a third to the once-beaten, dual Classic winner Divine Proportions (Kingmambo) in the G2 Prix Robert Papin in 2004. Come Alive is represented by a 2-year-old Lope de Vega (Ire) filly and a yearling filly by Shamardal.

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
AL FAHIDI FORT PRESENTED BY MINA BY AZIZI-G2, $180,000, Meydan, 1-21, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:22.02, gd.
1–NAVAL CROWN (GB), 126, c, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Come Alive (GB) (SW-Fr), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Portrayal, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: True Glory (Ire), by In the Wings (GB)
1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. $108,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Eng, MGSP-Fr, 12-3-2-5, $287,402. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Story of Light (Ire), 126, g, 5, Dark Angel (Ire)–Beautiful Ending (GB), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK-TYPE. O-Mohammed Ahmad Ali Al Subousi; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Ahmad bin Harmash. $36,000.
3–Zainhom, 126, g, 8, Street Cry (Ire)–Kaseema, by Storm Cat. O-Shadwell Stable; B-Shadwell Farm LLC (KY); T-Musabbeh Al Mheiri. $18,000.
Margins: 1, SHD, NK.
Also Ran: Storm Damage (GB), Manjeer (Ire), Spirit of Light (Ire), Sanary (GB), Could Be King (GB), Land of Legends (Ire), Alkaamel (GB), Ajwad (GB), Garrulous (SAf), Ventura Rebel (GB), La Barrosa (Ire). Click for the Emirates Racing chart and the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

WATCH: Naval Crown proves too classy in Al Fahidi Fort

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