Charlie Appleby may only be in the infancy of his training career but the victory of Sudden Wonder in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Houghton Conditions Stakes at Newmarket has already sparked Derby dreams for the Godolphin handler.
Not beaten far behind stablemates Outstrip, who subsequently ran in the Dewhurst, and Pinzolo, who runs in the Racing Post Trophy on Saturday, on his two previous visits to the racecourse, he faced just three rivals but was the only maiden in the field.
Sent off the 8-11 favourite, the son of New Approach was never far from the pace under Mickael Barzalona and put the race to bed on entering the Dip, coming home eight lengths clear.
“After his last run we never wanted to rush him. We’d looked at a couple of maidens but saw this race and it worked out well,” said Appleby.
“He’s done physically very well, that will probably be it for the season now.
“I think he’s going to hopefully stretch out to 12 furlongs but we’ll start off over 10 next year.
“He’s got a nice attitude and went through the gears.
“Hopefully he’ll start off in a Derby trial somewhere and we’ll see how he does through the winter. We’ve always held him in the regard that we could think about that route.”
Appleby and Barzalona then doubled up in the British Stallion Studs E B F TBA Maiden Stakes when Moontime made a winning debut, making it a rapid 50 winners for the trainer since taking over from the disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni at Moulton Paddocks.
