Master of the Seas Leads Home Godolphin 1-2 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile

Under normal circumstances, drawing the outside gate in a one-mile race, on turf, going two turns is a kiss of death. At Santa Anita, well, maybe not so much.

Sent off as the 33-10 second betting favorite behind Japan's superstar miler Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Godolphin's Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) produced a stunning late burst of speed to run down the commonly owned Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), whose half-brother Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was victorious in last year's Mile at Keeneland and in that wild Juvenile Turf at Del Mar the year prior. Adding to Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})'s success in the 2021 Mile–one of his three winners that afternoon–it was a third straight score in the race for Sheikh Mohammed's far-flung operation and the third on the trot for Dalham Hall's irrepressible Dubawi.

The 5-year-old was void of early speed and was angled down into about the three path before settling at the back of the field early on as Win Carnelian (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) was kept company by Astronomer (Air Force Blue). When the latter went on with it into the turn, that allowed Mawj, victorious in the GI QE II Challenge Cup when last seen, to sit the ideal stalk-and-wait trip from third. Master of the Seas, meanwhile, was still back second-last down the backstretch as the leaders went past the half in a searching :45.37, and Buick sat against him, preparing to roll the dice with one long run.

Asked to kick passing the three-eighths, Master of the Seas had a single option–take the overland route into the lane and hope for the best. Set down outside of Du Jour (Temple City) once heads were turned for home, Master of the Seas sprinted right past Songline at the furlong grounds, and although Mawj was still going great guns up front, Master of the Seas was up on the wire to take it by a long-nose margin in a finish that looked a fair bit closer to the naked eye. Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), perhaps a bit handier to the pace than expected in his third trip to the Mile, turned in his typically honest effort to round out the trifecta.

Lure, Six Perfections (Fr), Goldikova (Ire) and Karakontie (Jpn) each overcame double-digit gates to win at Santa Anita.

“We had to go out there with a slight plan from that draw,” said trainer Charlie Appleby, registering a 10th victory at the Breeders' Cup. “The plan was that were going to have to try and go for that sling shot ride, and that would've only have ever materialized if the pace is there to be able to do that. Thankfully, the pace was on.

“Far from saying I was confident, but the pace was setting up for that start of the finish for him. William [Buick] obviously gave him a great ride round there, got him in that position. It was a coffee book sort of sling shot.

“Once that horse got the momentum, we all know what sort of an engine he's got. He's been a bit frustrated. He's been beaten three short heads in Grade I. It's just nice for him to get it done today.”

Winner of the G2 Zabeel Mile and a close third in a roughly run G1 Jebel Hatta over the winter, Master of the Seas beat one home in the G1 Dubai Turf in March and got a vacation. An easy four-length winner of the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot July 15, the bay was tons the best when accounting for last year's Mile runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) in the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile and was on the wrong end of a bobber with eventual GI Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Up to the Mark in the GI Keeneland Turf Mile Oct. 7.

Pedigree Notes:

Providing Dubawi with a seventh Breeders' Cup race win, Master of the Seas is one of 10 winners from 12 to the races for his dam, a listed winner and runner-up in the2002 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in France and later twice placed in this country at the graded level while under the care of Eoin Harty. Firth of Lorne's G3 UAE Oaks-winning daughter Falls of Lora is not only the dam of Godolphin's treble Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), but also of Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), winner of the 2019 GI Summer S. at Woodbine. Another daughter of Firth of Lorne, Bint Almatar (Kingmambo), produced G1 Metropolitan S. hero Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

Firth of Lorne's final foal is the 3-year-old filly Sithchean (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a debut winner over the Chelmsford all-weather Mar. 2.

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
FANDUEL BREEDERS' CUP MILE PRESENTED BY PDJF-GI, $1,840,000, Santa Anita, 11-4, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:32.45, fm.
1–MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE), 126, g, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Firth of Lorne (Ire) (SW & G1SP-Fr, MGSP-USA, $163,189), by Danehill
                2nd Dam: Kerrera (Ire), by Diesis (GB)
                3rd Dam: Rimosa's Pet (GB), by Petingo (GB)
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby; J-William Buick. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: GISW-Can, MGSW & G1SP-Eng, GSW & G1SP-UAE, 16-8-3-2, $2,214,457. *1/2 to Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}), SW & G1SP-Eng, $217,472; 1/2 to Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), GSW-UAE, SW-Eng, $246,417; 1/2 to Etive (Elusive Quality), SW-Ger, MSP-Fr, $126,693. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mawj (Ire), 120, f, 3, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. $340,000.
3–Casa Creed, 126, h, 7, Jimmy Creed–Achalaya, by Bellamy Road. ($15,000 Ylg '17 OBSWIN; $105,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC; B-Silver Springs Stud, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. $180,000.
Margins: NO, HF, HF. Odds: 3.30, 4.90, 6.30.
Also Ran: Gina Romantica, Songline (Jpn), More Than Looks, Lucky Score, Shirl's Speight, Kelina (Ire), Du Jour, Win Carnelian (Jpn), Astronomer, Masteroffoxhounds. Scratched: Exaulted.

Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Doyle to Become First Retained Rider for Wathnan Racing

Leading flat jockey James Doyle is set to become the first retained rider for Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's Wathnan Racing beginning in January, the organisation announced on Monday. The 35-year-old had been riding as second jockey for Godolphin since January 2015 and will join Wathnan when his contract expires at the end of this year.

“It is a tremendous honour for me to sign for Wathnan,” Doyle said. “It's an amazing opportunity for me going forward with His Highness Sheikh Tamim's Wathnan Racing and I'm greatly looking forward to working with Olly Tait, Richard Brown and the rest of the team.

“I want to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Charlie Appleby and everyone at Godolphin for the unstinting support they've given me over the last nine years. It's been a wonderful time and I have enjoyed literally every moment. But this is an incredible new venture and I can't wait to get started in January.”

Doyle is a multiple Group 1-winning jockey having partnered with notable runners Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) over his career so far.

“James has been a key member of our team for his whole time with us and, whilst we will miss him greatly, he is leaving very much with our blessing and we wish him all the very best with this exciting new chapter in his riding career,” Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby said.

Wathnan Racing's Adviser Olly Tait added: “Wathnan is delighted to have retained the services of James Doyle. He is a fantastic rider and an incredible addition to the team. We are all looking forward to working closely with James in the coming years.”

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Breeders’ Cup Sunday Bulletin: Baffert, Mott Runners On Track

Michael Lund Petersen's Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) tuned up for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff with a four-furlong drill in :48.20 (22/69) Sunday at Santa Anita.

The 4-year-old comes into the Distaff with a string of four straight stakes victories, including a 5 1/4-length score in the Oct. 1 GII Zenyatta S., but will have to step up her game to win Saturday, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

“She'll be running against a different type of filly on Saturday,” Baffert said. “She's a big, fast filly and she has a great mind. But this will be a class test. Her last race was great, but this is a step up. To win this race, you need to have a really good horse and have real good luck. Winning these races is not easy.”

Also working for Baffert Sunday, GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) went four furlongs in :47.40 (11/69) in preparation for the GI Dirt Mile.

“He looked good out there,” Baffert said. “I had him galloping out five furlongs in :59 and change. That last race seemed to wake him back up.”

National Treasure is coming off a fourth-place effort in the Sept. 30 GI Awesome Again S.


Baffert's GI F/M Sprint contender Eda (Munnings) went four furlongs from the gate in :47.40 (11/69) Sunday morning, while GI Juvenile contender Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) went five furlongs in 1:00.20 (5/61).

Also working for the F/M Sprint, trainer Steve Asmussen sent Society (Gun Runner) out to drill three furlongs in :37.40 (11/15) Sunday.

Godolphin's Mile contender Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) went out for a routine canter Sunday, but ended up working four furlongs in an unofficially timed :49 2/5.

“Unfortunately that wasn't the plan,” said trainer Charlie Appleby's assistant Chris Connett. “All we wanted to do with him was go out for a steady canter, but he didn't have his hood on and unfortunately he took off with his rider. It was not quite what we hoped for or what was planned. We will now have to adjust his schedule accordingly with a quiet day tomorrow and he will definitely have the hood on him next time he's out on Tuesday morning.”

GI Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Dr. Schivel (Violence), coming off a win in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 (19/61) Sunday for trainer Mark Glatt.

Mott Runners Tune Up

Trainer Bill Mott sent out four Breeders' Cup hopefuls to work at Santa Anita Sunday.

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel), prepping for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, worked four furlongs in :49.80 (57/69).

“It was beautiful,” Mott said of the work. “Poetry in motion. She works on the dirt and she works in :49 or :50; that's all we want. You could see the rider was just letting her do it. She gets a lot out of working on the dirt, conditioning wise. She is fit enough.”

Also Sunday, Mott sent Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) and Elite Power (Curlin) out to work four furlongs in company. Casa Creed, headed for the GI Mile, went in :46.40 (3/69), while Elite Power was credited with bullet :46.20 (1/69).

Of Casa Creed, Mott said, “We think he is a pretty good horse. In these turf races, it's all about the trip and the pace and position. You have to have the golden trip and you've got to get lucky. Everyone in there is a nice horse; probably half the horses in it could win it.”

Of Elite Power's attempt to defend his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint next Saturday, Mott said, “I don't have any lack of confidence in him. Look, it's a horse race and he has to go over there and do it and have a good trip. I have no reason to believe he is not as good as he was last year.”

Elite Power had an eight-race win streak snapped when second behind Gunite (Gun Runner) in the Aug. 26 GI Forego S. last time out.

The Mott-trained Cody's Wish (Curlin), aiming for the GI Dirt Mile, went four furlongs in :47.20 (10/69) with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky in the saddle.

“He looked smooth as glass,” Mott said. “I was happy that he didn't go faster. Neil had him just right. Cody's Wish did it on the bridle. Passing the eighth pole, [Poznansky] released his hold and took his hand off the bridle a little bit and he finished up good and galloped out good.”

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Dubawi’s Ancient Wisdom Wins The Futurity Trophy

After a 15-minute delay caused by Ballydoyle's Battle Cry (Ire) (No Nay Never) turning over in the stalls, Godolphin's Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}–Golden Valentine {Fr}, by Dalakhani {Ire}) proved the most effective on Doncaster's deep ground to justify 5-4 favouritism under William Buick in Saturday's G1 Kameko Futurity Trophy. Back in action a fortnight after winning Newmarket's G3 Autumn S., the Charlie Appleby trainee was left in front initially and looked beaten for a few strides as the pack closed in two out. Regaining momentum to ultimately outstay his rivals with his pounding stride, the TDN Rising Star who was the second-highest-priced lot at the 2022 Arqana Deauville August Sale had 1 3/4 lengths to spare over Devil's Point (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) at the line, with God's Window (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) a head away in third.

 

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