Appleby keeping Curragh open for Distant Storm and Abashiri Distant Storm and Abashiri are both in contention for further Classic action at the Curragh having pleased Charlie Appleby since their outings at Newmarket earlier this month. The former finished third behind Bow Echo and Gstaad when sent off 3-1 joint-favourite for the 2000 Guineas and could be given the chance to upgrade that finishing position in the Irish equivalent on Saturday. Appleby – who saw his 2024 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech blitz the opposition in the Lockinge at the weekend – said: “Both Distant Storm and Abashiri worked on Saturday morning and looked great and have come out of their races at Newmarket well, so we’re very much keeping an eye on Ireland. “On the evidence of Saturday, we’ll leave them in and we’ll follow it through the week, check their wellness and more importantly see who else is going to turn up really.” Curragh Classic Targets and Mile Options Abashiri was making just her second career appearance when not disgraced in fifth in the 1000 Guineas and although as short as 10-1 for the Oaks, her handler is happy to keep the daughter of Frankel at a mile for the time being. Appleby added: “The filly has definitely come out of the Guineas in great order and that whole experience of the Guineas and Newmarket was a big learning curve having only had one run on the all-weather. She looked a bit clueless when the rest were quickening. “William’s (Buick) feedback when he got off her was to stick at a mile and his impression was that she was sharp enough to stay at a mile for the minute. “We’ll either run her in Ireland (on Sunday) or run her in France in the Prix de Sandringham (at Chantilly) the weekend after.”
