3 minute read

Charlie Appleby saddled both the Lingfield Derby and Oaks trial winners yesterday and gives some thoughts on the performances...

Charlie Appleby has won the Epsom Derby two times to date, once in 2018 with Masar and two years ago with Adayar. Appleby used the Lingfield Derby as the final run prior to Adayar's comfortable four-and-a-half length victory when starting at 16/1.

This year's edition had to be transferred from the turf due to waterlogging to the synthetic surface where Military Order impressed by going one better than his full-brother Adayar did in 2021. Following the success, the son of Frankel rose to the head of the markets for the Epsom Derby which will be held in less than three weeks.

Ridden by William Buick, the trainer was pleased with both the way Military Order won the race and his continuing progress: "I was delighted with that, he learnt plenty today and it was a great ride by William (Buick).

"We were going in there today with confidence based on what he had achieved to date.

"It was a mile and a half with the race being on the all-weather track, so we saw him see it out well.

"He has a pedigree and a profile there that is coming along very nicely into hopefully a Derby horse. I know he has now gone joint-favourite (for the Derby) and deservedly so. We will obviously now be keeping an eye on what happens next week in the Dante, but I was very pleased with him.

"I'm just delighted to see Military Order confirm he is the horse we feel he hopefully is going forward."

The stable also won the fillies equivalent with Eternal Hope. She does not hold an entry for the Oaks on June 2 and whilst being supplemented has not been ruled out, she may be reserved for the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"The filly had experience on the synthetics and travelled round there well and picked up well and saw it out well as well, so I was really pleased with that.

"What sort of strength of depth was in there, we will have to wait and see.

"But in terms of supplementing her for an Oaks, we didn't run her in the Pretty Polly at Newmarket because of the ground so that would have to be something we keep an eye on and therefore the likelihood is we will look more towards the Ribblesdale with her.

"I'm not saying we won't (supplement) and we will be keeping an eye on the Oaks picture."