Blacko made it 2 wins from 2 GB starts this afternoon at Warwick in the 1.00pm Try Racing TV For Free Now Juvenile Hurdle beating The Pink'n by 2 and 1/4 lengths. There was not enough early pace so Tom Bellamy aloud Blacko to set his own gallop from the second flight of hurdles, never looking any danger being beaten. The win now gives us options and we will definitely have to step up in grade next time. My target would be straight to The Fred Winter Handicap for juveniles at the festival as I think Blacko can progress and the handicapper can't be too hard on him after today as on face value he has run to a similar mark as Taunton last time. We could go to something like the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton and have pop at the Triumph if he won that, but I'm not convinced he's up to that level this season and as I have said in the past Blacko will be a better horse next season and when he jumps a fence in time. Alan, Paul and I will have the discussion over the next few days but I suspect it will be plan A.

Blacko makes his second GB start this afternoon in the Try Racing TV For Free Now Juvenile Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo) at Warwick 1.00pm. We are looking for him to follow up his decisive win at Taunton in December. There is a field of 8 in the contest and respect is given to the Dan Skelton trained Scorched Earth, a winner at Catterick on debut before finishing 4th in a nice race at Newbury behind the Henderson trained Mister Coffey. Alan King had the third in the Newbury race with On To Victory so again we have line through the form. The most Interesting opposition I feel is the Philip Hobbs trained Guernsey, he is making his British debut and has a similar profile to Blacko when he arrived from France, having run twice at Argentan being placed 2nd on his most recent start. it may be difficult to concede a penalty to Guernsey but we have improved and are likely to do so through the coming months We are again Delighted that Tom Bellamy takes the ride.

Far Rockaway finished 3rd in the Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap 1m2f yesterday at Lingfield. Although slightly disappointed, she ran another solid race only being beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Island Hideaway, in what was a competitive affair despite there only being 4 runners. Far Rockaway popped out to take an early lead in the hope she could make all the running. She was challenged just before turning in and it appeared she did not quite have the gears of the winner and second, although a bump from the winner arguably cost our filly 2nd place. There are as always excuses, in hind sight we probably should of set a stronger gallop. We also need to take into account the fact we came back quite quick from her run at Wolves. She will have an easy month or so as there are no races for her until February. We are confident she can get her head in front in the very near future and she will stay further giving us more options.

Far Rockaway (Frankel x Darinza) looks to get of the mark tomorrow at Lingfield in the 1m2f Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap (Class 5) (3yo 0-75) 2.20pm. Only 5 runners are declared and it looks a doable task off her mark 73. She has finished 2nd on her 2 previous starts at Chelmsford and Wolves. Far Rockaway was arguably unlucky at Chelmsford over 1m2f before finding Wolves too sharp having not had the gears to hold an early position, staying on late to grab a never nearer 2nd over 1m. Lingfield is a sharp track but Far Rockaway is back up to 1m2f and with the small field she should be aloud to go forward and get a good early sit. After the Newcastle result with Tomorrows Dream we will have to take into account we are running her back quick but there simply isn't another opportunity for her until next month. Ben Curtis rides for us again which is a positive, there is more in her favor than against.

Tomorrows Dream ran a sound enough race under her penalty at Newcastle yesterday in the 3.30pm Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes but I can't help being disappointed. It's not the fact she got beaten, it's the fact there are too many mitigating circumstances. I feel she was ridden all wrong and was not given the chance to run her true race. Tomorrows Dream was taken back from the start to sit behind the favorite hoping she would have the gears on her rivals. Personally I would of liked to of seen her go forward, handy with a lead which we thought was the plan. I take into account she was coming back quick and ran flat but after sleeping on it I still feel this morning she was not quite giving the chance to run her true race, ultimately she was too far back. All these points have been discussed with William and Paul. Its not about pointing fingers and blaming its about learning and getting things right in the future. On the positive side of the result Tomorrows Dream will be handicapped and ready to go to war in the summer with a decent mark. She will have a break now and come back to farm before resuming her 3yo campaign in the spring.

Tomorrow's Dream Looks to add her first 3yo win tomorrow afternoon in the 3.30pm 7f (7f14y) Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes (Class 5) (3yo) at Newcastle. She is in good form and appears to of come out of her race at Wolves very well. The race is competitive with representative's from top stables, Union from Roger Varian and the Mark Johnston trained Morning Shadow look dangerous. Golden Horn colt Blow Your Horn from Charlie Fellowes is also to be respected but I'd expect him to want further than the 7f here. We expect Tomorrow's Dream to run well and the step up to 7f is a plus, although I'm slightly concerned we are coming back quick after only 12 days. Ben Curtis takes the ride as Tom Marquand is down under and we're delighted to have him as he does well for William Haggas in the north.

As 2019 draws to a close its time to take a look back at what I feel has been a very good year here at AppleTree Stud. The numbers are not huge but this is very much a farm in its infancy, 8 wins from 43 runners on the flat and 1 win from 1 run over jumps. 13 of the 43 runners have been placed giving a first 4 finish percentage of just under 50%. A stat that I am particularly pleased with is our homebred horses are performing to a level that is well above average. We are currently 3 individual winners from 6 foals of racing age, 2 of the 6 that haven't won are Far Rockaway and Gold Maze (Golden Horn x Astonishing). Far Rockaway has looked capable being placed twice from 3 starts and Gold Maze has shown a decent level without winning being placed 3rd in the Group 2 Beresford stakes at the Curragh, he also holds an Irish Derby entry. The 3 winners have come from what looks like our foundation mare Midnight Thoughts, her offspring have done well and also look progressive, the only thing she is missing is a Stakes performer which looks immanent after Tomorrow's Dream's win on Friday and Three Weeks now residing in the care of Doug Watson in Dubai. more.....

Blacko made his GB debut a winning one this afternoon at Taunton in the Annual Membership 2020 Available Today Juvenile Hurdle. He travelled and jumped smoothly throughout the contest under Tom Bellamy to challenge going down to 2 out, a slight mistake at the last was no big deal as he went on to win by 2 1/4 lengths from the favorite Zoffee. Blacko won with a bit up his sleeve as he was a little green from the back of the last which probably caused the mistake. We will now look at trying to win with a penalty and as discussed he is qualified for NH novices races which may mean his penalty is cancelled out by the weight for age allowance. It was also a pleasure to have Tom Bellamy aboard as I have known the Bellamy's for the best part of 25 years. A great result and tremendous to be able to support Tom in his new role at Alan's.

Blacko makes his GB debut this afternoon at Taunton in the 2m½f (2m104y) Annual Membership 2020 Available Today Juvenile Hurdle (Class 4) (3yo) at 12.45pm. He was bought by AppleTree on the recommendation of my old boss Alan King and we are very much looking forward to the race. It looks a fair contest with the Philip Hobbs trained Zoffee heading the market. Zoffee finished second behind another Alan King inmate Lord Lamington (Grade 2 Placed since) on his first start over hurdles at Market Rasen so Alan should have a good line through the form. There are also others to be respected and this is by no means a 2 horse race. Having said all this Blacko has pleased in everything he has done at home, he gives the impression he'll keep galloping and has schooled with accuracy and zest. Tom Bellamy takes the ride.

We had a great day at Wolverhampton yesterday with Tomorrow's Dream (Oasis Dream x Midnight Thoughts) winning her maiden 2.25pm on her second start and Far Rockaway (Frankel x Darinza) producing another solid effort to finishing second in the 3pm. Tomorrow's Dream Broke very well to sit upside in front, she travelled smoothly and had enough gears when ask by Tom Marquand turning in to put the race to bed winning by a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths from the Mark Johnston trained Mountain Brave. She will get further than 6f as we progress through 2020 and will most likely have a little break now to wait for the turf season. The result was another pedigree update for Appletree's Broodmare Midnight Thoughts who is now 3 winners from 3 foals of racing age. We Just need the black type to come but it will in time and Midnight Thoughts is turning in to one of our foundation mares her at Appletree. We were hoping for the same result in the 3pm but alas Far Rockaway finished second in what look on paper a very hot race for the time of year. She broke well but did not have the early pace to hold her position and was sat further back than ideal. The winner had first run on her on the bend and she was beaten 5 lengths by the Harry Dunlop trained Pride of America. Hind sight is a wonderful thing as it was probably the wrong idea to come back in trip after her Chelmsford run but we live and learn and there were limited options through December. It was a shame not to get Far Rockaway a win at 2 but I'm certain she will be a winner in the near future and there is a race for her in a couple of weeks back up in trip.