Charlie Appleby

Charlie Appleby is confident that Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has all the attributes to thrive at Del Mar when the G1 2,000 Guineas and G1 Sussex Stakes hero attempts to become his trainer's fourth straight winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Appleby certainly knows what is required to win the $2 million-prize, having struck with Space Blues (Ire) in 2021, Modern Games (Ire) in 2022 and Master Of The Seas (Ire) in 2023. Notable Speech will need to bounce back from a below-par effort in last month's G1...

As recently as 2015, it looked like Dylan Davis's career was stuck in neutral. He won just 57 races that year with earnings of $1,859,318. He was, at best, a middle-of-the-pack rider on the NYRA circuit. Fast forward to 2024 and a new Davis has emerged. With three months to go on the year he's already won 147 races and earned $11,318,656 and is on schedule to have the best year of his career. His win aboard Todd Pletcher trainee Tapit Trice (Tapit) in last Saturday's GII Woodward Stakes was...

Emulating his half-brother Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), Godolphin's Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Winters Moon {Ire}, by New Approach {Ire}) took a major stride forward to dominate Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Content to track the 4-5 market-leader Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never) and the front-running Dash Dizzy (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the Charlie Appleby-trained 11-4 second favourite, who had been second in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes at York in August, was sent forward by William Buick to take command approaching two out and surge to...

Despite the absence of the King George hero Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) in Sunday's G1 Mehl-Mulhens-Stiftung Preis von Europa, the Cologne feature held up well with the two domestic Classic winners bidding to deny Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Minidress {GB}, by Street Cry {Ire}) a second edition of the prestigious mile-and-a-half contest. In the event, Godolphin's high-class stalwart was able to ward off all challenges and reproduce his 2022 success for a sixth win at the top level. Last seen finishing best of those who raced near the hot pace...

Given an 18-5 chance to make amends for a disappointing sixth-place effort in Saratoga's GII Lake Placid Stakes Aug. 17, Godolphin's Beautiful Love (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) came with a barnstorming rally down the center of the Aqueduct turf course to take out Saturday's GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes on Long Island. Taken well in hand out of the gates by Dylan Davis, the homebred settled in about third-last position as Macanga (American Pharoah) was aggressively ridden by Lane Luzzi and opened up a big margin on her rivals...

Leading the graded stakes action on Saturday, there is something gruff and boomy about the barbaric 'yalp' of the European invaders who are set to swarm Woodbine's gates on Turf Champions Day. One can understand this hoard's verve as the booty is worth pillaging since three out of the four Grade I races on the docket are connected to some highly-prized Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' tickets.   Euros Wind Trebuchets Out of this auspicious Canadian slate, first up is the GI Natalma Stakes which offers entry into the...

In deeper than when beating up lesser lights on home soil, Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Promising Run, by Hard Spun) proved that she had what it takes to continue her winning sequence in Doncaster's G2 Betfred May Hill Stakes on Thursday. Untroubled in two starts on Newmarket's July Course, the Charlie Appleby-trained even-money favourite followed the early pace with William Buick content to play the waiting game. Staying on strongly to take control passing the furlong pole, the daughter of the four-time group 2...

Godolphin's €1.25-million Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Pretty Spirit {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) backed up a debut fourth at Kempton last month to shed maiden status in Thursday's Watch On Racing TV EBF Novice Stakes at Haydock. The eventual winner trailed all four rivals through halfway in the one-mile contest. Coaxed closer in the straight, the 11-8 favourite quickened to the front approaching the furlong pole and was pushed out to assert by an ultimately comfortable two lengths from Sir Dinadan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Silver Peak, a...

NEWMARKET, UK -- Amid strong winds and squally showers which served as a reminder that after this weekend the baton will be passed back across Newmarket's Devil's Dyke to the Rowley Mile, the 2,000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) took advantage of the July Course for one last time this season with an early-morning gallop on Friday. Ridden by Paul Eddery, Godolphin's chestnut colt worked over a mile alongside stable-mate Highland Avenue (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). "I was pleased with how he came out of the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a 1.2 million euro Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Dubawi).   17.50 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT SILVER PEAK (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the second-highest-priced colt at Arqana Deauville August when selling to Godolphin for €1.25million and Charlie Appleby deems it time to unveil him at...

NEW KENT COUNTY, VA -- After sending out the beaten favorites in both the GI FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes at Saratoga, the Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) struck for chalk players hundreds of miles to the south as he quickened up beautifully in the stretch to take out Sunday's GI Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs. Scheduled first post for Sunday's big card was 1 p.m. ET, but satellite issues meant that the race did not jump until 1:52 p.m. A visit from Virginia...

It is no longer referred to as the 'International Festival of Racing' and, sadly, it no longer calls Arlington Park home, but Colonial Downs's Festival of Racing is set for Sunday afternoon, shoved back to Sunday when the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby tracked up the East Coast over the course of the last few days. The featured GI Arlington Million has attracted field of six led by Godolphin's Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who makes his eighth North American appearance in career start number 18. Winner of the GI...