Appleby sounds Classic warning over Talk Of New York

Charlie Appleby has warned that Betfred 2000 Guineas second-favourite Talk Of New York is not certain to “join the party” as Godolphin plans became clearer following an informative three days at Newmarket.

The son of Wootton Bassett is as short as 5-1 for first Classic of the season after enhancing his profile in a seven-furlong conditions event on the opening day of the Craven meeting.

However, the Moulton Paddocks handler is still to decide if he will take his chance with Tuesday’s early-morning gallopers King’s Trail and Distant Storm back on the Rowley Mile on May 2.

“After the Craven and today’s evidence, Hidden Force (third to Oxagon) won’t be going to the 2000 Guineas, but the two gallopers have come out of their work on Tuesday morning well,” said Appleby, assessing his options.

“Talk Of New York, I couldn’t fault the way he has come out of his race, but like I did say after his race – and I know he’s second-favourite – he isn’t a confirmed runner in the Guineas as of yet.

“If anything I would say Distant Storm and King’s Trail are well on target and the only one who could join the party is Talk Of New York, but the decision will not be made until next week.

“Talk Of New York is a work in progress still really and we went backwards in Dubai. Thankfully we’re back on track, but I’m conscious of diving in too deep and going backwards again. I think he is a horse who will repay us as the season goes on.

“I want to get him back over a mile and although seven suited him the other day, I think a mile will be where I want him racing. I’ve pencilled in Cerro Blanco for the King Charles II over the seven furlongs.”

The Craven meeting could also have unearthed a French Derby candidate for Appleby after Maho Bay marked himself out for Classic honours by seeing off Aidan O’Brien’s Amadeus Mozart as the 11-10 favourite in the Betway EBF “Confined” Novice Stakes.

Appleby said: “Will said he might be a bit more of a French Derby horse and wondered whether the mile and a half might stretch him which doesn’t surprise me being out of that pedigree.

“He’s a horse who won nicely first time out at Kempton and we came here today knowing the horse has done physically well over the winter, he’s a big boy.

“He’s done nothing but please and he’s a nice, simple galloper. We came here confident, we did toy with putting him in a trial but looking at the size of him he’s not an Epsom horse.”