AppleTree Stud received the perfect Valentine gift this Friday when Heavenly Breath (Dark Angel X Astonishing) delivered a fine colt by Sea The Stars, he was born at 8.20pm 14/02/25. He is Heavenly Breaths first foal and seeing what she has produced suggest the future bodes well for her. Valentino was the stable name he has been given and we look forward to watching him grow and develop.
Blast The Dream followed up her recent success at Southwell by snatching victory at Newcastle this evening by the shortest of margins. She manage to win the Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap over 1 mile by a short head from West Tyrone. Although she travelled well through out the race she hit a flat spot at about the 2 furlong pole where her opposition got first run on her. Jack Mitchel balanced her well and once she had got her act together she really was motoring at the line to win on the nod. The race will bring out more improvement we hope as she is still learning her job and we look forward to seeing what the handicapper does before making a plan, although there is sure to be a little break on the horizon before a summer campaign.
Blast The Dream opened her account early yesterday evening when winning the 5 pm Win £1M With BetMGM's Golden Goals Fillies' Novice Stakes (GBB Race) over 1 mile at Southwell. Given a nice smooth ride by Jack Mitchell she did the job nicely winning by a strong 1 and 3/4 lengths. Blast The Dream will probably have a little break now before a summer turf campaign.
Although Tattersalls December mares sale had a somber feel to it for us here at AppleTree it was very much a successful week. The sad feeling was from the point of view we were saying goodbye to mares that really started things hear at AppleTree but we have to make way for younger stock and keep the ball rolling. Absolute Blast lot 1516 was first through the ring on Tuesday realizing 65,000gns when being knocked down to Kelly Equine. Then the old girl Astonishing lot 1601 making 150,000gns signed for by Yeomanstown and Midland Equine. On to Wednesday with Midnight Thoughts lot 1810 going the way of Culworth Grounds Stud for 1,000gns which wasn't the most lucrative deal from our perspective but the fact she has gone to such a good home is reassuring. Fearns Pippin lot 1878 concluded our draft and was sold for 35,000gns to Levent Sarikaya. I would like to say a big thank you to establishments who took time to view our mares and would like to wish the very best of luck to all the purchasers in the future.
AppleTree have 4 mares heading to the December mares sale this year, it is quite sad as the mares on offer have all done us proud and I would love for them tp be able to retire when the time came here at AppleTree. Unfortunately we do not have the space and need to make way for the next generation. First up on Tuesday 03/12/24 is lot 1516 ABSOLUTE BLAST (Kodiac x Perfect Fun) - she a listed winner and multiple group placed mare in foal to the exciting first season sire Chaldean. Blast is a Dam of 1 winner and their are updates to come in the very near future. Her second foal Absolute Star is expected to run on Wednesday 04/12/24 and is expected to win. We also have Oasis Blast a 2yo filly entered to on the same card with equally high hopes. Our second lot going through the ring on Tuesday is lot 1601 ASTONISHING (Galileo x Amazing Krisken) in foal to another exciting young sire in Baeed. I think she is very close to being a collectors item being by the super star Galileo, she is a listed winner and also group placed they simply don't make these anymore. ASTONISHING is the dam of 4 winners from as many runners, 3 of these being stakes performers and has the very exciting Rumba Numba in training who simple could be anything. It is very sad to have to sell her but I hope she find a forever home. On to Wednesday 04/12/24 with 2 more offering on this day. Lot 1810 Midnight Thoughts (Henrythenavigator x Irresistible Jewel) she is the unraced dam of 5 winner from as many runners with the listed and group placed Tomorrows Dream on the page along with the good filly DAYDREAM EXPRESS a winner of 4 races in 2024 and 4th in a listed race at Chantilly recently, she is sure to gain black type. Katharla is in training with Roger Varian and the 2yo is definitely a race horse. Unfortunately she is not in foal after being covered by Study Of Man but cycled normally just failed to take. Last but not least is lot 1878 Fearns Pippin (Dubawi x Flawly) Unraced dam of 2 winners again from as many runners. there is an update on the page waiting to happen with The Hrse Horse ready to run and ORCHARD KEEPER a winner in 2024 realized 120,000gns at the 2022 October Tattersalls Book 2 yearling sales. we are stabled in Highflyer Paddock J and look forward to seeing you from Saturday onwards.
Menaggio was on springs round Plumpton today to make it 2/2 over fences. He put an impressive display when winning the Southern Cranes & Access Ltd Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 2m3f by 11 lengths from Sea Invasion. Menaggio's jumping was exemplary, he was always travelling well behind the leader before mounting a challenged leaving the back straight. The moment Tom Cannon made that move the race was put to bed followed by 2 bold leaps at the 2nd last and last fences. Menaggio will have a little time now before his 3rd run as the horse is only a 5yo and still has making up to do. Alan King will let the horse progress naturally and there is improvement to come as the 2m3f would be his minimum trip, he is an exciting prospect.
AppleTree's up turn in luck continued this afternoon with Menaggio winning at Plumpton in the 3.55pm Nick Embiricos Memorial Handicap Chase over 2m3f for Alan King ridden By Tom Cannon. He beat War Lord by 9 lengths over a trip that would be his bare minimum. There were only 3 runners in the end but the race was still quite competitive, Menaggio jump very well for his chase debut although he got a little out paced down the hill, Tom did a great job holding him together and not panicking before using his stamina up the home straight. I feel he already had the second horse covered by the time they got to the last although a mistake by War Lord sealed the victory. We will see how Menaggio comes out of the race and what the handicapper does before we make a plan.
King Al tops off the week with a win at Haydock in the 1.45pm Racing To School British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes over 1m. King Al was a horse put to us by my old boss Alan King after he purchased him at the Guineas breeze up sale last spring. The 2yo son of Al Kazeem is a fine big horse with loads of scope so will male a nice 3yo prospect and he would not be depended on the heavy ground he encountered today. This result really caps the week off for all of us here at AppleTree and there could be more to come with Alaskan Gold running in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot tomorrow. He is a big price but on his best form would not be a million miles away.
Too Darn Hot x Lola Paige filly sold on the Tuesday of Tattersalls Book 2 sale for 600,000gns. Please forgive the rather drab intro as I and the team really were/are speechless. A flood of emotion hit me like a sledge hammer as the gavel dropped at the amazing figure. The AppleTree bred filly out of our mare Lola Paige really is special, from day dot she has been a super star in looks and attitude. I said during interviews after the event I always thought she would make money but never dreamt she would realize what she did. Very special well-done needs to go to the team at home led by Stud Groom Agata Strzalkowska whos tireless input and hard work made this possible, backed up by Katie Reynolds and Hannah Faber. This sale is about so much more than the result itself, Paul Dunkley and his family have invested so much to get to this point I can't thank them enough. The filly was bought by Alex Elliot on behalf of Al Shaqab and Amo Racing but along with a big thank you to them I'd like to thank everyone who viewed and supported our filly over the cause of the sale. I would also like to wish the fillies new connections the very best of luck, this could be the start of something big for AppleTree and we luck forward to following the fillies career.
Autumn yearling sales are in full swing and after heading to Doncaster premier sales in August with ok results we now head to Tattersalls Book 2 with 1 offering. Although we only have 1 filly to offer, I am confident in saying we are very much in the situation of quality over quantity. Lot 898 Too Darn Hot x Lola Paige filly yearling is a Princess, she walks, she is correct and has a great attitude. To back these credentials up she vets very well too. We will be travelling down to Tattersalls on Friday morning and our filly will be available to view from 8am Saturday morning so please come and have a look and be sure not to miss her going through the ring on Tuesday next week.
