Charlie Appleby | Horse Racing Free Tips

Modern Games Wins Wild Juvenile Turf for Purse Money Only

For Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, not to mention the betting public, the lead up to Friday evening's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf could not have been more of a roller coaster. Godolphin's two charges, rail-drawn Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Summer S. winner Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to his immediate outside, stepped into the gate the top two wagering choices. But the latter, who had already been acting up before loading, reared in the gate and was briefly cast, perhaps bothering Dakota Gold (Freud) to his outside in the process. Modern Games was let out of the front of his stall, but didn't get far. Albahr was an automatic scratch at that point (he reportedly suffered only minor cuts), but as the rest of the field circled behind the gate waiting for the cue to re-rack, Modern Games–as low as 8-5 in the betting–was also scratched on the tote. That action turned out to be premature, and Modern Games was allowed to run for purse money only after being examined. You can probably guess what happened next…

Modern Games, the handsome chestnut last seen taking the G3 Tattersalls Somerville S. at Newmarket Sept. 23, did not break particularly alertly, but crept closer down on the fence approaching the first bend to sit just north of midpack behind an honest pace. William Buick pushed Modern Games along for more and swung him out after a :46.89 half and into a six-furlong split of 1:11.24. Grafton Street (War Front) took over and briefly opened up, but Buick unleashed Modern Games at the top of the lane and he blew right over the top of his competition, reporting home 1 1/2 lengths to the good and galloping out to a chorus of boos. Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) was the “winner” as far as wagers were concerned, with local hope Mackinnon (American Pharoah) crossing the line third and Grafton Street fading to fourth.

“A testament to the horse and William,” said Appleby, now a three-time winner of this race for Godolphin, and possibly a would-be fourth if not for a disaster trip for eventual G1 Derby winner Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) the last time the Breeders' Cup was contested at Del Mar in 2017. “On a big stage like that and things, a quite dramatic incident happening there in the gate. But for him to compose himself and get himself back in there, back in the mindset, and for William to also, like I say, taking on board at one minute you're not sure whether you are or are not in the race that day… But the horse came into the race with a lovely profile. He was a progressive 2-year-old, and he's really pleased us since he's been here. And so we were confident coming into the race that we were going to be a big player anyway.”

Appleby confirmed that Albahr, who was set to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, escaped the incident relatively unscathed, as did his rider.

“He went straight back, I saw him go out there under the pony rider,” Appleby said. “He jogged back to the barn and the team are looking after him. He's got some minor cuts, but no more than that. My vet's there now and just giving him a thorough examination. But, yeah, it looked uglier than, hopefully–we were expecting the worst and luckily horse and rider walk away from it.”

Buick also piloted the team's last Juvenile Turf winner, Line of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), in 2018.

“He does everything in his stride and not at any stage was I worried that he was not focused,” said Buick of Modern Games. “He remained calm. He remained focused. He didn't change complexion at all. And that makes it much easier.

“In regards to the race, we jumped a tad slow from the gate, but having the one hole you can get a bit more space on the inside and a bit more time. So we managed to get into a nice position. The pace was even, and look, the race–to be honest–was very straightforward. This place, the turf track at Del Mar, a lot of luck is involved in the way the race unfolds, but with a horse like him, you're able to put the luck in your own hands a little bit.”

Appleby and Godolphin have now won six Grade I events in North America this year, plus a Jockey Club Derby with Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of the connections' two hopes in Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf to go with another pair of contenders for the GI Fanduel Breeders' Cup Mile. Appleby also has at least two more highly regarded juvenile colts for Sheikh Mohammed's operation back at home in four-for-four MG1SW Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and G3 Emirates Autumn S. hero Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“I think one of the things Sheikh Mohammed enjoys the most is international competition and certainly with the Dubai World Cup he always loves to see so many participants from so many different places come to run. And the same here with the Breeders' Cup, a world championship whereby this is so exciting to bring European horses over here,” said Godolphin's Jimmy Bell. “It just adds such an element to it. And to be a homebred, to be a part of this thing, I know how proud he is of Charlie and how well he brought these horses over here and knows who to bring and so adept at doing that.”

A second-out winner at Newbury in July, Modern Games was a close second at Leicester Aug. 8 before annexing a Doncaster handicap by daylight Sept. 8. He showed good speed and a strong late kick when dominating the Somerville last out.

Meanwhile, as disgruntled horseplayers took to social media to air their grievances, track officials attempted to sort through the chain of events.

The following explanation was released by the California Horse Racing Board: “Concerning the 10th race at Del Mar today, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Prior to the start of the race, #1 Modern Games (IRE) reared up and hit the back of the gate; #2 Albahr (GB) flipped over and became lodged underneath the starting gate. The scratch of #2 Albahr was relayed to the stewards and that horse was taken out of the wagering pools. Albahr appears uninjured. The veterinary staff then relayed a second scratch of #1 Modern Games (IRE) to the stewards based on initial observation. Upon confirmation that #1 also was to be scratched, the stewards removed the horse from the wagering pools. After further discussion among the regulatory veterinarians at the gate and after further observation of #1 Modern Games, that horse was declared fit and racing sound, and this fact was relayed to the stewards, who pursuant to CHRB rule 1974 allowed the horse to run for purse money only. The CHRB and the Breeders' Cup are reviewing the current veterinary and scratching procedures to ensure that this does not occur going forward.”

Rule 1974 stipulates that “If a horse is removed from the wagering pool due to a totalizator error, or due to any other error, and neither the trainer nor the owner is at fault, the horse shall start in the race as a non-wagering interest for the purse only and shall be disregarded for pari-mutuel purposes.”

The Breeders' Cup later followed up with a release noting that the event was being held under the authority of the CHRB.

“We thank the CHRB for their thorough review of this situation, and we regret the impact this has had on the betting public,” said the statement. “The health and safety of our equine and human athletes is our top priority and we are thankful for the safety of all involved.”

Friday, Del Mar
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF-GI, $920,000, Del Mar, 11-5, 2yo, c/g, 1mT, 1:34.72, fm.
1–MODERN GAMES (IRE), 122, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Proskona, by Mr. Prospector
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Godolphin LLC; B-Godolphin (IRE);
T-Charles Appleby; J-William T Buick. $520,000. Lifetime
Record: 6-4-1-0, $595,348. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tiz the Bomb, 122, c, 2, Hit It a Bomb–Tiz the Key, by Tiznow.
($330,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Phoenix Thoroughbred Ltd;
B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G McPeek. $170,000.
3–Mackinnon, 122, c, 2, American Pharoah–Scat Means Go, by
Scat Daddy. ($200,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $285,000 2yo '21
FTFMAR). O-ERJ Racing LLC, Madaket Stables LLC & Dave
Kenney; B-International Equities Holding Inc. (KY); T-Doug F
O'Neill. $90,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, HD. Odds: 0.00, 7.80, 6.30.
Also Ran: Grafton Street, Dakota Gold, Slipstream, Stolen Base, Portfolio Company, Coinage, Dubawi Legend (Ire), Great Max (Ire), Glounthaune (Ire), Credibility. Scratched: Albahr (GB), Detroit City, Ready to Purrform. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Modern Games's Breeders' Cup victory gives his prolific sire Dubawi his 47th Group 1 victory. The fourth of six foals out of Modern Ideals (Ire), the Godolphin homebred is one of three winners and the leading performer produced by the half-sister to G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), G3 Prix Minerve scorer Synopsis (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and dual stakes-placed Epic Similie (GB) (Lomitas {GB}), herself the dam of MGSP Figure of Speech (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). The winner is a great grandson of MGSW Proskona (Mr. Prospector), a half-sister to MG1SP sire Keos (Riverman) and G3 Prix Chloe-winning blue hen Korveya (Riverman). The family also includes MG1SW sire Act One (GB) (In the Wings {GB}), G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains third Gharir (Ire) (Machiavellian), G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Summer Symphony (Ire) (Caerleon) and GI Belmont Oaks Invitational third Summer Solo (Arch). This is also the family of Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Modern Games's 11-year-old mare is responsible for a yearling filly by Exceed and Excel (Aus) and a filly foal by Mastercraftsman (Ire).

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Johannesburg: A Trailblazer Twenty Years On

Del Mar, CA–While the bridge between the European turf and the American dirt is one that is rarely crossed nowadays, it has historically been the path to some of the greatest payoffs-at both the parimutuels and in the realms of international ratings and stud value-at the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

In 1991, Sheikh Albadou forged the path when backing up a win in the G1 Nunthorpe S. and runner-up efforts in the G1 Sprint Cup and G1 Prix de l'Abbaye into a first victory for a European-trained runners in a Breeders' Cup dirt race when he shocked older horses at 26-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. The victory for the Alex Scott-trained 3-year-old provided compensation for pundits of European racing who saw the continent's great sprinter Dayjur snatch defeat from the jaws of victory just a year prior when jumping a shadow inside the final furlong of the Sprint and conceding his lead to the champion filly Safely Kept.

Indeed, Sheikh Albadou holds the coveted title of first European-trained horse to win a Breeders' Cup dirt race by a mere few hours. Later that same day at Churchill Downs, the Francois Boutin-trained Arazi came along and posted the widest-margin victory on the card and one of the great performances in the history of the meeting when rolling past the American favourite Bertrando (Skywalker) to take the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by a runaway five lengths.

While the Andre Fabre-trained Arcangues and John Gosden's Raven's Pass secured their places in history by downing America's very best in the meeting's marquee GI Breeders' Cup Classic in 1993 and 2008, respectively, it was the juvenile that once again produced a memorable result for the European contingent at Belmont Park in 2001, and 20 years on one can still look back on the performance of Johannesburg in the Juvenile-and the ambitious campaign that preceded it-with admiration.

Bred in Kentucky by Wayne G. Lyster and Jayeff 'B' Stables out of the winning Ogygian mare Myth, Johannesburg was selected by Demi O'Byrne out of the 2000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $200,000. Joining trainer Aidan O'Brien, Johannesburg was sent off favourite for his first trip to the post at Fairyhouse on May 30, 2001 and came home a cozy 3 1/2-length winner under Mick Kinane. Johannesburg would maintain favouritism for his next five outings and didn't once disappoint, sweeping Royal Ascot's G3 Norfolk S. and The Curragh's G3 Anglesey S. before picking off his first Group 1 when coming home a five-length winner of the G1 Phoenix S. Fourteen days' rest proved plenty for Johannesburg when he wheeled back to win the G1 Prix Morny, and he once again easily had the measure of the French-trained Zipping (Ire) (Zafonic) when taking the Dewhurst by three lengths, completing a rare European juvenile Group 1 treble.

By the autumn of 2001, the 32-year-old Aidan O'Brien was flying high. Just months removed from his first Derby win with Galileo (Ire), the young O'Brien loaded up his largest contingent yet for the Breeders' Cup (seven) at Belmont Park. O'Brien had sent out seven runners in the three Breeders' Cups prior, his first runner at the event being the 1998 Mile sixth-place finisher Second Empire (Ire) (Fairy King). Entering the 2001 Breeders' Cup, O'Brien had not yet had a winner at the meeting, though Giant's Causeway's thrilling throwdown when finishing second to Tiznow in the Classic at Churchill Downs in 2000 doubtless emboldened O'Brien to continue rolling the dice on the dirt with his European stars-let us not overlook, of course, that Giant's Causeway and Johannesburg were both American-breds from the Storm Cat sireline.

O'Brien's day at the Breeders' Cup on Oct. 27, 2001, started decently enough, with Bach (Ire) (Caerleon) finishing best of his first three runners to pick up third in the Mile. Johannesburg, however, would take things into an entirely different stratosphere in the Juvenile. Not favoured for the first time in his career, with punters coming in droves for the GI Champagne S. winner Officer and also the GI Hopeful S. scorer Came Home, Johannesburg was let go at more than 7-1 and was initially caught flat-footed when the gates opened. The European champion was soon slicing up the rail, however, under Kinane, and by the time they passed the second furlong Johannesburg was stalking the front-running duel of Officer and Came Home, who were locked neck-and-neck while setting honest but not breakneck fractions. Officer had his head in front at the top of the lane but it was soon apparent he was in deep, with Siphonic squeezing through on the fence to head him, while in behind Johannesburg took back briefly to find clear runway. Once he did, the race was sewn up in a matter of strides, with Johannesburg unleashing a powerful turn of foot to sweep past the front runners while holding at bay the fast-finishing longshot Repent. Officer-whose sire Bertrando was incidentally second to Arazi as the heavy favourite in the same race 10 years prior and runner-up to Arcangues in the Classic two years later-could manage just fifth.

Johannesburg's light on the racecourse would not linger much longer; he made just three starts at three and failed to find the winners' enclosure. His legacy has endured, however, at stud, largely through his highly influential son Scat Daddy, who provided a Breeders' Cup winner of his own in 2017 with the Coolmore-owned, O'Brien-trained Mendelssohn in the GI Juvenile Turf. While the Juvenile on the dirt continued to be a happy hunting ground for European raiders through the first decade of the century-with Wilko (Awesome Again) winning under Frankie Dettori at 20-1 at Lone Star Park in 2004 and Godolphin's Vale Of York (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) springing a 25-1 upset at Santa Anita in 2009-the more recent addition of the juvenile turf races to the Breeders' Cup programme has ushered in a new era for international participation at the meeting. And just as Johannesburg had announced his ambitious young trainer's arrival on the global stage in 2000, so too did Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in the 2013 edition of the Juvenile Turf, when he provided his fledgling trainer Charlie Appleby with a first Breeders' Cup victory just four months into his training career. This weekend, fresh off a stellar European season in which he recorded his second Derby win in four years, among many other highlights, Appleby brings a team of six to Del Mar with now three Breeders' Cup winners to his name.

Could his Juvenile Turf contenders Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) or Albahr (GB) be the 2022 Derby winner? Del Mar to Epsom Downs may seem a large gap to bridge, but that is exactly the route taken by Appleby's 2018 Derby winner Masar (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who parlayed a sixth-place finish behind Mendelssohn in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf into blue riband glory seven months later. Remarkably, the next year's edition of the Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs produced another also-ran Derby winner in Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with the GI Preakness S. scorer War Of Will also down the field.

So what is it about the Breeders' Cup that has made it such a successful springboard to Epsom? Perhaps the ability to navigate the tighter turns of American tracks transfers to a penchant to skip across the twists and turns and cambers of the Derby course that is the undoing of so many. Perhaps the horse with the constitution to cross the Atlantic and bear the stresses of Breeders' Cup week is equally suited to overcome the mental challenges of the blue riband. Perhaps it is simply the rarity of a trainer brave and ambitious enough to attempt both.

Last year's Juvenile Turf fifth Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) couldn't quite bridge the Classic gap this year, finishing second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, but after an extended summer holiday the Cedric Rossi trainee signaled an indication of things to come with a respectable fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, followed by a 12-1 victory in the G1 Champion S. Sealiway is handled by another relative newcomer to the training ranks, Cedric Rossi, who inherited the horse from his uncle Frederic this autumn and who himself saddles his first Breeders' Cup runner this weekend in the G1 Prix de l'Opera scorer Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}).

Rossi is a member of a new era of young trainers in Europe hungry to make their name on the international stage, and it has been refreshing to hear the views of–and see in action this week–the likes of Dave Loughnane, Michael O'Callaghan, James Ferguson, George Boughey and Henk Grewe as they saddle their first Breeders' Cup runners. These young trainers can take heart from the accomplishments of both Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby, as well as Aidan's son Joseph, who earned his own first victory at the Breeders' Cup as a trainer at the age of 26 in 2019, beating his father to the mark by no fewer than six years.

O'Brien, for his part, has continued to be a treasured international ambassador for the Breeders' Cup 20 years after his first win at the meeting. He is the Breeders' Cup's second all-time leading trainer by money won, his $26.6-million second only to Bob Baffert. O'Brien has continued to heavily patronize the meeting's turf races and has also still periodically rolled the dice on the dirt, recent gambles including Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Mendelssohn and Declaration Of War (War Front) in the Classic-the last of which came a quarter-length from being pulled off-and US Navy Flag (like Johannesburg, a European champion 2-year-old–in the Juvenile.

The likes of Johannesburg, Arazi, Arcangues and Sheikh Albadou–and the pioneering spirit of their respective connections–were pivotal in opening the door for widespread overseas participation at the Breeders' Cup, and it will be fascinating to see what chapters are added to this ongoing story at Del Mar this weekend.

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Breeders’ Cup Notes: International Squad, Turfers Stretch Their Legs

A busy morning on the Del Mar main track with all international horses training except Quick Suzy (IRE) who was not entered Monday for her intended run in the Juvenile Turf Sprint because of a spike in temperature.

Teona (IRE) (Turf) was the first European horse out on track who did some light exercise. She looked in very good form. The next group out were Audarya (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Cachet (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) who both have taken the eye since landing in Del Mar.

The six Charlie Appleby-trained horses were on the track for the first time since clearing quarantine and exercised under the watchful eye of Appleby.

All horses looked in tremendous condition and reports from the Godolphin team have been very positive on all horses since touching down in California.

Kevin Ryan landed Monday night and was on track to watch both of his Turf Sprint contenders. Glass Slippers (GB) will be bidding to follow up her win in the race last year. She was ridden this morning by race day jockey Tom Eaves.

Eaves said, “It's great to be at the Breeders' Cup again. I sat on Glass Slippers for a light canter and she felt great. I just tracked Emaraaty Ana (GB) for a circuit and it went well. She's a superb filly and I'm really looking forward to the race on Saturday.”

Andrea Atzeni who takes the ride on Emaraaty Ana (GB) on Saturday was trackside to watch him exercise and said, “I'm going to ride Emaraaty Ana (GB) on the track tomorrow. It was great to see him exercise and he looked in great form. I've got a lovely draw on Saturday in gate two so hopefully we get a bit of luck in running and he runs a big race.”

Oisin Murphy, who was recently crowned champion jockey in the UK for the third consecutive year, rode exercise on Marche Lorraine (JPN) (Distaff) just before 7 a.m. They did a strong canter and exercise looked to go well.

Murphy said, “She's a nice horse and felt good. I'm very much looking forward to taking the ride. It's great to be in Del Mar and I've a few nice rides over the weekend. I will ride Hierarchy (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) tomorrow morning and I'm hoping to have a spin on Mise En Scene (GB) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) at some point before Friday as well.”

Tuesday was the first sighting of the Ballydoyle horses on track having completed their quarantine requirements. Aidan O'Brien has a team of seven horses who went out on track together led by Broome (IRE) (Turf) ridden by Dean Gallagher. The string was accompanied by a pony ridden by Rachel Richardson. They had a trot for a circuit of the track followed by a light canter. Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) (Turf) who sat third in the string looked in particularly good form having some playful bucks during his canter down the backstretch.

Michael Bell was another British trainer to be trackside to watch Great Max (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) have a canter in the hands of regular work rider Joe Bradnam. Great Max (IRE) had a good look around his surroundings during exercise but seemed in good order.

Bell said, “It's tremendous to be back over for the Breeders' Cup. It is an amazing race meeting and I'm delighted to be part of it with Great Max. Joe Bradnam seems happy with him so it's all systems go.”

Connections of Rougir (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) were trackside having made the trip over from France. The same connections recently won the Champion's Stakes at Ascot and will be hoping for more Grade 1 glory on Saturday. Trainer Cedric Rossi reported his filly to be “in great form.”

Irish trainer Paddy Twomey was overseeing the training of his filly Pearls Galore (FR) (Mile).

Twomey said, “Pearls Galore traveled over well, she's settled into the routine here lovely and enjoying the training. She's cantered on the track the last two days, everything has gone well, we're looking forward to Saturday. Del Mar is a lovely track, the turf will be quick and it'll suit her. She's nibble, neat and tidy and I think she'll deal with the demands of the track very well on the day.”

Matera Sky (Sprint) and Jasper Great (Juvenile) were two of the final international horses to go out for exercise. They had a canter and returned to the quarantine barn via the paddock. They took everything in their stride and looked very relaxed.

TURF

Gufo – Otter Bend Stables has made it to the Turf with its first and only runner, Gufo, a homebred son of Declaration of War colt who never has been worse than third in 13 career starts.

For owner and co-breeder Stephen Cainelli, it is something of a “how do you top this?” situation. Winning the $4 million Turf certainly would elevate the already engaging story to another level and give veteran trainer Christophe Clement his first Breeders' Cup victory.

Gufo earned his berth in the Turf with a victory by a neck over Japan in the Sword Dancer a “Win and You're In” race on Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course. In his most recent start, he was third in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Oct. 9 at Belmont Park. He shipped from New York to Del Mar Sunday with his three Clement stablemates headed to Breeders' Cup races.

“He had a very good day of training this morning,” said Christophe Lorieul, Clement's assistant for 27 years. “He galloped an easy mile. He was very willing, very forward but within himself. I really liked the way he went this morning.”

Gufo and regular rider Joel Rosario drew post 11 in the 14-horse Turf and is 8-1 on the morning line.

“It's not great, but it's a mile and a half and he's got time to try to tuck him and try to save some ground,” Lorieul said. “Obviously, on the turf going a mile and a half that's what you want. It's not ideal, but that's why Joel Rosario gets paid the big bucks.”

MILE

Mo Forza — Bardy Farm and OG Boss's seven-time graded stakes winner Mo Forza is on a mission to make up for lost opportunities in this year's Breeders' Cup Mile. Last year, on the back of two strong victories in the Del Mar Mile and City of Hope Mile, the son of Uncle Mo was one of the favorites for the Mile before injury derailed the Peter Miller trainee's preparation. This season, the 5yo winner of the 2019 Hollywood Derby returns to the same Del Mar surface as that triumph for his redemption attempt.

“He's training really great,” Miller said. “Today we gave him about a mile and a half jog and schooled him in the gate and then schooled him in the paddock.”

Mo Forza, who eclipsed $1 million in prize money by winning the same two preps this season, drew post six in the 14-horse field and could be making his final career start.

“I like the post,” Miller said. “I think there's plenty of pace and it should string everyone out. We should be sitting midpack, but there's no real strategy other than to hope for a good trip. Del Mar takes a certain kind of horse who can handle the turns, the short stretch and the firm going — and if you have that horse, you're in good shape here.”

Flavien Prat, who has piloted Mo Forza through the four-race win streak he carries into the Mile, returns to the saddle Saturday.

TURF SPRINT

Gear Jockey – Calumet Farm's homebred Gear Jockey, the 5-1 co-second choice for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, jogged once around under exercise rider Lyndsay Delello for trainer Rusty Arnold.

“He shipped well with no issues,” Arnold said of Gear Jockey, who arrived at Del Mar late Monday night from Kentucky.

Third as a maiden in the Juvenile Turf at the 2019 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, Gear Jockey will break from post 10 under Jose Lezcano in Saturday's race.

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Relative Of Masar Set For HQ Debut

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a close relative to a Derby winner.

12.45 Newmarket, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT
Godolphin's homebred YANTARNI (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is kin to G1 Jebel Hatta second Vancouverite (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and G2 UAE Derby and G3 UAE Oaks victrix Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), herself the dam of G1 Epsom Derby-winning sire Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). The Charlie Appleby contender's one dozen rivals include fellow newcomer Soulcombe (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who is a William Haggas-trained son of G1 Prix Jean Romanet heroine Ribbons (GB) (Manduro {Ger}).

13.20 Newmarket, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT
SILENT SPEECH (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin homebred debutant and one of 12 nominees for this second division of a contest won in 2019 by last term's G2 Derby Italiano hero Tuscan Gaze (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). He is kin to a trio of black-type performers headed by G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}).

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