Newmarket trainer Charlie Appleby celebrates another hat-trick of Breeders' Cup victories

For the second year running Charlie Appleby enjoyed a Breeders’ Cup to remember.

Twelve months ago in Del Mar the Newmarket-based trainer saw three of his four runners chalk up victories.

And he matched that tally last weekend – albeit from seven entrants this time around – at the season-ending meeting in Keeneland.

The hat-trick was rounded off on Saturday by Rebel Romance, who won the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, which also signified a first ever victory at the meeting for Ashley-based jockey James Doyle.

Godolphin handler Appleby, who successfully defended his British Champion Trainer crown this term, said: “We’re all one big team. For James to have his first Guineas winner – and mine – at the start of the season was great. That was his first Breeders’ Cup winner and I’m delighted I could provide it for him. He’s a huge part of the team.”

Doyle, meanwhile, was pleased to have got that particular monkey off his back after recent near misses on the other side of the Atlantic.

He said: “I’ve come over quite a few times on fancied horses and I was probably a little immature in dealing with these type of tracks and didn’t give them the best rides.

“We’re used to big, galloping tracks in Britain, but you get used to these after coming over for a few years and riding for the right stable.

“My sister Sophie has been based out in the States for eight years now and I feel I’ve come over with fancied rides and it hasn’t gone to plan – I feel like I’ve let her down a bit.

“I think she’d be pretty proud, but she couldn’t make it here today as my niece – her daughter – hasn’t been in the best form the last couple of days, so they’re sat at home watching.”

Appleby’s other two winners earlier in the meeting came courtesy of William Buick, who partnered Mischief Magic to glory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday before following that up with victory on-board Modern Games in Saturday’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund.

On Mischief Magic, Appleby said: “”He’s such a willing horse and it’s also great that he’s a homebred.

“He will have the winter off and with his scope, I can see him developing into a contender for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.”

And on Modern Games, he added: “Next season we will look at the Queen Anne as the obvious target and I hope he will be back to the States. It will be great if he gets the plaudits which were absent when he won here as a two-year-old.”