O'Callaghan looks to next year with Applause Rapid Applause is likely to be roughed off for the remainder of the season following another excellent run in defeat at the Curragh. The Cork maiden winner had already shown a high level of ability with encouraging efforts in the Railway and the Anglesey Stakes, but his close second behind smart juvenile Cappella Sansevero in the Round Tower was a career-best. Trainer Michael O'Callaghan feels Rapid Applause will benefit from some time off the track and a step up in distance and he is already excited about what next season might have in store. O'Callaghan said: "We were very happy with the run and we probably learnt a fair bit from it as well as I think it showed he's crying out for seven furlongs. "I had it in the back of my mind beforehand that maybe he wanted to step up, but because he got squeezed for room in the Anglesey and then quickened up, we said we'd give him one more try over six. "He's rated 106 over six furlongs, but we think he's going to be a better horse still over seven and even a mile next spring. "He's a big horse, quite raw and still high behind and he's growing all the time. "He came back a little bit sore after the weekend, so I think we're probably going to put him away for next year. "I know it's hard to rough them off with a few good races still to come and nobody would want to win a Group race with him this year more than me, but we feel he's done enough for the year, more than enough. "We want to do right by the horse, so we'll bring him back fresh and well next spring for a Guineas trial or something like that. "We can go into the winter dreaming of how much he's going to improve."
