Charlie Appleby banking on big-race focus paying off again

Godolphin proved in no uncertain terms last year that they were back as major players on the world stage, and trainer Charlie Appleby was a big contributor to that, registering 12 top-level triumphs, including victories in the Derby and Melbourne Cup.

Appleby has adapted his strategy in the past couple of seasons to focus on the high-profile fixtures and reaped the rewards last year, earning £3,736,126 in domestic prize-money, £1.5 million more than his previous best, and operating at a 28 per cent strike-rate.

Matching those achievements this term will be difficult but he is hopeful a strong team of older horses, including the likes of Masar, Blue Point and Cross Counter, allied with focusing on the big prizes can again pay dividends.

He said: "We've got strength in depth throughout the team – at two, three and four – and that's what you need to compete at the top end.

"You need those Saturday horses. You need to be turning up for those big meetings."

Appleby enjoyed six winners at last year's Craven meeting, and five on Guineas weekend, including a four-timer on 2,000 Guineas day.

He said: "What I tend to do is focus on the festival meetings. The Craven, the Guineas, Epsom, Ascot.

"As soon as Ascot's finished you've got to start thinking about the following year because you've got to start finding horses for those handicaps."

He added: "You're remembered for those meetings. You could have ten winners during the week and some wouldn't have a clue. You go to Ascot, Haydock or York on a Saturday and have a winner and people think you're flying. It's important to have those Saturday horses."

Sheikh Mohammed's Marmoom stables, located half an hour from the city of Dubai, is a temporary home to around 60 horses trained by Appleby, with a dozen not there for the winter's Dubai Carnival but preparing for the resumption of turf racing in Britain.

The trainer believes the warmer climate and more relaxed environment are significant assets and provide a boost to his select team.

Speaking from Marmoom stables, Appleby said: "I look at stables as being a school. In a large school individuality becomes harder. We're a big stable and when we get back to Newmarket there will be 150-160 horses there and they're in a system, with 40-plus horses in a string. All of a sudden you bring them out here and they're in a string of just a dozen horses.

"It's like taking a child out of a big school and putting them into a smaller school and watching them thrive. Their confidence grows.

"It's the off-season for a lot of them so their work is easier, and the environment is very relaxed."

The final piece of the jigsaw for Appleby, whose first full season with a licence was in 2014, was establishing a team that allows him to seamlessly commute between Newmarket and Dubai throughout the winter, as well as successfully send horses around the globe.

He said: "A lot of people ask what's been the difference in the last few years? We have better horses but I've got a great team around me and that's what's made the difference. You can't travel like I do, and campaign internationally the way we do, without having a good team. They are my eyes and ears all around the world.

"For me that's been the game-changer for the last two years. What we've done the last 12 months, winning around the world, you need the guys there who you trust and know what they're seeing is the way you would look at it yourself."

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