Charlie Appleby

Al Zanati Leaves It Late In The Thomas Bryon, Kentucky Derby On The Horizon?

He did a lot of things wrong before and during Tuesday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon, but ultimately Godolphin's Al Zanati (Dubawi) was able to impose himself on proceedings in the nick of time. Difficult to load and recalcitrant throughout the early stages as William Buick sought to tuck him in behind, the 3-5 favourite who had been runner-up in the G3 Autumn Stakes last month had to close wide in the straight. Knuckling down where it mattered, the homebred cut down compatriot Bourbon Blues (Space Blues) in the final stride for...

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Nation's Hope Powers To TDN Rising Stardom in Kempton Debut

Just two days after recording a first Group 1 winner, Ghaiyyath has another candidate for honours at the highest level after his well-related two-year-old son Nation's Hope delivered a stunning debut display in Monday's British EBF Future Stayers Maiden Stakes at Kempton to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' rosette in the one-mile contest. Godolphin's homebred bay, a half-brother to multiple Grade I-winning globetrotter Nations Pride (Teofilo), outclassed 11 rivals to become the third Rising Star for his sire (by Dubawi) and joins G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches...

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Internationals Shine Bright Like A Diamond at Del Mar

DEL MAR, USA -- "I'm just glad Willie Mullins doesn't train too many Flat horses," said Charlie Appleby after his dual Breeders' Cup winner Rebel's Romance was relegated to the sidings by the runaway train that is Ethical Diamond. The five-year-old's jaw-dropping performance in the Turf, in partnership with Ireland's new champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, had even Mullins stunned as he attempted to take in the magnitude of this latest landmark in his extraordinary career.  Plenty of trainers will agree with Appleby - and the latter did at least...

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Notable Speech Gives Godolphin a Fourth BC Mile Score In Five Years

Some 90 minutes after Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) finished a brave second in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, Godolphin's Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) came running at the fence with time ticking away and was along in time to prevail in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar. It was a fourth win in five years for Godolphin, jockey William Buick, trainer Charlie Appleby and the legendary Dubawi and came 12 months after Notable Speech finished a valiant third in a bid to run the Mile winning...

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Ethical Diamond
'Diamond' In the Rough: Mullins Runner Causes Major Surprise in the Turf

There have been some seriously unpredictable results in the 42-year history of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Think Lashkari at 53-1 in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Mile in 1984. How about Arcangues at 133-1 in the '93 Classic up at Santa Anita? Spain at 55-1 at Churchill in 2000, Bar of Gold in the 2017 Filly & Mare Sprint right here at Del Mar, what of Order of Australia (Ire) at almost 70-1 at Keeneland in 2020. You get the picture. A little more than two months ago, Ethical Diamond...

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Valdorcia Becomes First Winner for Toby Moore at Kempton

Seven-pound apprentice Toby Moore, son of Ryan Moore, had been unsuccessful in five previous attempts and registered a first career win aboard Godolphin homebred Valdorcia (Oasis Dream) in division one of Wednesday's Unibet 2000 Sponsored Races At Kempton EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes at Kempton. Third over six furlongs in two prior starts at the Sunbury venue, the 7-4 second favourite shed maiden status with a 2 1/2-length defeat of Archer's Grace (Magna Grecia) in the seven-furlong contest. "I'd like to thank Charlie [Appleby] and the team," commented Moore. "The extra...

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The sire Siyouni at Haras de Bonneval
Siyouni's 3.7m Gns Daughter Act Of Kindness Off The Mark

A year on from making 3.7million gns at Tattersalls October Book 1, Godolphin's Act Of Kindness (Siyouni) began the winning trail in Friday's seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket. Third behind the day's Oh So Sharp runner-up Mubasimah over course and distance last month, the 4-5 favourite was produced by William Buick to lead approaching the furlong pole and score by 1 1/4 lengths from Wadooda (Dubawi). "The ground was slightly easier last time and William got off there and said she would appreciate a bit of juice going forward as that...

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The Sire Mehmas
Godolphin's Goffs UK Breeze-Up Topper Rapid Force Off The Mark On Debut

Godolphin's Rapid Force (Mehmas) had little to beat on his belated debut at Kempton on Wednesday, but carried out the task proficiently nevertheless to begin justifying his £1million purchase price. Having been held back since topping the Goffs UK Breeze-Up in April, the son of the Sapphire Stakes third Rapid Reaction (Shamardal) from the family of Wootton Bassett sat last of the trio that contested the six-furlong novice that opened the card. Wound up by William Buick to take over a furlong out, the Charlie Appleby-trained 2-5 favourite stayed on...

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Rebel's Romance and Notable Speech Booked for Breeders' Cup Return

Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) and Notable Speech (Dubawi) look set to spearhead a top-class team for Charlie Appleby at next month's Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, a meeting at which the Godolphin trainer has excelled since saddling his first winner in 2013. Appleby took his tally of Breeders' Cup winners to 11 at Del Mar last year when Rebel's Romance won the Turf for a second time, having also been successful at Keeneland in 2022. More recently, the seven-year-old gained the ninth top-level victory of his career when heading back Stateside...

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Rebel's Romance Romps in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Two-time Breeders' Cup winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) made a victorious return to U.S. soil with an effortless victory in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct Saturday. Sent off at 3-5, the globetrotting veteran was under a snug hold while prompting Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) through an opening quarter in :24.78. He took control as the half went up in :49.26 and loped along on a clear lead through moderate splits from there. Let loose midway on the final bend, Rebel's Romance continued to find more down...

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Locked wins Santa Anita Handicap
Locked Looms Large in Woodward, 'Win and You're In' Weekend at Santa Anita Kicks Off Saturday

Multiple Grade I-winner Locked (Gun Runner) looms the big favorite in the scratch-decimated GII Woodward Stakes on Saturday at the Belmont Big A meet, but is far from the only marquee name this upcoming weekend across the country. One of three confirmed runners for Saturday's co-feature in New York, Locked comes into the race with a two-race skid to break after he missed the board May 2 in the GII Alysheba Stakes when returning to the races after a tour de force effort in the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar....

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Rebel's Romance
Champion Rebel's Romance Back On U.S. Soil For Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Champion Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who has a pair of GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf wins on his impressive resume, will return to U.S. soil to contest the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct Racetrack next Saturday. A $14-million earner for Godolphin, the homebred enters off a victory in Germany's G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin Stakes at Hoppegarten, an effort that followed a respectable third for the second consecutive year in Europe's top 12-furlong race of the summer, the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at...

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