NEWS

AppleTree Stud has added to our jumping string by purchasing Blacko(FR) Balko x Ascella. Alan King bought the 3yo gelding after seeing him finish a staying on 2nd at Lyon- Parrilly (soft) on the 08/10/19 and was very taken by the way Blacko jumped and Galloped to the line. AppleTree Stud then had the call to go and view the horse from Alan and we liked what we saw. He is quite a rangy individual with enough size and scope to give us plenty of fun this season and hopefully for the foreseeable future. Blacko will be aimed at Juvenile hurdles this side of Christmas but is qualified for national hunt novices. In time he could make up in to a nice novice chaser but that is down the road and he will be given to time to mature and strengthen. We will be guided by the horse And Alan.

A fantastic result was achieved in the early hours of this morning by Il Paradiso in the Lexus Melbourne cup. Held up at the rear of the field in the early stages he made smooth headway from 2 furlongs out to challenge between horses going to the line. Unfortunately he got squeezed nearing the Finnish and it could be said he was a little unlucky not to go even closer. However, this is an amazing Group 1 update for AppleTree Stud after purchasing his half sister from Keeneland in September (Lemon Drop Kid x Famous Filly). She is a wonderful broodmare prospect but lets hope she is a race horse first. she is currently under the care of Jamie Magee Equine after arriving from the states last Friday and will be trained by the most exciting young trainer in Britain at present, Archie Watson for her racing career.

All eyes from AppleTree Stud will be on Il Paradiso in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The significance being Federico Barberini purchased his half sister by The Lemon Drop Kid at Keeneland September sale. Il Paradiso is not unfancied at 10/1 and has come in for some support over the weekend, his form has improved since upped to staying trips with 5th in the St Ledger and he is now fitted with first time blinkers. All of us here at AppleTree will be keeping everything crossed in the hope of a nice pedigree update, especially after the half sister Love Beach By Bernardini gained black type in the U.S.A in September. The page could look very interesting this time tomorrow.

Lola Paige was disappointing at Kempton last night in the 32Red On The App Store Nursery Handicap, she broke well, travelled well and had lovely position under David Probert. However she weakened quickly from about 1.5 furlongs out and left us scratching our head a little. We had her check out by the race course vets post race and the results came back showing 2 on mucus from her scope. This would of been significant enough to effect her and she will be treated in the following week or so. There was absolutely no sign of this before the race and we are sure she is capable of winning a race at worst.

Lola Paige makes her handicap debut in the 32Red On The AppStore Nursery (Class 5) 5.40pm at Kempton park on Thursday evening. In turn this will also be her first start for Dave O'Meara having been advised to move her by William Haggas. The expectation is for her to be very competitive and we feel her mark of 72 is workable. We would of like to give her another go on the grass but with the ground testing up and down the country we felt it would be better to go to the all weather to guarantee she does not have too hard a race.

Funny Man Due A Break After Finishing 8th At Doncaster On Friday 25/10/19 in the Vertem Investing For The Future Handicap (Class 3) over 1m6f. The ground was given as heavy and all though very testing Funny Man travelled well till around 3 furlongs from home before getting tired. Funny Man has had a great summer winning 3 races and finishing placed a further 5 times. His first win was off a mark of 58 and is now rated 83. The plan going forward is to give the horse a winter break back at Appletree Stud with a view to returning in the spring. Although Funny man has risen 25lb in the ratings Dave O'Meara is hopeful he can improve, after all he is a big raw individual. Given time he should strengthen and mature and be an interesting horse to go to war with in staying handicaps next spring/summer.