As we hit the midpoint of the flat season, it’s worth giving a special mention to the juvenile team coming to the fore at Godolphin main man Charlie Appleby’s yard.
As always, we’re seeing a strong effort at two-year-old level from the Aidan O’Brien bunch. Wathnan Racing have really come to the party too and Juddmonte will always produce quality.
Meanwhile, Appleby has been busy going about his business in his usual understated style, but he could have the strongest group of the lot.
Boys in Blue Could Be Seven-Furlong Kings
It seemed earlier in the year that Godolphin had tried to acquire some more precious and speedier juveniles for this season.
That tactic hasn’t really worked out hugely well, at least not yet. Back in the owners, and Appleby’s, comfort zone however they are suddenly beginning to boss it.
Horses like Ancient Truth, Al Qudra, Ruling Court and Aomori City have been impressive in recent weeks. Some have raced over six furlongs and others will no doubt hit a mile before the end of the autumn.
For the rest of the summer however, seven furlongs looks the way to go for all and Appleby will have a tough time separating them.
Separate them he undoubtedly will though, meaning a terrific spread of talent running in the top pattern races in England, Ireland, France and the USA.
The Acomb Stakes, the Solario and especially the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh will surely all be on the agenda.
Can They All Be That Good?
Frankly, yes. Back in April 2021 Appleby was preparing Hurricane Lane, Adayar, Yibir and a few others all for the same races. With such a big group of middle-distance three-year-olds, you’d think they can’t all be that good.
Those three horses however won eight Group 1 and Group 2 races by the end of their three-year-old year between them, including three Classics.
The following year, Appleby had Coroebus, Native Trail and Modern Games who all looked like Guineas horses, and they were. Between them they won the 2000 Guineas, the Irish Guineas and the French Guineas, going on to win multiple Group 1 races in various countries by the end of the season.
A similar situation is incoming by the look of it.
The Names to Look Out For
The first horse to mention is Ruling Court. As a €2.3 million breeze-up purchase, he was no secret and went off at 4/9 on his Sandown debut. Every inch of his performance justified that however and the son of Justify is now favourite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.
| PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY
€2,300,000 yearling purchase RULING COURT probably beat a bunch of Class 6 handicappers but boy did he take your eye out doing it under William Buick for the boys in blue at Sandown.
— Fitzwilliam Sports (@Fitzwilliam__) July 25, 2024
Right in behind him and heading for the National Stakes is Ancient Truth. Already two from two at Newmarket, the Dubawi colt romped in for a hat-trick at HQ in the Superlative Stakes (Group 2) and really looks the part.
Aomori City (Oasis Dream) showed a very good turn of foot to land a similar race, the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, while Coventry Stakes fifth Al Qudra improved for the step up to seven when landing the Pat Eddery at Ascot.
Shadow Of Light won impressively over six on debut, but as a Lope De Vega colt out of a New Approach mare he too can only get better for a longer trip.
It’s not all about the colts either. Juvenile filly Desert Flower was outstanding on debut at Newmarket and the team has lofty ambitions for her.
Appleby’s young’uns are hitting bigger numbers on debut that normal. If they can still improve at the rate he usually gets them to do, they could have a massive season.
Remember, there will also be more Dubawi’s, Frankel’s, Lope De Vega’s and Blue Points to come out over the next few weeks.
What Races Should We Look Out For?
The sky is the limit for this team, but all in good time. All of the above horses, and a few more besides, will ultimately be aimed at Group 1 events this year or early next.
The fillies have options such as the May Hill at Doncaster over Leger weekend, or the Rockfel at Newmarket if seven furlongs is better. The Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket is the big one in October.
Aomori City has an entry in the six-furlong Gimcrack Stakes during the Ebor Festival, though he’s already stayed seven. Also at that meeting is the Acomb Stakes in which we might see Ruling Court again.
Another top seven-furlong Group 3 race is the Solario Stakes in August, a race with very strong form in recent years and one which Charlie Appleby tends to target.
The trainer has a great record in September’s National Stakes at the Curragh, a race that offers a first Group 1 opportunity at seven furlongs. At 6, 7 and 8 furlongs, the Mill Reef (Newbury), the Champagne (Doncaster) and the Beresford (Curragh) also offer Group 2 chances.
The best of these will no doubt end up in one or more of the Autumn Stakes (Group 3, one mile, Newmarket), the Dewhurst Stakes which is the championship seven-furlong Group 1 race for juveniles in October or the Futurity Trophy (G1) over the mile at Doncaster in October.
If soft ground is needed, the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (7f) or the Criterium International over the mile offer opportunities in France.
Those looking for faster ground can head to the Breeders’ Cup in early November, possibly via the Summer Stakes or Natalma Stakes in Canada which Appleby has won before and which offer automatic places at the Breeders’ Cup for the Juvenile Turf and the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.