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Godolphin originally made an application for Charlie Appleby to replace his predecessor, Mahmood Al Zarooni, at Moulton Paddocks, Newmarket in June, 2013.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.