NEWS

A fantastic day of first was had yesterday. A first Double for AppleTree at Lingfield Park, including our first Listed Winner SHERBET LEMON. The day kicked off with a bang when INCHICORE (Galileo x Luas Line) trained by one of my old allies Alan King won the £20 Sports Welcome Offer At Novibet Handicap over 1m5f, bolting up by 6 lengths from stable companion Green Planet. INCHICORE loves that ground and looks like she is well capable of gaining black type in the near future and with her page is a great broodmare prospect. It was a Saturday that kept on giving as INCHICORE'S success was immediately followed by our Archie Watson trained SHERBET LEMON ( Lemon Drop kid x Famous) winning the Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) over an extended 1m3f from Roger Varian's Save A Forrest. The result was a first listed win for AppleTree. Lemon as we call her will now go straight to Epsom for the Oaks. We hope our filly has a live each way chance as she stays well, handles all conditions and has shown she can deal with an undulating track. Win loose or draw at Epsom she is of great importance and holds great value as a future broodmare prospect. I would also go as far to say that yesterdays racing was the best day I've Had since retiring from riding and AppleTree's dream is very much alive. 

Absolute Blast had a cracking Dark Angel Filly foal at 00.40am this morning. The jet back filly is very pretty and a welcome addition to are band of filly foals we've had this season. Absolute Blast's first foal Blaast (Showcasing x Absolute Blast) 19 is in training with Archie Watson and will hopefully be ready to run in May over 6 furlongs.

A big strong Too Darn Hot filly arrived at 00.17 this morning, we have been waiting for her for what seems like an age as she was 20 days over due date. It was not a surprise our mare Astonishing (Galileo x Amazing Kirisken) was over due as she has followed suit with her previous foaling's. The new arrival is half sister to 2 stakes performers in Gold Maze and Surprise Exhibit, the pedigree is there and we look forward seeing grow and develop.

We are very pleased to report that Fearns Pippin Had a fine strong, bay filly foal born at 3am on Thursday morning. The filly was born at Springfield Stud in Ireland as Fearns is booked visit Invincible Spirit this covering season. Mare and foal are under the supervision of Linda Coffey of Springfield stud who board all our mares should they be visiting Irish stallions. The new Arrival backs up Fearns first foal, a Showcasing Filly 2020, who is making all the right shapes and will most likely be offered for sale in the autumn yearling sales. We look forward to welcoming our new arrival back at AppleTree late spring early summer.

Finally some action as SHERBET LEMON gave us all a sweet shot here at AppleTree, by winning the Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Fillies' Novice Stakes (Class 5) (3yo+) (1m5yds)  for Archie Watson by 3l from previous winner SKULK, under a fine educational ride from Hollie Doyle. We bought the filly in the USA at Keeneland yearling sales in 2019 on the advice of Federico Barberini. Fed came across her and considered she may not make her value, although by Lemon Drop Kid (USA) she has a European pedigree. SHERBET LEMON is a big filly with a huge future being out of FAMOUS a full sister to MASTER CRAFTSMAN, and a half Sister to Melbourne cup 3rd  IL PARADISO in her own right. She has taken time and will probably grow and fill out again. We will have to mind her a little and will be guided by Archie with what to do next. A step up in trip will be a certainty and we are excited to see her progress. She is an Exciting broodmare prospect whatever happens