Reigning champion Mick Appleby has tipped last season’s closest rival Tony Carroll to claim a first trainers’ title after admitting his prospects of retaining the crown are “slimmer than before”.
A dominant force on the All-Weather over the last decade, Appleby claimed his eighth championship back in April when he edged out good friend Carroll by just one winner with a total of 43.
But he has played down his chances of securing yet another title, instead predicting glory for a man he worked for before embarking on a successful training career of his own.
“I’d really like to see Tony win it this season,” says Mick. “He pushed us hard last time when there was only one winner in it and I know he’s really keen to go one better.
“I used to drive Tony’s horses to the races when I first started out in Warwickshire. I only had a handful of horses back then and needed to do something else to pay the bills. He’s a top man and an excellent trainer who gets the best out of every horse in his yard.”
Whilst Appleby will be busy in the pursuit of winners, times are clearly changing at his Oakham base.
“This winter will be different for us, as we continue to evolve and develop,” explains Appleby, who flies out to California at the end of October to supervise Breeders’ Cup runners Big Evs and Big Mojo.
“We’ve changed our emphasis on getting more turf horses and yearlings following the success we’ve had with the likes of Big Evs so won’t have as many to run on the sand, but we’ll still be busy.
“We’ll do our best to win as many races as we can for our owners with some All-Weather regulars and new recruits and I’m particularly keen to target the £1 Million Bonus prize money which is a brilliant incentive for owners with lower rated horses,” he adds.
Appleby, whose stable star will be Easter Classic runner-up Penzance, plans to give more rides to Jason Watson this winter, alongside stable jockeys Ali Rawlinson, Fred Larson and new 7lb claimer Kyle McHugh.
He discusses his winter squad in an exclusive interview with Simon Mapletoft of attheraces.com.
"Four of his wins have come on the All-Weather and I’m expecting a productive winter with him. He was fast enough to break the 5f track record at Lingfield as a two-year-old and has proven effective on those straight tracks at Newcastle and Southwell, so we’ve got options and he’s relatively fresh."
"This six-year-old nearly ran for me a couple of years ago but ended up with Kevin Philippart de Foy. Value Racing have sent him to me for the All-Weather. He’s missed a year but proved himself a useful sprinter when winning at York last summer. He’s only had two starts on the sand and should be competitive off 82."
"This gelding’s had a good break and he’s ready to rock ‘n’ roll. He’s won two on the All-Weather but comes back a well handicapped horse off 75. Both his wins have come at Lingfield, including on his first start for me back in January, so it will make sense to take him back there at some stage."
"I’ve given him a break so he’ll come back fresh and fairly handicapped for his owners The Horse Watchers, despite winning back-to-back races at Newbury and Yarmouth in June. He also won for me at Newcastle back in March and was a good third at Southwell so those galloping tracks really seem to suit him."
"This daughter of Blue Point came to us in September for 16,000 gns after winning a fillies’ handicap at Lingfield in the summer for William Haggas and Wathnan Racing. She hasn’t run for us yet but I’m hoping she proves much better than her mark of 71. She looks an ideal All-Weather type and will be campaigned over 5f and 6f."
"He’s been an amazing horse. If you had 20 like him you wouldn’t need any more. He’s effective from 5f to 1m and just when you think the handicapper’s got him he surprises you again. Aged seven now, he’s won 10 times on the All-Weather and will keep going in those better handicaps, and starting off a rating below his last winning mark."
"Another new recruit for the winter, she cost just 5,500 gns at the September sales but showed signs of ability in five starts for Epsom-based Michael Attwater. She’s never run on the All-Weather but her dam was placed on it and she’s coming on well. I expect to start her off mid-season over 6f."
"This likeable grey came back from a long time off when he ran at Beverley in September. That was his first run since December 2022 and I was pleased with his performance in a conditions race. We could go abroad with him as he’s run in Dubai and Bahrain but will be a useful asset off 87 in some of those nice sprint handicaps at home."
"My owners The Horse Watchers were underbidders for this gelding when he came over from Ireland and joined Mark Loughnane. I got him from the May Sales for 12,000 gns and am looking forward to an All-Weather campaign with him. He won a couple for Mark at Kempton and though he’s not the most consistent, there are more races to be won with him over 6f."
"This filly won over 7f at Wolverhampton last month and should have more to offer. She’s frustrating as she’s always worked like a very good horse at home but hasn’t backed it up on the track. I don’t know why as she’s pretty straightforward. If it clicks with her she could be a lot of fun this winter."
"He was a revelation last winter, winning four in a row for The Horse Watchers before finishing second to Elegant Man in the Easter Classic on Finals Day. We only ran him four times on turf as he’s a better horse on the All-Weather. We’ll target the Easter Classic again and start off on a 3lb lower rating than the one he had in that race last season."
"This gelding was fancied for the Easter Classic a couple of seasons ago after winning seven out of eight and improving from 59 to 99 but sustained a leg injury and it’s been a long road back. He’s shown on turf and the All-Weather this year that he still has ability and will return to the sand another well handicapped horse off just 81."
