I used to turn up to work wearing fake Gucci shoes

CELEBRATING his ten-year trainer-versary, top horse handler Charlie Appleby’s list of accomplishments is pretty damn impressive.

But it hasn’t always been big wins and multi-million pound earnings for Godolphin's No1 man.

�� Charlie Appleby - ten years as a trainer for @godolphin ��

To celebrate the anniversary the champion trainer spent 45 minutes chatting with @nickluck, recalling early days when he wore fake Gucci shoes! Enjoy the whole feature ��

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 1, 2023

Initially appointed head lad, his career has taken quite the ride as he worked his way up the ladder over the past decade or so.

Despite the twists and turns, however, there was, underneath, always a burning desire to make it to very top.

A desire that manifest in strage ways at the beginning.

In a recent interview with Racing TV, Appleby joked that he ‘used to turn up in his fake Gucci shoes trying to look good’.

But it wasn’t just knock-off designer gear that gave him the desire to be able to buy the real thing one day.

The Southampton-born family man, 48, credited his ‘approachability’ and his ability to ‘put himself forwards for other tasks’ for the snowball effect that resulted in him becoming trainer to over 150 horses.

Appleby also recognised his fellow workmates as a key part of his journey - and he appreciates what it's like having to muck in.

He eventually got the No1 gig for the Ruler of Dubai in July 2013 when he replaced the disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni after 22 of his horses tested positive for anabolic steroids.

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Since then the millions have rolled in - as you would expect with arguably the world's greatest yard bankrolled by a multi-billionaire.

The globe-trotting success, from California to Newmarket to Dubai has earned Appleby a pretty penny himself.

But it's the earnings on the track that count for the trainers' championship.

As it turns out, 2013, his first year in charge, was the only one where he didn't break the million pound mark on the track.

Appleby landed his first champion trainer title in 2021 helped in part by the astonishing success of Derby hero Adayar, who also won the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

His total earnings that season smashed the £6million mark - his best ever.

This year has been a quiet one for Godolphin and Appleby with the retirement of a host of their top runners, including Adayar.

But even then the boys in blue, aided by No1 jockey William Buick, have made over £2m on the track.

Finally enough to purchase a pair of real Gucci shoes.

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