Charlie Appleby has had a resurgence in form and the market suggests there is little reason to think he cannot land a hat trick in the Sept. 26 Middle Park Stakes (G1) with favorite Inner City Blues.
The Godolphin trainer went from one of his quietest seasons on record to blossoming in late summer and has a staggering 60% strike rate in September, with 15 winners from 25 runners. With Aidan O'Brien and Joseph O'Brien opting not to declare Great Barrier Reef and Folsom Blues, it looks a fine opportunity for the yard.
Appleby took this race in 2024 with Shadow of Light and again last year with the smart Wise Approach, although both arrived at the group 1 on the Rowley course with more experience than Inner City Blues.
The €900,000 (US$1,060,713) Arqana May Breeze Up Sale purchase showed some inexperience on his first start but still won readily by 2 lengths. He was pitched into the deep end a month later and won his first Pattern race when beating just two other opponents in the July Stakes (G2).
The last two winners of that race, Whistlejacket and Zavateri, went on to strike at group 1 level in their next start, and a return from a lengthy absence has done little to diminish confidence in the camp.
"Inner City Blues has done well for the break," Appleby said. "His preparation has gone well, and we feel conditions here will suit. It is a competitive renewal of the race, but he looks a worthy favorite."
Close behind in the betting is Norfolk Stakes (G2) winner Orthodox. The Havana Grey colt likely needed the run after 64 days off the track when finishing sixth of seven in the Prix Morny (G1), and the ground is likely to suit the Clive Cox-trained runner.
"I'm really pleased the weather has settled for him," Cox said. "I'm very happy with his buildup for here and we're pleased he's in a good place. It's a very competitive race and it's a different track than we've encountered before, but he's in excellent form and I couldn't be more pleased with him."
Though Great Barrier Reef was not declared, O'Brien still has two entrants in the 6-furlong group 1 at Newmarket Racecourse. Marco Polo, eighth in the Gimcrack Stakes (G2) in his only stakes attempt in three starts thus far, will be the mount for Ryan Moore, while Tom Marquand will be aboard group-placed Confucius for the trainer.
"Marco Polo was a little bit babyish in the Gimcrack, but we were very happy with him at Cork and he's in good form," O'Brien said. "We always felt Confucius was better than he's run, so he's had a little break and we're hoping for some improvement."
Force Noir, Hell of A Spin, and Round Tower Stakes (G3) winner Push The Boat Out round out the field.
