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.

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.

Alaskan Gold (Kodiac x Luminous Gold) got of the mark at Carlisle in the Shepherd Chartered Surveyors EBF Novice Stakes for 2yo's over six furlongs. Alaskan beat Welcome Dream a short head, the winning margin does not do Alaskan gold credit. He was drawn 11 which was a hurdle he had to over come, due to the draw and being trap out wide was in front too soon, Meaning Danny Tudhope had to be at his best to mitigate circumstance and at his strongest in the driving finish. Alaskan was still a little green and learning his job. Traveling strongly, looking the winner at every stage before running around in the final furlong. The front pair pulled well clear of the rest of the field and look useful. Alaskan Golds form is very strong not being beaten far by subsequent Group 1 & 2 winning Vandeek on debut, its now  on to stakes races before an exciting 3yo campaign. 

Royal Charter Expert Eye x Royal Charter) Was a welcome winner this afternoon of the Racing TV Fillies Mile Handicap over a mile by a neck from Chealamy. Trained by William Haggas he was settled well by William Buick before having to get the better of a disadvantage of being in the stands side slower group. Royal Charter effectively had to win 2 races. We are hoping our filly can step up to stakes races at some point but we will be guarded by William Haggas. 

Hourless (Time Test x Poly Pomona) opened his account on Handicap Debut this afternoon by winning the At The Races App Market Movers Handicap at Lingfield over 1m1f, albeit of the lowly mark of 47. He was given a fine ride by Hollie Doyle, having to drop in and suffer a little from a wide draw. Before waiting for a gap in the home straight winning by 3/4 of a length from Maramara Star under a strong hands and heels drive from Hollie. We hope the handicapper is kind and we feel there should be more to come from Hourless.

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Heavenly Breath (Dark Angel x Astonishing) 2yo filly opened her account at Kempton this afternoon when winning the Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes by 4 lengths from Liberty Mountain for Archie Watson under a lovely ride from Jim Crowley. She is a home bred filly out of AppleTrees mare Astonishing. Heavenly Breath is the third foal to reach the track and win making Astonishing 3 winners from 3 runners, her half brothers both achieved stakes form and it would be a dream to get some black type for our filly. Having said this we went to Kempton's all weather track as Archie Watson and I did not want to run the filly on rattling ground. We have time now so Archie will wait for the weather to break, we also think Heavenly Breath will be progressive as a 3yo.

Lunar Shadow (Sea The Moon x The Pirates Queen) made it 2 wind from 3 starts over hurdles with a smooth success in the Total Waste Management Mares' Novices' Hurdle over 2miles at Uttoxeter this afternoon, She  settled well behind the leaders and jumped nicely showing no ill effect from her fall at Stratford on her previous start before coming away to win by 6 1/2 length from Betty's Banjo. AppleTree's filly may find life a little more difficult now under a double penalty, although we do have the option of a spin back on the flat. Hurdles can often sharpen a horse up and she looks an attractive proposition back on the level off her mark of 60. We will fiddle away through the rest of the summer before Lunar is retired to paddocks.

BLAAST (Showcasing x Absolute Blast) made it 3 winners in 10 days for AppleTree by taking the Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap over 6f at Brighton in style. The filly broke well under Hollie Doyle grabbing the rail from the 2 stall to never look in doubt and possibly won with a little in hand. Blaast is another home bred winner for AppleTree and a first winner for her dam Absolute Blast being her first foal. Absolute Blast has a Dark Angel yearling filly, an Oasis Dream filly foal at foot and is in foal to Pinatubo. Blaast's win also makes the farm stats 10 winners from 11 home bred runners with almost 30% black type performers. Blaast will be offered for sale at Tattersalls July sale as we have the fillies coming through behind. We wanted to make sure she was a winner for the mare before selling but have left plenty for potential purchasers to have fun with and an active page makes her a broodmare prospect also.

Inchicore (Galileo x Luas Line) won well at Goodwood this afternoon in the competitive Brenda Reid Memorial Handicap class 2 over 1m6f. Andrea Atzeni tooked the mare in early to settle, the pair had to sit and suffer for a time till they reached the cut away in the straight, getting a perfect run up the inside to seize the lead about 1f out and always looking in control from that point. Inchicore will continue in training this season having a crack at the big handicaps before hunting for black type in the  Autumn. she is already Listed placed and looks sure to gain more wins this season. All being well we look forward to welcoming Inchicore back to AppleTree for the 2023 breeding season, she is an exciting prospect.