Melbourne exploits a hard act to follow but Dubai showed star quality is high

Ground-breaking successes in the Derby and Melbourne Cup meant 2018 couldn't be regarded as anything other than a resounding success for Charlie Appleby. The sidelining of Classic hope Quorto has taken a little of the gloss off the start of 2019, but three winners (including two Group 1s) on Dubai World Cup night show there is still plenty of quality on which to build.

"Last year couldn't have gone any better," says the trainer. "We had a very productive carnival in Dubai, six winners at the Craven meeting, five winners at the Guineas meeting and plenty of momentum that we sustained throughout the season.

"People ask how are we going to follow it up – well, the ambition is just to maintain that quality. Last year it was great to be winning races that 12 months earlier we hadn't even been sighted in, which showed that if you knock long enough at the door, sometimes it's going to open. My aim this year is to make sure we're competitive again at the top end. We may not win those races, but if we're competitive in them, we give ourselves a chance.