A kind of admission came from Godolphin’s Derby-winning trainer, Charlie Appleby, as he reflected with relish on Masar’s win at Epsom on Saturday. Surrounded by dozens of gleeful staffers here at his Newmarket stable, where a good part of Monday was taken up by celebratory photographs with the horse, Appleby conceded that Godolphin had for years been failing to punch its weight in high-profile clashes with Aidan O’Brien’s runners.
“People in racing want to see competition,” Appleby said. “Unfortunately we haven’t been competitive enough. That’s the honesty of it. I can flower it up as much as I want but we haven’t been competitive. We know that.
“We’re not in a bubble. I know what people are saying outside these gates. But that just gives us more determination and drive to prove people wrong. We’re going into the rest of the season with a horse that they’ve got to beat.” He expects to choose between the Eclipse and the Irish Derby for Masar’s next target.
Appleby’s wife, Aisling, used to transport Ballydoyle-based horses to race in France and further afield and the trainer now takes the view that that willingness to send horses abroad has been part of the reason for O’Brien’s success. “They travel their horses all round the world and they just seem to get stronger. I think mentally they strengthen. And if you’re mentally strong, the rest of your body is strong. If you see people who panic, they’re generally pretty lightweight. Those who don’t stress as much put condition on.”
Masar raced in the US last autumn, a venture to the Breeders’ Cup which was thoroughly disappointing at the time, as he could finish only sixth. But Appleby now feels it may have been the making of the colt.
“It’s definitely helped him; there’s no doubt about it,” he said, adding that the horse has developed an even temperament that proved invaluable in the Epsom hubbub. Pointing to where Masar was relaxed amid the taking of a thousand selfies, Appleby added: “Not too many horses would stand there with 100 people around them. He’s got a great head on him.”
Appleby’s five-year training career could now be interpreted as one of steady progress towards Saturday’s summit and he was happy to point to his excellent strike-rate in the Derby, having only ever had three runners in the race. That sparing approach did not feel so good two years ago, when he did not have a runner and opted to stay at Moulton Paddocks when all of Godolphin’s other senior figures were climbing into helicopters to go and watch the big race at Epsom.
Bangor 2.00 Potterman 2.30 Fair Mountain
3.00 Captiva Island 3.30 Craigmor
4.00 Twojayslad 4.30 Hello Fellas
Fontwell 2.15 Westerbee 2.45 Our Three Sons 3.15 Peculiar Places 3.45 Innocent Girl
4.15 Mogestic 4.45 Chantara Rose 5.15 Little Jack
Southwell 6.05 Sizing Scorpion 6.35 Desertmore View 7.05 Haul Away 7.35 Weightfordave (nb) 8.05 Kentford Heiress 8.35 Symphony Of Angels 9.05 Sunrise Ruby
Newcastle 6.15 Red Hut Red 6.45 Ravenswood 7.15 Weather Front (nap) 7.45 Stoney Broke
8.15 Pouvoir Magique 8.45 Windforpower
Tips by Chris Cook.
“But I’ll never forget the boss, Sheikh Mohammed, put his arm round me and said: ‘Don’t worry, Charlie, there’s a Derby next year for you.’ That’s the person he is.”
“I think this is a great confidence-boost for Charlie,” said Godolphin’s managing director, Hugh Anderson. “We’ve all known that he has got the potential. He’s desperate to be successful.
“This is an absolute credit to him and he did come in in difficult circumstances,” Anderson added, alluding to the doping scandal that disgraced Mahmood al-Zarooni, Godolphin’s trainer at Moulton Paddocks until 2013. “It seems a long time ago now.”
.jpg?w=600)
