AppleTrees last foal arrived last night, a stunning Oasis Dream filly out of Absolute Blast. The new filly has a full sister in training with Roger Varian retained by AppleTree and reports are good so the future looks good for our new arrival and Mum. She is this fourth living foal from Absolute Blast being the dam of one winner and also Absolute Star who has been placed on 3 occasions from 3 starts.
Astonishing (Galileo X Amazing Krisken) gave Apple Tree a cracking New Bay colt this evening and plenty to look forward too. She is the dam of 3 runners and they have all been stakes placed, Astonishing also has on the ground a flashy Place Pier yearling colt who will be offered for sale in the autumn, a 2yo filly by Too Darn Hot in training with Roger Varian and is visiting Baeed this season so exciting times ahead with the mare.
AppleTree enjoyed a first winner stateside this Saturday night curtesy of Royal Charter (Expert Eye x Queens Charter) winning the Allowance Optional Claiming Race at Santa Anita. The filly was exported last December on the advice of William Haggas as she enjoys quick ground and there are more opportunities to gain black type in the US. The filly travelled extremely well and although I was slightly worried she had done too much in the early stages when unleashed by Frankie turning in she won by 2 length going away. The evening was made a little more special being part of a Frankie Dettori 6 timer and the exposure that brings.
Our first Stradivarius foal landed at AppleTree, a filly was born to Sleepless (Shalaa x Sleepless) at 10pm. She is the 3rd foal out of our home bred mare who is yet to have a runner but her first foal is now a 2yo and is in training with Karl Burke so has every chance. We are delighted to support Stradivarius as he was such a champion and are sending another mare to him this season. I see the stallion as great value and very exciting how many prolific group 1 winners can you get a cover for for £10,000. There are also the breeder incentives being given by Bjorn Nielsen which is extraordinary. We Look forward to our filly hitting the track.
Another new foal was born this Sunday Night, a strapping Colt by Ghaiyyath out of AppleTree mare Midnight Thoughts. The colt foal weighed in at 67kg, he is 7th foal from the mare. Midnight had a very good start to here broodmare career with the first 3 foals all winners, the best being Tomorrows Dream rated 98 and and stakes placed. It's fair to say Midnight has been a little disappointing since but there is hope as she has a 2yo Pinatubo colt in training with Roger Varian and her latest edition looks to have plenty of scope.
Lola Paige (Galileo x Timbuktu) produce a very sweet Too Darn Hot filly 04/05/24. Our new filly arrived at the very civilized hour of 8pm which was nice, she weighed in at 57kg so is a good size. She is the 3rd foal from Lola, the first being a Sea The Moon 2yo colt in training with A King and we have a full yearling sister here at the stud.
Never Better (No Nay Never x Just Gorgeous) was a welcome winner for AppleTree stud on Saturday night at Kempton park after a run of 2nds lately. Never Better won the Try Unibet's Improved Bet Builder Novice Stakes over 7 furlongs on his second start. Bought at Arqana last spring he has been a slow burner but looks worth the wait, Never Better was on the right side of a photo finish when beating Asinara by a short head under a strong ride from Jack Mitchel. Trained by Roger Varian, he is a big roar colt and looks sure to improve with time and should get further.
AppleTree had one offering at this years Tattersalls foal sale, a smart racey filly by Pinatubo out of Her Terms. Ginny as she is know to us was a neat filly with a great outlook. She took the sale very well having in total 170 views including second looks, she showed with a great attitude and was as good in her first show as she was in her last. the final result was a very pleasing 55,000gns being Knocked down to Goodwill Bloodstock. AppleTree would like to thank all that viewed our filly and wish the new owners the very best of luck.
The vibe at Tattersalls Book 2 and Book 3 sales last week was a sticky one, AppleTree had 3 offerings and we started well Oasis Dream x Absolute Blast 22 filly sold well to Norman Court Stud for 125,000gns which was a good result. However I do feel in a better market she would of pushed on a little further, Next up was a fine big colt Pinatubo x Midnight Thoughts 22. It was clear going to the ring we had no live interest but he did attract perspective buyers up at the ring. The breeze up lads took a shine to him and Mark and Charlie Johnston pushed him a long to the 48,000gns level, there was no interest after this and Paul and I both thought it wasn't enough. Bob as we call him has been sent to Malcolm Bastards with a view to going into training next spring. Straight in to Book 3 after this we had Invincible Spirit x Fearns Pippin colt who was a foal share with Lordship Stud. the yearling was very busy during viewings and popular up at the ring before going through. He achieved 38,000gns which got him away but I do feel feel that buyer Jamie Osbourne got him self a bargain. we would like to thank everyone who came to view our yearlings last week and wish the buyers the very best of luck with them.
