Adayar to return next year as Charlie Appleby reveals strong Breeders' Cup team

Champion Stakes runner-up Adayar is to miss next month’s Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland but trainer Charlie Appleby confirmed he will stay in training in an attempt to make up for lost time next season.

Last year’s Derby and King George winner missed the core of this year’s Flat campaign due to a persistent cough, but the champion trainer is happy to play the long game after his close second to Bay Bridge at Ascot.

Adayar had been 3-1 joint favourite with his recent conqueror in some ante-post lists for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but Appleby is instead to rely on his proven globetrotters Rebel’s Romance and Nations Pride in a contest he won a year ago with Yibir.

The Godolphin trainer said: “I'd imagine we'll give the Breeders' Cup a swerve with Adayar. He's going to stay in training next year."

“I was delighted with his run at Ascot last weekend. It's always a big ask when you've had that time off and when you know what sort of a race he won at Doncaster.

"As impressive as it was that day, we knew he had to step up another 20lb on that performance to put himself back in the mix of where he was on Saturday.

"He duly obliged in doing so and that was the most important part of the race really. Of course it would have been fantastic if he'd won but from our team's point of view, just to show that he retained the willingness and the class he had was the crucial part.”

As for targets next year, Appleby added: "The Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot will be a prime summer target. He'll hopefully get a prep run into that and then hopefully hit the other targets that we couldn't run in this year such as the King George."

Despite Adayar's absence, the Moulton Paddocks team are still hoping to have six candidates for the two-day Breeders’ Cup fixture on November 4 and 5.

Appleby said: “We have Nations Pride and Rebel's Romance in the Turf who are both possibles. We also have Creative Force in the Turf Sprint and Modern Games, who won the Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last year, in the Mile.

"Those are our provisional plans. We also could have two in the juvenile races on the Friday in the shape of Silver Knott (Juvenile Turf) and Mischief Magic (Juvenile Turf Sprint).

Nashwa and Hollie Doyle on the Limekilns round gallop on Wednesday morning

In other Breeders’ Cup news, recent Prix de l’Opera runner-up Nashwa sailed through a workout under Hollie Doyle on the Limekilns in Newmarket on Wednesday.

The daughter of Frankel is generally 9-4 favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and looks none the worse for her brave attempt from a wide draw at Longchamp last time.

Joint-trainer John Gosden said: “It was a pleasure to be on the Limekilns at this time of year as they can be closed in October. Nashwa looks in good shape and we are pointing towards the Filly and Mare Turf with her.“

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