MASAR EYEING UP THE ECLIPSE
CHARLIE APPLEBY, still pinching himself after Masar gave him a first success in Saturday’s Investec Derby, is leaning towards the Coral-Eclipse for the Godolphin-owned colt.
“He’s taken his race very well,” said Appleby. “There are the obvious races like the Arc, the Champion Stakes later on, but at the moment the two under consideration are the CoralEclipse and the Irish Derby.
“We will have to see in the next week or so where we will go with him.
“I would not be frightened about dropping back in trip for the Eclipse at Sandown.”
Masar is the 5-2 favourite with the race sponsor’s for next month’s Group One with Roaring Lion, third home in the Derby, a 3-1 chance.
“I didn’t realise how much it means to everybody when you win the Derby,” said Appleby. “That’s the humbling thing about it for me.
“I have not got through all the messages I have received congratulating me. I have not had time to reply to all of them just yet.
“Obviously, it means a lot to me, and obviously His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. Also, I didn’t expect so many well-wishers across the racing world.”
Appleby’s wife Aisling is also stunned by the reaction she and her husband have received. “I just cannot believe it, we dropped off the kids at school and they took Charlie’s Derby winning trophy with them this morning,” she said.
“It’s all a bit surreal. My mum, who does not follow racing, rang and said, ‘has Charlie won some big race’?
“I’m not an emotional person but Charlie got so excited. I’m just so proud of him and everybody, more relief that he’s done it than anything else.
“On the way to the races he forgot his top hat and we were waiting for half-an-hour on the A14 for someone to bring it.
“I was hoping it would soon be over as I wanted to get back home and get the kids’ ponies ready for Pony Club the next day.
“I was an emotional wreck after the race. I had never cried so much, even when my children were born.”
William Buick, who guided Masar to victory after finishing second twice in two Derbys, was still fired up by his victory.
“It probably has not quite sunk in yet,” he said. “For me wearing the Godolphin colours, the first ones to be carried successfully in the Derby, was very special.
“It’s the most important race in the world. It’s the pinnacle of our sport.
“There have been a lot of good jockeys out there who haven’t won the Derby. I was very fortunate this year as I had a good partner.”
Appleby also clearly has a good partner in his wife. She used to work for a firm that ironically transported horses for Aidan O’Brien, who is still licking his wounds after Saxon Warrior’s defeat at Epsom.
Success in the Derby has been dominated by O’Brien-trained horses carrying the Ballydoyle flag. Now Godolphin are back on the big stage.
“People want to see competition,” said Appleby.
“Ballydoyle have been very competitive for many years and, unfortunately, we have not been competitive enough.
“Now, I hope we can prove people wrong.
“Last year, when Sheikh Mohammed was getting in his helicopter to go to the Derby, he said don’t worry there will be a Derby for you.”
Never was a truer word said.