Horse Racing - Racing: Appleby going for glory with Goldspur

bet365 News Team Published: Apr 21 2022 16:20

Charlie Appleby unleashed Adayar in the bet365 Classic Trial 12 months ago and Goldspur could be the next big thing from the red-hot stable.

Appleby and William Buick have been unstoppable in the Flat season thus far, with Appleby in particular sending out 12 winners from his last 21 runners, including three Group races.

Goldspur has previous at Sandown

A son of Dubawi, Goldspur won two of his three starts as a juvenile, making a successful debut at Sandown in September and he is 11/10 to win at the same venue on Friday.

That was over the mile and upped to 1m2f at Newmarket on his second start, he toughed it out to win the Group 3 Zetland Stakes by a head.

He has been absent since October, where he was perhaps below form when third in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud - a combination of very soft ground and racing keenly was ultimately his undoing on that occasion.

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"We've been pleased with how Goldspur has progressed over the winter," said Appleby. He broke his maiden at Sandown and went on to get some nice form in the book at Newmarket and Saint-Cloud."

Appleby looking for even better

"If he reproduces the top end of his juvenile form, he is going to be very competitive. Like all three-year-olds at this stage of the season, everyone is trying to see where they fit in the rankings.

"Hopefully this is a stepping-stone on to better things and a step up in distance in time is going to see further improvement."

This year’s Classic Trial is a fascinating prospect, with Aidan O’Brien sending over debut winner River Thames.

He defeated Changingoftheguard by a neck at Punchestown in September and that horse scored by six lengths on return at Dundalk.

He is the chief danger, but the David Simcock-trained Cash was another debut winner whose form has been boosted this season.