By Peter Moore at Newbury Friday September 18th 2026
Picture: By Peter Moore
Charlie Appleby must wish September has more than thirty days after the Newmarket trainer continued his outstanding form in the month by picking up a treble at Newbury on Friday.
Appleby has now saddled an astonishing 16 winners from 32 runners at a strike rate of 50% in the past 18 days.
Under William Buick and representatives from Godolphin, they had the satisfaction of seeing Sorrengail,Bin Jahwar and Catullus all prevail.
Sorrengail started the ball rolling by taking the Class 2 fillies stakes by half a length. An hour later Bin Jahwar held on by a neck from King High to land the 1m Class 2 condition stakes, with Catullus completing the treble, running on readily to win comfortably by three and a half lengths in the 7f Dubai Duty Free Cup Listed race.
Appleby certainly has a hot spot for Sorrengail. “I love the horse, Appleby said.”He’s a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half horse next year, but that’s him done now – I’ll put him away for the winter.”
After Catullus had completed the hat trick, Appleby told the watching media he was very positive about the geldings chances. “We came here with three worthy favourites, but if anything, this fella was the one I was most confident about. He came into the race in great form, and he’s been galloping his heart out over the last two weeks, leaving all the good horses behind.”
Asked about where the son of Invincible Spirit could head next, Appleby said: “We’re going to head to Dubai and go for the Al Fahidi Fort. He’s been out there before, and he’s definitely one of those travellers.”
Roger Teal is allowing himself “to get excited now” after Oakford confirmed the promise the trainer believed he had with a dominant success in the 6f maiden.
The colt was fifth of six behind subsequent Group 2 winner Orthodox on his debut at Salisbury in May, before finishing a close second at 16-1 at Goodwood in June.
However, he went one better today when coming four and three-quarter lengths clear of War Chest.
Teal said: “I love this horse and I’ve held him in high regard all along. He was very coltish on his first run, but we know what the winner went on to do, so it wasn’t an ordinary maiden.
“He was so unlucky not to win at Goodwood. He had a setback after that, but it probably did us a favour in a way. Sometimes these things happen for a reason.”
The Lambourn trainer has not discussed Oakford’s next assignment, but added: “It’s one step at a time and we’ll have a look – but we can get excited now.”
It was also the first leg of a double for jockey Lewis Edmunds, who partnered Bintknight to victory in the 1m4f fillies’ handicap.
Silver Sovereign made it two wins in her first three starts after taking the 7f nursery handicap by one and a quarter lengths with Rossa Ryan aboard.
The Lambourn trainer has now won the race twice in the past three years after striking with Aysgarth in 2024 and said: “I’m very pleased. She’s progressive, and I love the way she hit the line.
“She galloped really well. I’d be pleased to see her run again this year, but she’s very exciting looking forward to next year too.”
The partnership of Brian Meehan and David Egan were out of luck earlier in the day with Grove Street, but made amends later in the day with River Card in the 1m 2f handicap.
Ed Walker ended his baron spell of no winners from his last 28 runners when Empirical landed the lucky last under Kieran Shoemark.