When trainer Charlie Appleby was last seen at Keeneland, he was picking up his third piece of 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships' hardware following the victory by Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (IRE) in the $4 million Turf (G1).
That victory came on the heels of wins for Godolphin and Appleby in the FanDuel Breeders' Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF by eventual champion Modern Games (IRE) and in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) by Mischief Magic (IRE). They were Appleby's first Keeneland winners.
“You learn what horses to bring over,” Appleby said Friday morning after watching Modern Games and With The Moonlight (IRE) train for engagements today and Saturday in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) and Jenny Wiley (G1), respectively.
Coming over from Europe was something Appleby did successfully with Modern Games and With The Moonlight. Modern Games took the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) before his Breeders' Cup victory and With The Moonlight ran at Belmont and Saratoga with a win and two seconds in graded stakes.
“I have no worries at all with my team,” Appleby said of the extensive travel. “The horses have adopted very well to their surroundings.”
With the blueprint in place, Appleby envisions a similar schedule for Godolphin runners this year.
“We are working back from the Breeders' Cup (to be held at Santa Anita on Nov. 3-4),” said Appleby, who will return to Europe Saturday night. “The season in Europe is just getting started and these races (in North America) fit our schedule. I can see Belmont, Saratoga and Woodbine (in play).”
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