Search

show me:

Appleby double-handed at Lingfield Park

3 minute read

Charlie Appleby launches a twin assault on the Conditions Stakes at Lingfield Park on Saturday with Anglophile and Pinzolo declared for the two-mile Fast-Track Qualifier.

Trainer - Charlie Appleby
Trainer - Charlie Appleby Picture: Racing and Sports

The winner of the Polytrack contest receives an automatic free place in the £150,000 32Red All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes over the same course and distance on All-Weather Championships Finals Day, Good Friday, March 25.

Anglophile was a ready winner of this race 12 months ago under Martin Lane, who takes the ride again, and the son of Dubawi went on to run another excellent race in the Good Friday feature, when going down by a head to Mymatechris.

The five-year-old has also finished second on the All-Weather on both his subsequent appearances, most recently when finding Moonrise Landing four and a half lengths too strong in an extended two-mile Fast-Track Qualifier at Wolverhampton on December 12.

Pinzolo, who is partnered by Adam Kirby, steps up to two miles for the first time following a game half-length success in a Chelmsford City conditions race over two furlongs shorter in May.

The son of Monsun was successful on his only previous start at Lingfield Park, taking a 12-furlong handicap in March, 2015, when Kirby rode him for the first and only time so far, and captured a Listed race over a mile and a quarter on turf at Newmarket in 2014.

Charlie Appleby said: "Anglophile has had two creditable runs during this All-Weather Championships and heads to Lingfield in good order.

"He is proven around Lingfield and is an honest campaigner. This will be his third run of the season, so he should qualify for Finals Day win, lose or draw on Saturday, and this will be his final start before Good Friday.


"I thought it was a good performance from Pinzolo last time out at Chelmsford City and I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on over two miles. It's a quick two miles around Lingfield and, if he is going to going to get it anywhere, it will be there.


"He has to carry a penalty for his victory in a Listed race but he runs well fresh and is two wins from two starts on an artificial surface. He looks to be in really good nick based on his work at home.

"We have purposely kept Pinzolo back for the All-Weather Championships and, if he can get a soft lead under Adam Kirby, he might take a bit of pegging back."

Hamelin (George Scott/Stevie Donohoe) also tries two miles for the first time following a pair of excellent efforts over shorter in Listed company at Kempton Park, while Blue Surf (Amanda Perrett/Tom Queally) landed a valuable turf handicap on Derby Day at Epsom Downs in June.

A field of seven is completed by Pearl Castle (Karl Burke/Dougie Costello), a talented performer on the Flat and over hurdles, multiple Chelmsford City scorer Flashman (Gary Moore/George Baker) and course maiden winner Ballynanty (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy).

A seven-race card at Lingfield Park on Saturday gets underway at 12.35pm and also includes the seven-furlong £11,500 32Red Casino Handicap (1.45pm, six runners), in which Wolverhampton debut winner Cocoa Beach (Sit Mark Prescott/Luke Morris) makes her handicap debut.


Racing and Sports

What are you really gambling with?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au