Tag Archive for: Charlie Appleby

Hurricane Lane hits comeback trail at Newbury

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Charlie Appleby is banking on Hurricane Lane returning to something like the form he showed as a three-year-old on his return to action in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes at Newbury.

Winner of the Irish Derby and St Leger in 2021 when he also finished a close third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, last season was something of a write-off.

Beaten at odds-on twice, in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot and in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, he was one horse certainly not suited by the heatwave given his liking for softer ground.

With Newbury set to be pretty testing this weekend, Appleby is happy to start a campaign which he once more hopes will culminate in Paris in October.

Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick celebrate winning the St Leger with Hurricane Lane
Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick celebrate winning the St Leger with Hurricane Lane (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He has been a grand horse for Godolphin, and we feel he should be able to pick up another major prize this year,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

“With his programme, we are working back from the Arc, that’s our main aim. He revels in soft ground and there is a good chance he could get those conditions at Longchamp in October.

“You cannot fault the horse at home. He retains all his old zest and he looks great. We will know early in his five-year-old campaign whether or not the Arc is a realistic target.”

Max Vega won the race 12 months ago for Ralph Beckett and he is back to defend his title, along with a new stablemate, Lone Eagle.

“Both he and Lone Eagle are going to find it tough if the real Hurricane Lane is going to turn up. But he should run his race as normal. He is in good shape,” said Beckett.

There was not much between Lone Eagle (left) and Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby of 2021
There was not much between Lone Eagle (left) and Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby of 2021 (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Lone Eagle was a classy three-year-old himself and made Hurricane Lane pull out all the stops in the Irish Derby when trained by Martyn Meade.

He is now part-owned by Marc Chan, meaning Frankie Dettori takes the ride. Beckett also runs the fancied Jimmi Hendrix in the BetGoodwin Spring Cup and both are sporting blinkers for the first time.

Beckett said: “Lone Eagle is new to us and I think the first-time headgear will be of some benefit, and likewise Jimi Hendrix on a comeback mission in the Spring Cup – the headgear there, I think we should have pulled the trigger earlier, but that’s down to his trainer!”

Richard Hannon’s Mojo Star is undoubtedly talented, as he showed when finishing second in both the Derby and St Leger at three.

He only made it to the track once last season but it was another massive effort as he was second to Kyprios in the Gold Cup at Ascot, beaten just half a length.

“He has always been a very good colt but has had a few niggly issues which have kept him off the track and hasn’t run since putting up a brilliant effort when second in the Gold Cup,” Hannon told Unibet.

“He’s done plenty of work and been away to gallop so should be pretty straight. But this is his first run in a while, so he’s entitled to improve for it and we’re working back from the Ascot Gold Cup. I’m very happy with him and while the trip is on the short side, this is a good place to kick off his season.”

Mojo Star was a fine second to Kyprios at Ascot
Mojo Star was a fine second to Kyprios at Ascot (David Davies/PA)

Another who will not be inconvenienced by the ground is Surrey Mist, who has the benefit of already having had a run this season when fourth in a French Group Three.

Clive Hadingham of owners Surrey Racing said: “We could do with a bit more rain, which will hopefully test the fitness of the main protagonists as we already have one run under our belt this season.

“Having said that, it’s a very competitive race – we may have to get creative with our tactics!”

Silver Lady proves a big hit at Newmarket

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Charlie Appleby raised the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot as a potential summer target for Silver Lady after the newcomer lived up to her billing on day two of the Craven meeting at Newmarket.

The three-year-old is bred to be smart as a daughter of Sea The Stars out of Group One-winning mare Lumiere, and the Newmarket dogs were barking her name in the hours leading up to her Rowley Mile debut, with strong support seeing her go off the even-money favourite for the bet365 European Breeders’ Fund Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The result was never really in any doubt, with Silver Lady overcoming brief signs of greenness racing out of the dip to put the race to bed within a few strides – eventually passing the post with just under four lengths in hand over Never Ending in the hands of William Buick.

It is a measure of the regard in which the winner is held that Appleby briefly flirted with the idea of supplementing her for the Qipco 1000 Guineas, but she appears more likely to take a less adventurous next step on her way to the showpiece summer meeting in Berkshire.

“She’s done some nice home work, she’s got a great pedigree and at the end of the day she was touted,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“She hasn’t got any lofty entries and isn’t in the Guineas. We’ll go back and review whether she’s a filly we’d contemplate supplementing, or whether we take baby steps and bring her on towards something like the Coronation Stakes.

“We’ve got a filly in the Guineas in Dream Of Love who I feel is a realistic filly to be running there and this filly might just want time. Speaking to William, the Guineas might come a bit too soon.

“She’s had a lovely experience here today. I don’t think she’s an Oaks filly as she’s got too much pace for that. She’s from a family with huge talent and if we mind her hopefully she’ll repay us.”

Persian Dreamer leads the way at Newmarket
Persian Dreamer leads the way at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Dominic Ffrench Davis is excited to see how far Persian Dreamer can climb the ladder following a similarly sparkling debut in the bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

The Lambourn-based trainer is in charge of an exciting squad for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation and Persian Dreamer appears to be towards the top of the juvenile pecking order.

A €145,000 purchase as a yearling, the daughter of Calyx was an 11-4 shot for her racecourse debut in the bet365 British EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes and looked every inch a Royal Ascot contender as she powered three and a quarter lengths clear of fellow newcomer Dorothy Lawrence under Kevin Stott.

Amo Racing were completing a double on the afternoon after Mammas Girl confirmed herself a major 1000 Guineas contender with victory in the preceding Nell Gwyn Stakes and Ffrench Davis is hopeful his filly can go on to scale similar heights.

He said: “She’s a nice, quality filly who has always shown a bit of class at home and Kevin came down and rode her work and loved her.

“That (Royal Ascot) would have to be the target, she’s an exciting one for the future and she has got that bit of class – she’s not just an out-and-out five-furlong early two-year-old.

“We’ll see how she comes out this and how she progresses from the race before any decisions are made, but she’s definitely right up there. Certainly of the two-year-old fillies, she’s the best.

“It’s exciting for Kia. He’s just won a Guineas trial and he’s also got a filly who might be here this time next year.”

Ffrench Davis also has the Royal meeting in mind for Surely Not (9-1), who had earlier provided him with his very first winner on the Rowley Mile in the the Connaught Access Flooring Handicap, with Hollie Doyle the winning rider.

Surely Not and Hollie Doyle winning the opening race at Newmarket
Surely Not and Hollie Doyle winning the opening race at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

“Perhaps they went off a bit quick and our plan was always to drop in,” said the trainer.

“He was unlucky not to win a good nursery at Goodwood last year, then he won at Newbury for Hollie and I ran him once too often on heavy ground at York at the end of the season.

“He got a little above himself, so we picked his pockets (gelded him) over the winter and it’s really settled him down and made a man of him.

“We’d have to think about Royal Ascot if we’re good enough to go there, but we may have to have another run in between, depending on what the handicapper does.”

Orazio finished with gusto to claim the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap for Charlie Hills.

The grey son of Caravaggio was sidelined for 17 months following a promising juvenile campaign in 2021 and having blown away any cobwebs with a comeback run at Kempton in January, he was sent off at 9-1 for his return to the grass.

As is usually the case, Buick timed his challenge to perfection, deliver Orazio with withering late run to get up and beat 4-1 joint-favourite Probe by a length.

“He obviously missed the whole of last season, so it was always the plan to give him a run during the winter to try and get the freshness out of him and then bring him back for the turf,” said Hills.

“He was placed in the Rose Bowl as a two-year-old and was well fancied for the Gimcrack. Obviously he went wrong between then and now – he had a setback that needed a bit of time.

“I’d like to work back from the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.”

Ottoman Fleet powers home in Sefton heat

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Ottoman Fleet came from last to first to make an impressive start to his season in the bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Sea The Stars won twice at Listed level on the Rowley Mile last season and returned as the 6-4 favourite to strike Group Three gold after finishing third three times at the Dubai Carnival.

With one-time Derby hope Reach For The Moon lit up by first-time blinkers in the colours of the King and the Queen Consort, the pace was solid from flag-fall and William Buick was happy to take his time aboard the Charlie Appleby-trained market leader.

He made smooth inroads to move onto the heels of the pacesetters inside the last couple of furlongs, though, and quickened up smartly on meeting the rising ground to to win comfortably by two lengths.

Poker Face, unbeaten in three previous starts, beat Raadobarg to the runner-up spot. Reach For The Moon weakened quickly following his early exertions and finished last of seven under Frankie Dettori.

Appleby said: “I’ve just had a chat with William and the race was set up for him. This place suits him and for some reason he always brings his A game here. He’s been kept busy during the winter, ran three solid races and just kept bumping into one.

“But we came here confident that he was fit and well, track conditions suited him with a bit of ease in the ground and from halfway I was pretty confident. I know Poker Face is a nice horse and he travelled into it well and I’m sure with experience he’ll progress nicely but once they hit the rising ground, I knew he’d come home strong.

“As for the future, he’ll probably have a break now as he’s been on the go through the winter. He returned from Dubai when we had that warm week here, so it was easier for him to acclimatise.”

Style set to skip Greenham date due to Newbury ground

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Noble Style is set to miss Saturday’s Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes, with trainer Charlie Appleby favouring a racecourse gallop at Newmarket over a run in soft ground at Newbury.

The Kingman colt won each of his three juvenile starts, completing his hat-trick in the Gimcrack Stakes at York before a bout of colic ruled him out of the Middle Park in the autumn.

Appleby considers Noble Style as a likely contender for the Qipco 2000 Guineas and had hoped to give him a trial run at Newbury this weekend.

However, with testing conditions forecast in Berkshire, the three-year-old looks set for a more low-key workout on the Rowley Mile, just as Coroebus did before providing Appleby with his first 2000 Guineas success last season.

“Noble Style is in great form. I made the entry for Newbury, but I might be giving that a swerve because of the conditions,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“It’s two weeks to the day from that race to the Guineas and the question mark over him is the trip. We saw the speed he showed when he won the Gimcrack and that form has held up. Pace is not a worry, it’s whether he will see out a mile and that is why I would have liked to have gone to the Greenham and stepped up to seven.

“But if the forecasts are right and it is going to be soft, I’ll give it a swerve and give him a racecourse gallop here and go straight into the Guineas.”

Majestic start for Appleby and Buick at Newmarket

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Charlie Appleby and William Buick got this year’s Craven meeting at Newmarket off to the perfect start as Majestic Pride justified favouritism in the bet365 British EBF Conditions Stakes.

The reigning champion trainer and jockey invariably prove a formidable combination on the Rowley Mile and Majestic Pride was a 2-1 market leader for his first start since winning at Chelmsford in November.

The Shamardal colt was being niggled at with over two of the seven furlongs still to run, but responded to Buick’s urgings to grab the lead and was always doing enough from racing out of the dip to hold the challenge of Holguin at bay, with a neck separating the pair at the line.

Majestic Pride holds an entry for the Qipco 2000 Guineas on May 6, but Appleby does not currently consider him a contender for the season’s first Classic.

He said: “This horse has been on the runners list for a few weeks, so I didn’t think he was going to lack for fitness today.

“He’s a horse, that with the ground being on the slow side as it is out there, all his family go on it, even though he’s by Shamardal.

“Going forward, I’ll speak to William but I don’t think he’s a Guineas horse.

“We’ll probably look at the race back here – the King Charles II (May 5) over seven furlongs.”

Rebel Territory (right) leads the way at Newmarket
Rebel Territory (right) leads the way at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

Amanda Perrett’s Rebel Territory (7-2) also obliged for favourite backers in the National Stud Handicap, getting the better of Vafortino by half a length in the hands of Jim Crowley.

“He’s a super horse but he’s a little bit ground dependent,” said Perrett.

“He was tending to over-race over a mile last year, so dropping to seven furlongs really suited.

“I think we’ll look at the Victoria Cup if the ground is soft enough, then maybe go back to Goodwood.”

The finish to the Close Brothers Handicap was dominated by Yorkshire trainers with David O’Meara’s 11-1 shot Bopedro narrowly outpointing John Quinn’s 7-2 market leader Empirestateofmind, while the Roger Fell-trained Toshizou pipped Charlie Johnston’s Dutch Decoy to third.

“It was very heavy ground at Doncaster (when sixth in the Lincoln) and ours are needing a run this season and it’s put him right. He ran well enough I thought,” said O’Meara.

“He travelled nicely, met a little bit of traffic before he finished off well enough. His owner, Lee Bond, told me to leave the blinkers off today as it might freshen him up and that has clearly worked.

“There are lots of nice races at York, Ascot and Goodwood for him – there’s a great programme for these milers. That was good today.”

James Tate has his eye on bigger things having seen Blue Storm (8-1) enhance the fine start made by first-season sire Blue Point in the Pat Smullen Memorial British EBF Novice Stakes.

“It’s my first two-year-old winner of the year and when they hit the mark at Newmarket you just feel a bit better,” said the winning trainer.

“We always picked him to be an early type, he’s bred to be early and he’s not the biggest. He hasn’t had any setbacks at all so we thought we would get him started early but mine normally improve for the run first time so I was impressed with him.

“Obviously you don’t really know what he’s done and what he’s beaten but I couldn’t ask for much more really.

“He’s very professional so I will be targeting the early black type races. I’m thinking the National Stakes and races like that, so we will just look at those targets and work back from there.”

James Evans’ Dream Composer was a neat winner of the Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap at 9-2 under Dougie Costello.

The gelding was ridden in the middle of the group by the rail and was travelling best of all when the field merged and hit the two-furlong marker.

A furlong from home he was asked to quicken and responded well, pulling away to cross the line half a length ahead of 16-1 shot Spring Bloom.

Hurricane Lane primed for Newbury return

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Hurricane Lane is set to make his return to competitive action at Newbury this weekend after delighting trainer Charlie Appleby in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket.

The son of Frankel enjoyed a fantastic three-year-old campaign in 2021, winning the Dante Stakes, Irish Derby, Grand Prix de Paris and St Leger, as well as being placed in the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Much was expected of Hurricane Lane last season, but he made it the racecourse on only two occasions, with a comeback third in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot followed by a disappointing performance in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

But after seeing the five-year-old draw clear of a stablemate in a seven-furlong workout under William Buick on Tuesday morning, Appleby is confident the entire can bounce back to his best, with Saturday’s Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes – better known as the John Porter – his intended starting point.

“I’m pleased with that. We brought him up here purposely with the ground being good to soft, soft as we know he is a horse that is proven on that surface,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“His three-year-old career, I don’t have to tell anyone about that, but his four-year-old career ended up being disappointing. He ran a creditable race in the Hardwicke Stakes on ground that was quick. We thought we got away with it to be honest with you.

“We then went to the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the ground wasn’t where we thought it was. It was quick enough that day and he ran a disappointing race.

“We purposely left it there and thought we’d give the horse every chance. The one thing I wanted to make sure starting this year was that he was starting on ground with soft in the description. I don’t want any excuses.

“If the horse were not to turn up, you would have to accept that the horse did what he did as a three-year-old at the highest level and that was that – but on the evidence of what we have seen at home this year, we have been very pleased with him as a physical and just in his demeanour, and I think he has shown you guys out there this morning he has let himself down there.

“The plan is to take a look at Newbury on Saturday with the ground being there to suit him.”

While Hurricane Lane holds several Group One entries, Appleby confirmed the Arc will again be his major target, adding: “The only reason this horse has stayed in training is to work back from an Arc.

Adayar winning the 2021 King George at Ascot
Adayar winning the 2021 King George at Ascot (Nigel French/PA)

“I want to make sure we tick all the right boxes and give him the best opportunity to get there. I don’t want to be there mid-season running on ground he doesn’t want and then telling myself I’ve made a mistake.

“The Arc is our long-term plan and he will be campaigned accordingly around that.”

Appleby also provided an upbeat bulletin on the progress of his 2021 Derby hero Adayar, who remains on course to make his return in the Gordon Richard Stakes at Sandown on Friday week.

He said: “Adayar is in great form and he has been over to Waterhall (gallop) and done all our preparations pre-season and he has delighted us over there.

“His target is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. We go to Sandown with it very much as a trial, but I would be disappointed if this horse is not a big player there.

Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the return of Adayar
Charlie Appleby is looking forward to the return of Adayar (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We are very much on the front foot this season as this time last year, unfortunately our dream had gone for the first half of the season, which became frustrating watching all those good races go by.

“He showed that he was worth our patience at the back end there winning at Doncaster, which was more of an organised gallop, before running a courageous race to finish second in the Champion Stakes on ground that we know is not his ideal.

“We are very much looking forward to Sandown next week.”

Appleby is keen for Adayar to win a Group One over 10 furlongs to go with his Derby and King George wins over a mile and a half to enhance his future value at stud.

“To start with he will be campaigned over a mile and a quarter because of his stallion CV. In this day and age, they want to see a bit more speed on the page,” he added.

“What he achieved in his three-year-old career, winning the Derby and King George, was fantastic and everyone was delighted. From a commercial point of view, everyone would like to see that mile and a quarter stamped.

“I think it is a trip that is well within his compass – he has always been a very strong traveller in his races.

“Epsom and Ascot were fantastic results for the horse and the team, but I’m pretty confident he will be putting a Group One 10-furlong tag around his neck this year.”

Appleby set to be double-handed in Craven Stakes

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Charlie Appleby has the chance to enhance his stellar record in the bet365 Craven Stakes with both Naval Power and Mysterious Night featuring among the 15 entries for the Newmarket contest.

The Moulton Paddocks handler has won three of the last four runnings of the one-mile Group Three which serves as a key trial for the Qipco 2000 Guineas back at the Rowley Mile on May 6.

The name of Appleby’s stable jockey William Buick appears alongside Naval Power who won his first four outings in imperious fashion before blotting his copybook in the Dewhurst at the end of his two-year-old campaign.

He was last seen notching a taking victory in the Jumeirah Classic in Dubai, while stablemate Mysterious Night has also tasted success overseas – winning at both Deauville and Woodbine during his juvenile campaign.

Remarkably Aidan O’Brien has never won the Craven Stakes and the Ballydoyle handler could be represented by Cairo and Paddington as he looks to change that, while Indestructible was trained in Ireland by Michael O’Callaghan last year but is now in the care of Karl Burke attempting to build on his placed efforts behind Guineas hope Chaldean.

Andrew Balding’s The Foxes brings course and distance form to the table having won the Royal Lodge last September and the form of that contest was given a boost when the runner-up, Dubai Mile, claimed Group One honours at Saint-Cloud.

The Foxes (left) ridden by jockey David Probert on their way to winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket
The Foxes (left) ridden by jockey David Probert on their way to winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket (David Davies/PA)

Simon and Ed Crisford’s unbeaten Knight landed the Horris Hill in heavy ground on his second start and could have the chance to confirm Newbury form over Ralph Beckett’s runner-up Grey’s Monument and Clive Cox’s Ancestral Land, who was a bronze medallist in Berkshire.

John and Thady Gosden’s Mostabshir and James Ferguson’s Canberra Legend both have one run and one victory to their name but did their winning in impressive style, while Roger Teal has always held Dancing Magic in high regard and he has plenty of experience in useful company to his name.

Finn’s Charm (Charlie Johnston), Mr Mistoffelees (Hughie Morrison) and Wiltshire (Freddie and Martyn Meade) are the other possible runners.

Adayar poised for Gordon Richards reappearance

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Adayar, whose 2022 campaign was restricted to two outings, will start to make up for lost time when reappearing in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown next month.

After triumphing at Epsom in 2021, the Charlie Appleby-trained Adayar became the first Derby winner in 20 years to follow up with a victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

His four-year-old season was delayed until Doncaster’s St Leger meeting, after which he went down by just half a length to Bay Bridge in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Adayar (right) locked in battle with Bay Bridge in the Champion Stakes
Adayar (right) locked in battle with Bay Bridge in the Champion Stakes (John Walton/PA)

Appleby wants to give the son of Frankel further opportunities to pick up a Group One over a mile and a quarter this season, with the Group Three Gordon Richards as the starting point before Royal Ascot.

“The plan is to run Adayar in the Gordon Richards and then the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, both over a mile and a quarter,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“He will have a lot of summer targets, but winning a Group One over that trip will look good on his CV.”

Rebel with a cause – Appleby backing Romance to star on Meydan card

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Charlie Appleby labelled global traveller Rebel’s Romance as the horse best equipped to bring his A-game to the big stage in Saturday’s Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan.

Rebel’s Romance put together a five-race unbeaten sequence in 2022 that culminated in victory over Stone Age in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.

The five-year-old also triumphed in Listed and Group Three company in Britain and in two German Group Ones at Hoppegarten and Cologne.

Rebel’s Romance had to miss his intended prep race in the Dubai City Of Gold earlier this month, but Appleby is confident he is firing on all cylinders ahead of his Group One assignment,

Appleby said: “Rebel’s Romance is the most impressive horse on the night, just look at his record. He knows how to perform on the big stage and his last three starts were all won impressively in strong fields.

“He is suited by a flat, conventional track as he’s a big, galloping horse. He’s certainly one we could head back to America with.

“He had a minor setback which happened for a reason, and rather than get sucked into running him on Super Saturday we gave him a spin on the turf course.”

Appleby holds a typically strong hand across World Cup night, fielding two contenders in the Dubai Turf over nine furlongs.

Master Of The Seas is one of two Dubai Turf runners for Appleby
Master Of The Seas is one of two Dubai Turf runners for Appleby (David Davies/PA)

Master Of The Seas was a fast-finishing third in the Jebel Hatta on his most recent run, while Nations Pride was a Group Two winner last month over 10 furlongs.

The Godolphin handler said: “Master Of The Seas is strong in mind and body and was a bit unlucky on his last start.

“He’s come out of it well, and remembering he finished second in the Guineas there is no doubting his ability, while James Doyle knows him.

“The nine furlongs puts a bit more of a challenge on Nations Pride, but if there’s a gallop it will assist him. I’m aware that the draw (stalls 10 and 16) for both horses could have been better.”

Siskany is favourite for the Dubai Gold Cup
Siskany is favourite for the Dubai Gold Cup (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Siskany is the ante-post favourite for the Dubai Gold Cup after winning a Group Three on his Meydan return and he is joined by Global Storm in the two-mile contest.

Appleby said: “Siskany comes into the Gold Cup on the back of a nice win. He has a gear change and a turn of foot. It looks like there will be a pace angle, which is good for him.

“Global Storm finished third in the City Of Gold after Rebel’s Romance skipped the race with a setback.”

At the other end of the distance scale, Al Suhail contests the Al Quoz Sprint over six furlongs on the back of two Meydan wins this winter.

Appleby added: “Al Suhail is a six-year-old that is getting older but stronger. He has a good racing mind, is in great shape and thinks he’s King Kong.

“His draw in eight is a concern, and we will try to get a tow into the race.”

Noble Style to test Guineas aspirations in Greenham

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Gimcrack winner Noble Style is to tackle seven furlongs for the first time in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury as a trial for what trainer Charlie Appleby hopes will be a crack at the 2000 Guineas.

Appleby sees the outcome of a race over seven furlongs giving him options of whether to go up or down in trip for the unbeaten son of Kingman, a horse he describes as “going well and in great form”.

Having won on his debut at Ascot in May he was well fancied for the Coventry Stakes but an injury kept him off the track until he won at Newmarket at the end of July.

Appleby said: “He has done well from two to three and the plan is to go for the Greenham, because I didn’t want to step him up from six furlongs to a mile in the Craven.

“The seven and how he gets on will give me an indication of what we are going to be doing, whether that is dropping back to six for the Commonwealth Cup or going forward in distance to the Guineas.

“He was very impressive in the Gimcrack when he gave the impression there’s a lot of speed in that family. His maiden at Ascot is also very strong form, and he’s delighted me through the winter.”

Appleby conceded that he does not have an obvious flag bearer among his three-year-old fillies, and is hoping something may emerge in the coming weeks.

He concluded: “I have a few to run in the trials, and while there is no standout individual they have all done well and will not look out of place physically. Others will run in maidens and let’s see what transpires.”