Charlie Appleby

A quartet of Godolphin-owned Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starters--Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Desert Peace (Curlin), Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire})--breezed at Belmont Saturday morning. G2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance, who is pointed to the GI Belmont S., breezed on the fast main track in company with GII True North S. contender Desert Peace. Hitting the track at 5:30 a.m. with Michael Metcalfe aboard Rebel's Romance and Patrice Pot on Desert Peace, the pair was caught by NYRA clockers in 1:01.05, galloping out in...

Fifty years on from Mill Reef (Never Bend)'s victory in the Blue Riband at Epsom Downs, 29 horses have stood their ground after the latest scratching stage for the 2021 G1 Cazoo Derby on June 5. G3 Chester Vase scorer Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is doing well ahead of the Blue Riband. His best showing as a juvenile was a third in the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. and he was fourth in his seasonal opener-the Apr. 13 Listed bet365 Feilden S. at HQ. Andrew Balding, the son of...

Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a close second in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas earlier this month has sustained a setback in training and will miss Royal Ascot in June, Godolphin announced on Monday. A winner of the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket in April, and the G2 Superlative S. at two, the Charlie Appleby trainee had been pointed at the G1 St James's Palace S. "2000 Guineas runner up Master Of The Seas unfortunately had a setback after training on Saturday and will now be on the...

Godolphin homebred Sayyida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-sister to G1 Epsom Derby hero Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), shed her maiden tag with a 2 1/2-length success in her seasonal return at Newmarket on Saturday. 6th-Newmarket, £8,050, Nov, 5-15, 3yo, f, 12fT, 2:36.84, gd. SAYYIDA (GB) (f, 3, Dubawi {Ire}--Khawlah {Ire} {Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 7-9.5f, MGSW-UAE & GSP-Eng, $1,366,175}, by Cape Cross {Ire}), who bettered a debut fifth at this venue with a Sept. 30 last-out second over an extended mile at Nottingham, tracked the leaders in fourth for most...

Maintaining his unbeaten record in an attritional renewal of York's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. on Thursday, Godolphin's Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) duly put himself in the picture for a fascinating G1 Epsom Derby. Coming through the Charlie Appleby ranks with a win in the 10-furlong Newbury conditions race that has acted as an important stepping stone to Epsom in recent times, the chestnut with abundant stamina was put in second early with William Buick keeping tabs on Ballydoyle's Roman Empire (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). As that second...

The Godolphin G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas team has excited the Newmarket showpiece in good order according to trainer Charlie Appleby. Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who ran second in the Guineas, is being freshening before returning in the June 15 G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot. Fourth-place finisher Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is also expected to be in action at the Royal meeting, although in the G3 Jersey S. on June 19. Rounding out the Appleby Guineas trio is One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who...

   Saturday's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hosts the customary heavyweights of the previous year's scene, with the likes of Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Van Gogh (American Pharoah), One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) all bringing Group 1 form to the table, but in the year that racing lost Sheikh Hamdan could there be a sense of destiny in the inclusion of the unproven 'TDN Rising Star' Mutasaabeq (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire})? As far as visual impressions go, there...

Jockey William Buick has decided to ride G3 Craven S. hero Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on May 1, Godolphin announced. Godolphin's retained jockey opted for the G2 Superlative S. hero, instead of One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who will be the mount of James Doyle. The latter has not raced since running second in the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. in October. "Five days out from the Guineas, I couldn't be happier with them," said trainer Charlie Appleby, who also has...

   Arguably the most exciting older horse in training in Europe sets out on his keenly-anticipated 4-year-old campaign on Friday, as 'TDN Rising Star' Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) takes in the G2 Sandown Mile. Escaping a penalty with his brace of Group 1 wins in the St James's Palace S. and Prix Jacques le Marois coming before the end of August, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's still-unexposed bay had excuses when bogged down in Ascot's testing conditions but still managed a respectable third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth...

Godolphin ruled the roost in Thursday's G3 Craven S. at Newmarket, with the Charlie Appleby duo Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and La Barrosa (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) coming home clear of their fellow 2000 Guineas hopefuls in the order the betting had suggested. Unsurprisingly, given his higher level of form at two, Master of the Seas had shaded it in the market as the 11-4 favourite with a first-time hood applied to temper the over-enthusiasm he had displayed when fourth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National...

Thursday at Newmarket means the G3 bet365 Craven S. and all the rush of excitement that accompanies it, with the Suffolk faithful hoping they see the subsequent G1 2000 Guineas hero moving through the gears. At this stage, with form from 2020 to guide, Charlie Appleby's Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) appears the most obvious one to emerge with a target on the main prize given how impressive he was in the G2 Superlative S. at the July meeting here. There was much to take from his fourth,...

Godolphin's One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was seen in action on the Rowley Mile on Wednesday, not in a formal Classic trial but in a racecourse gallop with stable-mate Well Of Wisdom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The winner of the G3 Emirates Autumn S. and runner-up to Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in the G1 Vertem Futurity, One Ruler was ridden by former champion jockey Kieren Fallon. He is generally around 10/1 for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on May 1 and also holds entries for the Cazoo Derby and...