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Big Mojo handed Sandy Lane assignment at Haydock

Big Mojo handed Sandy Lane assignment at Haydock

Trainer Mick Appleby hopes to see his stable star book his place in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot over the same distance.
With Tom Marquand not available, William Buick has been booked to take his place.
'We didn't confirm him for the Temple and entered him for the Sandy Lane,' said Appleby.
'At this stage, the Commonwealth Cup is the plan at Ascot, so it made sense to have another run over six. We may as well keep him against the three-year-olds.'
Big Mojo won Ascot's Commonwealth Cup Trial on his seasonal reappearance over six furlongs.
Others in the Sandy Lane include Richard Fahey's unbeaten Mill Reef winner Powerful Glory, Charlie Appleby's Symbol Of Honour, Charlie Johnston's Dash Dizzy and Adrian Murray's Arizona Blaze among 11 entries.
The Temple has 14 confirmations as an early-closing race.
They include Ralph Beckett's Breeders' Cup winner Starlust, Karl Burke's Night Raider, Ed Walker's Mgheera and Jim Goldie's rapidly improving American Affair.
There are 19 in the Betfred 'Nifty 50' British EBF Hedge of Oak Stakes, with Running Lion looking to bounce back from a lacklustre showing at Newmarket last time out.
Diamond Rain, Estrange and Ejaabiyah are among other possibles for the Listed race for fillies and mares.

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Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions
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Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions

Jockey William Buick rode in the first race and reported conditions to be softer than ideal for Charlie Appleby's Justify colt. With plenty of rain forecast, and the potential for it to be torrential, Appleby took the decision to take his stable star out. 'It's very disappointing, he'd been aimed here and he's in great nick, but the ground conditions yesterday were a concern with the filly (Desert Flower in the Oaks) and William said it rode genuine good to soft yesterday,' said Appleby. 'We appreciate it was probably drying out through the course of the day (on Friday), but there was rain overnight on open ground 'We arrived here today with an open mind, William rode in the first and he felt it was genuine good to soft and so did the other jocks.' He added: 'It's disappointing, but ultimately as an operation we've done what we think is right for the horse. 'It's the ultimate challenge for these horses and as we saw yesterday with the filly it was disappointing, which of course it is when you have an unbeaten filly. It was her first defeat, but it was probably track, ground and trip that beat us and we were looking down the barrel of the same with this colt today. 'It is ground that has ultimately made the decision, the trip we were still confident like we were with the filly – you always are until you run them and get that answer. 'I feel it was the right call and we will look forward to Ascot with him. With today, if you win it's fantastic, but if you get beat in a race of this nature in these conditions you'll miss six weeks with him and that means missing the St James's Palace and Coral-Eclipse which are two important races that could be added to his resume.' Ruling Court has been put in as 5-2 second-favourite behind Field Of Gold at evens for the St James's Palace Stakes with Coral. Appleby added: 'We'll stick to the mile at Ascot and then look forwards from there. We've always been keen to step him up and hindsight is great isn't it. If we had been fourth in the Guineas we would have said great that's a lovely Derby trial, yet you win a Guineas and there is so much more in the pot. 'Ultimately we have a high-class horse on our hands and we've made the right decision by the horse.' The decision to remain at a mile with Ruling Court has opened the door for 2000 Guineas third Shadow Of Light to revert to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, the distance he won the Middle Park Stakes over as a juvenile. Appleby said: 'I'd say if Ruling Court does go for the St James's Palace as planned we'll give strong consideration to dropping Shadow Of Light back in trip for the Commonwealth Cup.' The Moulton Paddocks handler also provided an update on Desert Flower. He said: 'She's fine this morning, albeit she knows she's had a race in those conditions. We'll give it a day or two then reassess.'

Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions
Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions

Leader Live

time4 hours ago

  • Leader Live

Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions

Jockey William Buick rode in the first race and reported conditions to be softer than ideal for Charlie Appleby's Justify colt. With plenty of rain forecast, and the potential for it to be torrential, Appleby took the decision to take his stable star out. 'It's very disappointing, he'd been aimed here and he's in great nick, but the ground conditions yesterday were a concern with the filly (Desert Flower in the Oaks) and William said it rode genuine good to soft yesterday,' said Appleby. 'We appreciate it was probably drying out through the course of the day (on Friday), but there was rain overnight on open ground 'We arrived here today with an open mind, William rode in the first and he felt it was genuine good to soft and so did the other jocks.' He added: 'It's disappointing, but ultimately as an operation we've done what we think is right for the horse. 'It's the ultimate challenge for these horses and as we saw yesterday with the filly it was disappointing, which of course it is when you have an unbeaten filly. It was her first defeat, but it was probably track, ground and trip that beat us and we were looking down the barrel of the same with this colt today. 'It is ground that has ultimately made the decision, the trip we were still confident like we were with the filly – you always are until you run them and get that answer. 'I feel it was the right call and we will look forward to Ascot with him. With today, if you win it's fantastic, but if you get beat in a race of this nature in these conditions you'll miss six weeks with him and that means missing the St James's Palace and Coral-Eclipse which are two important races that could be added to his resume.' Ruling Court has been put in as 5-2 second-favourite behind Field Of Gold at evens for the St James's Palace Stakes with Coral. Appleby added: 'We'll stick to the mile at Ascot and then look forwards from there. We've always been keen to step him up and hindsight is great isn't it. If we had been fourth in the Guineas we would have said great that's a lovely Derby trial, yet you win a Guineas and there is so much more in the pot. 'Ultimately we have a high-class horse on our hands and we've made the right decision by the horse.' The decision to remain at a mile with Ruling Court has opened the door for 2000 Guineas third Shadow Of Light to revert to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, the distance he won the Middle Park Stakes over as a juvenile. Appleby said: 'I'd say if Ruling Court does go for the St James's Palace as planned we'll give strong consideration to dropping Shadow Of Light back in trip for the Commonwealth Cup.' The Moulton Paddocks handler also provided an update on Desert Flower. He said: 'She's fine this morning, albeit she knows she's had a race in those conditions. We'll give it a day or two then reassess.'

Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions
Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions

North Wales Chronicle

time4 hours ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Ruling Court forced to miss Derby due to ground conditions

Jockey William Buick rode in the first race and reported conditions to be softer than ideal for Charlie Appleby's Justify colt. With plenty of rain forecast, and the potential for it to be torrential, Appleby took the decision to take his stable star out. 'It's very disappointing, he'd been aimed here and he's in great nick, but the ground conditions yesterday were a concern with the filly (Desert Flower in the Oaks) and William said it rode genuine good to soft yesterday,' said Appleby. 'We appreciate it was probably drying out through the course of the day (on Friday), but there was rain overnight on open ground 'We arrived here today with an open mind, William rode in the first and he felt it was genuine good to soft and so did the other jocks.' He added: 'It's disappointing, but ultimately as an operation we've done what we think is right for the horse. 'It's the ultimate challenge for these horses and as we saw yesterday with the filly it was disappointing, which of course it is when you have an unbeaten filly. It was her first defeat, but it was probably track, ground and trip that beat us and we were looking down the barrel of the same with this colt today. 'It is ground that has ultimately made the decision, the trip we were still confident like we were with the filly – you always are until you run them and get that answer. 'I feel it was the right call and we will look forward to Ascot with him. With today, if you win it's fantastic, but if you get beat in a race of this nature in these conditions you'll miss six weeks with him and that means missing the St James's Palace and Coral-Eclipse which are two important races that could be added to his resume.' Ruling Court has been put in as 5-2 second-favourite behind Field Of Gold at evens for the St James's Palace Stakes with Coral. Appleby added: 'We'll stick to the mile at Ascot and then look forwards from there. We've always been keen to step him up and hindsight is great isn't it. If we had been fourth in the Guineas we would have said great that's a lovely Derby trial, yet you win a Guineas and there is so much more in the pot. 'Ultimately we have a high-class horse on our hands and we've made the right decision by the horse.' The decision to remain at a mile with Ruling Court has opened the door for 2000 Guineas third Shadow Of Light to revert to six furlongs for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, the distance he won the Middle Park Stakes over as a juvenile. Appleby said: 'I'd say if Ruling Court does go for the St James's Palace as planned we'll give strong consideration to dropping Shadow Of Light back in trip for the Commonwealth Cup.' The Moulton Paddocks handler also provided an update on Desert Flower. He said: 'She's fine this morning, albeit she knows she's had a race in those conditions. We'll give it a day or two then reassess.'

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