3 minute read
Charlie Appleby’s Modern Games (3/1F) landed a first domestic Group 1 success with a snug victory in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Modern Games enjoyed a stellar international season last year which included Grade 1 victories in the Woodbine Mile Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Mile but a Group 1 on home soil had eluded the son of Dubawi until today.
Runner-up to Bayside Boy in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October he returned to action with a slightly below-par second in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland in April.
Settled towards the rear half of the field under William Buick the four-year-old looked to be flat to the boards from an early stage. However, persistence paid off from the Norwegian-born rider as the pair began to make their challenge towards the near side rail and Modern Games, who always appeared to be finishing with the best effect, ultimately ran out a comfortable one-and-a-half length winner. Last year's third Chindit (22/1) seemingly attempted to bite the eventual winner in the closing stages but stuck to his task well once passed to finish one place better this time around. Berkshire Shadow (33/1) finished third under Oisin Murphy while William Haggas' My Prospero (7/2) shaped as though a step back up to ten furlongs could be on the card as he finished strongly to grab fourth from the pacesetting Mutasaabeq (4/1) back in fifth.
The Gosden-trained filly Laurel was the major disappointment as the Juddmonte-owned daughter of Kingman faded quickly into tenth.
It was the ninth success in the race for connections Godolphin, a first for Charlie Appleby and a second for jockey William Buick, who won the race on Ribchester in 2017.
The success also meant that one lucky punter won the £50,000 ITV Seven prize.
Speaking with ITV Racing jockey William Buick said: "It was a real tussle, I definitely noticed it [Chindit's bite]! This horse is a real superstar, he's so consistent and he's just a joy to have anything to do with. He's there when you need him, he's done it now in England, France, America a couple of times and on different grounds. He's a top-class miler."
Trainer Charlie Appleby added: "It's a testament to the horse his sire and the whole team. It was an important day for him personally because he's done it in America, Canada, a Classic winner in France so to do it here on home soil is a big feather in his cap today."
"You've got to remember this horse started his career off with the likes of Native Trail and Coroebus. He was going out in the mornings with some star milers."
"Finishing second to Baaeed in the Sussex I thought that was a huge race and he was one of the few horses that put Baaeed under the pump. I felt he gained a lot of support and recognition from that day onwards here in England. Internationally he's well known. Delighted for the horse and well done to all the team back at home."
"He will be going to the breeding sheds at the end of the year when we have pulled the pin on his career. We will work back from the Breeders' Cup. We will look at the Sussex, as logically we should do, and the Queen Anne along the route."
"But as we all know, I said it would be lovely to take him back for a third Breeders' Cup and see if we can do the treble – not that it is a necessity. He has booked his ticket to a stud career, but to put an English Group One in the book is fantastic for him."
Paddy Power went 2/1 from 6/1 for the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
On the runner-up, Richard Hannon added: "I'm delighted with him. He travelled great and was a happy horse. He has improved physically. He has a middle to him now, which he didn't have earlier in his career. There is one of these coming his way. He goes to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot."
William Haggas said regarding My Prospero: "He needs further. He was going to get stuffed and then he stayed on again. It was a good run. He is just not quick enough for these, but he should come on for that. He will be a player in the Prince of Wales's Stakes. That will just do him good."
