67 per cent strike-rate! Can Appleby and Buick keep it up at Newbury?

Charlie Appleby has been in phenomenal form since Flat racing returned to the turf and when teaming up with William Buick they have been near unstoppable.

In the last fortnight, the combination has enjoyed ten winners from 15 runners, with those not scoring finishing second (three times), fourth and fifth.

Appleby saddles four runners at Newbury this afternoon – three ridden by Buick – and here we assess their chances of continuing the red-hot run.

3.21 Newbury

This daughter of Dubawi makes her debut in the 1m2f fillies’ maiden. She has an entry in the Cazoo Oaks and Appleby has a 67 per cent strike-rate (2-3) with three-year-old newcomers at this track.

Spotlight verdict
First foal; dam 1m-1m6f winner (including Group 2; RPR 112), sister to 1m winner The Sky Is Blazing and 1m4f winner Sea Of Style, both pretty useful, out of half-sister to 12.5f Group 2 winner Mouramara (dam of smart stayers Mourayan and Mourilyan); Oaks entry from such a strong team.

3.56 Newbury

Appleby saddles two runners in this 1m2f conditions stakes with Buick partnering Hafit, the second favourite. The Dante and Derby entry finished second to Triple Time in the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock and a close third to stablemate Goldspur in the Zetland Stakes at Newmarket last season, and should be a leading player.

Hafit: a winner at Newmarket last year

Spotlight verdict
Cost 2,100,000gns as a yearling and has Dante and Derby entries; won maiden at Newmarket (7f, good) last August; runner-up in Listed race at Haydock (1m, good to firm) and edged out in tight three-way finish to Group 3 at Newmarket (1m2f, good); that makes him the form pick.

3.56 Newbury

James Doyle is on the favourite Walk Of Stars, similarly entered in the Dante and Derby, who won well on his second start at Nottingham last year. Appleby has won this race in two of the last three years with Rastrelli (2018) and subsequent Irish Derby and St Leger winner Hurricane Lane last year.

Spotlight verdict
Dante and Derby entry; staying-on third in novice at Newmarket in October; still looked green when making all at 4-6 in 11-runner maiden at Nottingham (also 1m on soft) two weeks later but did it comfortably; form does not compare with that of stablemate Hafit, who looks the first string on jockey bookings, but this step up in trip will suit and he looks very promising.

5.40 Newbury

A Leicester novice winner on his second start last year but he ran way under par when last of nine behind stablemate Native Trail in the Superlative Stakes. He has been gelded since and could well be better than his handicap mark of 88.

Spotlight verdict
680,000gns yearling; all three starts as 2yo were 7f on good to firm; beaten a neck at Doncaster on debut last June, shortly before making all when 8-15 at Leicester; 15-2, pulled hard when last of nine in Group 2 at Newmarket in July and not seen since (has been gelded); there's something to be taken on trust but that's not too difficult with one from this yard.

Read more . . .

Classic Clues: what we learned from Saturday and is there an Oaks dark hourse out on Sunday?

'Long may it continue' – red-hot Buick lands fourth Group race of week

JP McManus: 'We loaded up on him – he had been laid out for the race'

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