Godolphin’s esteemed trainer, Charlie Appleby, is keen on making a triumphant return to Melbourne’s prestigious Spring Racing Carnival this year, with his sights set on the renowned Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate races.
However, determining the ideal thoroughbreds to represent Godolphin Down Under remains a challenge for Appleby. He is awaiting the commencement of the UK flat racing season to spot the top-performing horses.
In a recent interview, Appleby discussed his plans for the upcoming season, admitting that it’s difficult to pinpoint Melbourne Cup contenders at this stage. He emphasized the importance of closely observing the European racing scene during the first half of the season to identify horses with the potential to excel in Australian races.
Appleby shared his experience with Cross Counter, a horse that eventually became a Melbourne Cup champion without initially displaying the traits of a top contender. He remains hopeful that a suitable candidate will emerge in the coming months, allowing the Godolphin stable to participate in the Spring Racing Carnival after a hiatus of a couple of years.
Australian racing enthusiasts should keep an eye on Nations Pride, a horse that may be destined for the Cox Plate. Nations Pride ran third in Saturday night’s in the Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan and could be among the horses considered for a trip to Australia. However, Appleby cautions that it is still early in the season, and much can change before the final decisions are made.
As the anticipation builds for Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival, fans will be eagerly watching the international racing scene to see which horses emerge as top contenders to represent Godolphin in the 2023 Melbourne Cup and 2023 Cox Plate this season.
