Category: Trainers and Owners

How long has Charlie Appleby been a Godolphin trainer?

Godolphin originally made an application for Charlie Appleby to replace his predecessor, Mahmood Al Zarooni, at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket in June, 2013. However, in the wake of in what has been described as ‘one of the biggest doping scandals in British racing history’, his appointment was delayed by a month or so, pending the completion of an investigation by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).

Al Zarooni had previously admitted adminstering anabolic steroids to 22 horses in his charge and was ‘warned off’ for eight years. Prior to his appointment, Appleby had worked for Sheikh Mohammaed for 14 years, as travelling head lad, stable head lad and assistant trainer to Godolphin’s other trainer in Newmarket, Saeed bin Suroor, and more recently as as assistant trainer to Al Zarooni. Naturally enough, the BHA needed to satisfy itself that Appleby was innocent of any wrongdoing. However, Al Zarooni also admitted personally importing the drugs from Dubai and requesting unqualified staff to administer them, without arousing suspicion from senior members of staff, including Appleby.

Although considered by some as nothing more than a temporary fall guy, Appleby has, nonetheless, blossomed into one of the leading trainers in the land. At the last count, he had saddled over 600 winners at home and abroad, including 37 at Group One or Grade One level.

Who trained Desert Orchid?

Who trained Desert Orchid? Desert Orchid was an immensely popular grey – in fact, towards the end of his career, almost white – horse, who won 34 of his 70 starts over hurdles and fences and remains the sixth highest-rated steeplechaser in the history of Timeform. He was trained, throughout his career, by David Elsworth, who first took out a training licence in his own right in 1978. At the peak of his powers, Elsworth had 143 horses in his yard at Whitsbury Manor Stables, near Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

Elsworth won the National Hunt Trainers’ Championship just once, in 1987/88, but nonetheless saddled Desert Orchid to win the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on four times, in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 and the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in 1990. However, the defining moment for horse and trainer came at Cheltenham on March 16, 1989.

Despite being better going right-handed – a stone better, according to jockey Simon Sherwood – and unsuited by the prevailing heavy going, Desert Orchid was still sent off 5/2 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Adopting his usual bold, front-running style, he made most of the running until the second-last fence, but came under pressure and looked beaten when tackled by confirmed mudlark Yahoo on the run to the final fence. However, Desert Orchid rallied gamely, forged ahead on the run-in to win by 1½ lengths.

Who Owned Frankel?

Named in honour of the late Robert Frankel, a celebrated American racehorse trainer, Frankel was officially the highest-rated Flat horse in the history of Timeform. Trained by the late Sir Henry Cecil, Frankel won all 14 starts between August, 2010 and October, 2012, including ten at Group One level. He also had the distinction of being named European Champion at Cartier Racing Awards at two, three and four years.

Frankel was owned by His late Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family, who preferred to be known simply as ‘Khalid Abdullah’ anywhere outside his native country. In the early Eighties, Abdullah established his breeding operation, Juddmonte Farms, on property in Wargrave-on-Thames, Berkshire and would become one of the most successful owner/breeders in the history of horse. Down the years, his familiar green, white and pink silks were carried to victory by numerous outstanding performers, including not only Frankel, but also Dancing Brave, Enable and many others.

How many times has J.P. McManus won the Grand National?

How many times has J.P. McManus won the Grand National? Irish billionaire John Patrick ‘J.P.’ McManus is, far and away, foremost owner in National Hunt racing, with hundreds of horses in training on both sides of the Irish Sea. However, for all his pre-eminence, McManus has won the Grand National just twice, his two winners coming over a decade apart. Those winners were, of course, Don’t Push It in 2010 and Minella Times in 2021.

Both Grand National victories were emotional for McManus, but for different reasons. Don’t Push It, trained by Jonjo O’Neill and ridden by Sir Anthony McCoy, was a first winner of the celebrated steeplechase for owner, trainer and jockey after many previous attempts. Minella Times, trained by Henry De Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, was, if anything, even more notable for the fact that, in 172 previous runnings of the Grand National, the highest placing achieved by a female jockey had been third. However, the victory was tinged with sadness, coming as it did shortly after the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and, more pertinently, in the wake of the sudden death of McManus’ 40-year-old daughter-in-law, Emma, on New Year’s Eve while on a family holiday in Barbados.

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