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£2 million Triple Crown bonus is ‘a great incentive’, says Appleby
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Sun 4 May 2025
Charlie Appleby has hailed the £2million bonus offered by Betfred to any horse capable of winning the Triple Crown as “great for the sport”.
The Triple Crown comprises of the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger and was last achieved by Nijinsky in 1970, while Camelot came close in 2012, failing by just three-quarters of a length at the final stage.
Appleby’s Ruling Courtlanded the first leg on Saturday and with Betfred sponsoring all five British Classics this year, founder Fred Done was quick to remind the trainer of the carrot.
While the Godolphin colours were carried to Classic glory at Newmarket, the owner also won the Kentucky Derby and Oaks at Churchill Downs.
Watch a full replay of the Betfred 2000 Guineas
“It’s been an unbelievable weekend for Godolphin. Somebody told me the same owner hadn’t won the Kentucky Derby and Oaks since 1952 and it was great to play a part with our fella,” said Appleby.
“Throughout the winter, we’d always viewed him as more of a Derby horse than a Guineas horse, but then over the last couple of weeks it was a race that we felt instead of being hopeful, that he’d run well in.
“We couldn’t see anything else coming forward – apart from the favourite, who had been impressive in the Craven and had our utmost respect.
“When I looked at the rest of the field, there was nothing to run away from.
“Obviously there’s the huge bonus for the Triple Crown this year and we’ll just take each race as it comes.
“We’ve got the Derby next and all being well, he’ll be there. The bonus is a great incentive, it’s great for the sport, it’s put it back on the table.
“We see things like this in all other sports, so why not racing, so thanks to Fred for putting it there for everyone to have a crack at.
“We’ll let everything calm down for a week but I can’t see any reason why we wouldn’t be going to Epsom, that was always the plan.”
As well as saddling the winner, Appleby was also responsible for the third, last year’s champion juvenile Shadow Of Light.
He went on: “With Shadow Of Light, Mickael (Barzalona) just said he wished he had a lead for longer and he didn’t expect to have the acceleration he did, had he been able to take a lead for longer, he thought he stayed no problem.
“He is a quick horse but the decision is St James’s Palace or Commonwealth (Cup at Royal Ascot), which would be the easier option, but I see no reason to turn away from the mile.”
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