Modern Games (Ire) | Horse Racing Free Tips

Regal Glory and Modern Games Take Top Turf Prizes

Both Regal Glory and Modern Games (Ire) won Grade I races to close out 2022, as the former heads to the breeding shed, while the latter looks to return this year.

REGAL GLORY
In discussing the rationale for keeping 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) in training for a 6-year-old campaign following her victory in Keeneland's GI Jenny Wiley S., trainer Chad Brown recalled a conversation with owner Peter Brant.

Said Brown, “I probably would have bred her and he said, 'No, she's in good form and I want to see her run another year. I have a feeling this is her year.”

It turned out to be the most prescient of comments when the chestnut mare outpointed her commonly owned stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and War Like Goddess (English Channel) to take home the statuette. Regal Glory is a seventh female turf champ–the fifth in the last six years–conditioned by Chad Brown and a third for Brant, joining Just A Game (1980) and Sistercharlie (Ire) (2018).

Acquired by Brant for joint-best $925,000 out of the Paul Pompa dispersal at Keeneland January in 2021, Regal Glory closed the season with a win in the GI Matriarch S., but the best was yet to come. Having kicked off the year with a decisive victory in the GIII Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf, the chestnut made best work of her superior turn of foot to beat stablemate Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) in the Jenny Wiley. Making her third straight appearance in the GI Just A Game S., Regal Glory powered home as much the best but was beaten into second when heavily favored in her next two–in the GI Fourstardave H. against the boys and to In Italian in the GI First Lady S. Fractionally disappointing when 10th to champion Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, she turned in arguably the best performance of any turf distaffer when whooshing home by better than five lengths in the Matriarch, becoming the first since Flawlessly to repeat in the event.

Regal Glory has joined Brant's high-class broodmare band and is set to visit Into Mischief this season.

–Alan Carasso

MODERN GAMES (IRE)
One of the marks of an Eclipse Award winner is the ability to successfully take on older, more experienced company, and that is certainly what Modern Games did during his 3-year-old trans-Atlantic 2022 campaign when he was guided every step of the way by regular rider William Buick. Off his Del Mar Breeders' Cup victory in the GI Juvenile Turf, in which he ran only for purse money for trainer Charlie Appleby, the chestnut tuned up in mid-May at ParisLongchamp against his own age group in the G1 Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

In late July, after finishing second to the now-retired powerhouse Baaeed (GB) (See The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood, the colt shipped to the U.S. for the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile in September. Taking on a well-matched field, Modern Games rallied for an impressive 5 1/4-length victory. Returning to the Breeders' Cup for the GI FanDuel Mile, this time at Keeneland, the Godolphin homebred angled out at the top of the lane and mounted a furious charge to secure a 3/4-length win in what was his final race of the year.

Modern Games is expected to return to racing as a 4-year-old.

“Next year, the Queen Anne [at Royal Ascot] is the obvious target,” said Appleby after the Breeders' Cup win. “He's getting fanfare around the world and it was great to see him applauded this year, not like last year, which was no fault of his own. We'll look to bring him back here [Breeders' Cup] next year.”

–J.N Campbell

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Appleby Outlines Targets For Stable Stars In The New Year

Charlie Appleby, fresh off two consecutive UK trainers' titles, will have a host of stars to go to war with in 2023, among them Godolphin's undefeated G2 Gimcrack S. hero Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}). The son of listed winner and Group 3-placed Eartha Kitt (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), named a 'TDN Rising Star' off his winning debut at Ascot in May, is earmarked for the G3 Greenham S. in April, before a possible bid for G1 2000 Guineas glory in May.

He said, “Noble Style has not been seen since winning the Gimcrack impressively. He had the colic setback but he is fine and is back in work. He will probably start off in the Greenham down at Newbury as he has got a lot of natural speed which we have seen.

“Staying is the question mark. On pedigree, there is strong enough evidence that he should stay the mile but at the end of the day he has got to prove on track he can get the extra two furlongs. As we stand at the moment he is a serious Guineas contender.”

Another horse with Classic aims is Mysterious Night (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the winner of the GI Summer S. overseas at Woodbine in Canada last September.

“A horse that we have not seen since he won emphatically in Canada is Mysterious Night,” he added. “I think he is a horse that deserves to put in those trials in the spring to see where we are. The way he has developed and the scope he has puts him in the picture.

“You also have to put Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in there. He only went down by a short head in the [GI] Breeders' Cup Juvenile [Turf] which is a race we have used with horses that have tasted Classic success, i.e. Modern Games. He is definitely in the Guineas mix.”

Appleby is also blessed with a bevy of potential G1 Derby horses, among them listed winner Local Dynasty (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G3 Zetland S. hero Flying Honours (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

“As for the Derby you have Local Dynasty, who won the Silver Tankard at Pontefract and Flying Honours who won the Zetland S. at Newmarket, which can be good 2-year-old races which are good pointers for the Derby.

“There is also Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won smartly in his maiden at Newmarket and Castle Way (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) who won the valuable nursery at Newmarket over a mile and a quarter quite impressively. These are all horses that will be in the Derby trials in the spring.”

Quadruple top-level victor Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) stays in training, as does G1 Irish 2000 Guineas victor Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

He said, “Native Trail looks great and we have him staying in training as does Modern Games in that mile camp and in the sprinting division you have got little Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“Stepping up to the mile and a quarter you have Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who we missed for much of this season, then over a mile and a half you have the likes of Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). There should be some good war horses there.

“As you know it can be a long winter but they are all doing well. It won't be long until the middle of January then we will be back on the treadmill as they say.”

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Appleby And O’Brien Repeat The Dose

LEXINGTON, KY–This was a day that seemed to hang suspended, if not quite on a single hair of his tail, then certainly on the fate of a single horse. Even the gale that blew through the afternoon had a portentous quality, as though the very elements were anticipating some complementary melodrama of wind and fire from Flightline (Tapit). Yet history is often made not to a blaring fanfare but in quiet increments–and the 39 steps taken by the Breeders' Cup since its inauguration in 1984 here brought the Europeans to a new pinnacle of their own.

True, the raiders' contribution nowadays tends to be diffidently confined to the turf races. And nor did they spread their spoils at all widely. Saturday was very much a case of rounding up the usual suspects. For the measurement of their superiority over the domestic grass talent once again contained an internal rivalry of its own, with two powerhouses of the European industry ending up evenly dividing six of the seven grass races staged across the two days.

On the juvenile programme, Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby had traded a winner apiece before a desperate duel between their respective representatives in a “decider” was settled in favour of Ballydoyle. And their contention on Saturday was virtually a mirror image, O'Brien resuming with Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the GI Filly and Mare Turf before Appleby responded with Modern Games (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Mile and finally Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Turf, where he was inevitably pursued home by a colt from Ballydoyle.

These winners limited Appleby's wilful impairment of his apparent invincibility on this side of the water: he had necessarily eroded his Breeders' Cup strike-rate by saddling two runners in two races. As a result, he must settle for having advanced to nine winners from 18 career starters at the meeting. Good grief, you would think the man might have the basic common sense at least to ensure a dead-heat when he runs more than one in a race.

Appleby has an exceptionally astute sense of the kind of animal that thrives on the hectic racing environment over here: tough, nimble horses that know how to hustle. Modern Games is a luminous example, as attested by three Grade I wins in three North American starts, though he also contributed to Appleby's remarkable sweep of three different mile Classics in Europe this spring. But this horse will probably never shake off his principal eligibility as a quiz answer, after contriving to win at Del Mar last year as a “ghost” for wagering purposes.

Evidently the intention is to keep Modern Games in training, alongside the gelded Rebel's Romance who has really blossomed with maturity after a staccato start to his career. For James Doyle, his success bookends a campaign in which he similarly benefited from William Buick's selection of another runner in the G1 2000 Guineas.

Ballydoyle's latest winner, meanwhile, proved yet another example of the way O'Brien manages to make the very process of proving a horse a stimulus to its ongoing development. This was Tuesday's eighth consecutive Group 1 start since breaking her maiden at Naas on Mar. 27. She was placed for the second time in a mile Classic just 12 days before winning one over a mile and a half. She ran against colts in the G1 Irish Derby, and bumped into the subsequent Arc winner at York. Yet all these months after drawing the cork, she performed here with more effervescence than ever.

The system, by this stage, is honed to a nearly metronomic degree. The maiden Tuesday won at Naas, for instance, had also been chosen to launch her sister Empress Josephine (Ire) towards her own Classic success last year. Their dam Lillie Langtry disappointed as hot favourite for the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf of 2009, at Santa Anita, but she came up with no less a filly than Minding (Ire) as her second foal; and their trainer, who has over the years had his ups and downs here, will have stifled any lingering scepticism at the wagering windows with three winners and a second from six starters overall. It must be said that the cause was especially well served by Ryan Moore, who really is riding at the peak of his powers.

So that left the GI Turf Sprint as the one and only race in which the speed of the indigenous opposition proved too much for the invaders, at least round a single turn. Even then, Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) excelled for Yorkshire in getting within a neck of shock winner Caravel.

To those of us who considered Mizzen Mast a neglected stallion, this was a welcome reminder of the value he had long provided as a conduit to the splendid versatility of his own sire. Pensioned last year at the age of 23, his legacy has been sadly confined by a preponderance of geldings and females among his best stock–as, for instance, when two ladies gave him a famous double at the 2012 Breeders' Cup (Mizdirection in this race, and Flotilla {Fr}). Mizzen Mast did not always throw the most commercial conformation, but you can't put a price on the genetic nostalgia offered by a son of Cozzene out of a Graustark mare.

Someday, no doubt, the name of Flightline will have no less resonance in the Stud Book. But while even he must start with a blank state, as and when he enters stud, Saturday gilded the epoch-making heritage of two of the European breed's great modern bulwarks. Both Appleby's winners were sons of Dubawi, now in the evening of his career, while Tuesday is by the lamented Galileo.

It's striking that O'Brien and Appleby both use very similar language when trying to explain how Galileo and Dubawi have assisted their respective careers. The way they handle their stock will certainly have evolved with their growing familiarity, but both trainers stress how that elusive concept, class, is essentially a function of mental commitment, naturally alongside the physical capacity to support it.

And that's exactly where breeders need to be on the same page as trainers. They need to make sure that they prioritise constitution in their matings, because that is the foundation of brilliance. Flightline, notoriously, has only run six times–but what sets him apart is that you can throw anything at him and he will come right back and ask if that's all you have.

That is always said to be the classic trademark of his sire Tapit, while Flightline's second dam is by that doughty influence Dynaformer out of the Phipps matron Finder's Fee (Storm Cat)–who herself went seven-for-27 through three seasons.

If Flightline is to match his first career in his second, these are the seams he will be drawing on: much like Dubawi, and Galileo, and now the latter's son Frankel (GB). So when all these horsemen leave town, dispersing to far-flung coasts and continents and cultures, let them think about the type of animals they want to bring into the world. If their foals are born to run, and not just to stand on the dais in the adjacent pavilion, then it will be called the Breeders' Cup for a reason.

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Unbeaten Flightline Headlines 205 Breeders’ Cup Pre-Entries

With unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit) leading the way, 205 horses, including 45 from overseas, and seven former or returning Breeders' Cup champions, have been pre-entered for the 39th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Nov. 4 & 5. The Breeders' Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV. Click here to view all of the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships Pre-Entered Fields.

Nine horses were pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. In addition to the record-setting GI Pacific Classic winner Flightline, the $6-million centerpiece has also attracted last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt hero Life Is Good (Into Mischief) as well as standout sophomores Epicenter (Not This Time), GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and Taiba (Gun Runner). Fellow 3-year-old Cyberknife (Gun Runner) has a first preference in the Dirt Mile.

“We're gonna be in with really great horses, this is what makes this so special. If you look at that field in the Breeders' Cup Classic, it's going to be a really dynamic race,” said Flightline's trainer John Sadler, who won the 2018 Classic with Accelerate.

The GI Breeders' Cup Distaff will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Todd Pletcher-trained heavyweights champion Malathaat (Curlin) and leading 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin). Six additional fillies or mares have been pre-entered in the star-studded Distaff, including GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate), MGISW Clairiere (Curlin) and runaway GI Cotillion S. winner Society (Gun Runner).

“We're super excited about the way both of them are coming up to it,” Pletcher said. “Two really top- class fillies. I kinda hate running the two of them against each other, but it's certainly what both of them deserve.”

Champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), a disappointing sixth as the favorite in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, will take on the race's defending winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) once again while Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) will shoot for his third straight Breeders' Cup victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Defending GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) will be back to defend her title as well. Pre-entries for the F&M Sprint also include last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and streaking GI Ballerina H. winner Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper).

Talented MGISW sophomore Jack Christopher (Munnings), pre-entered in both the Sprint and Dirt Mile, has a first preference in the former. Cody's Wish (Curlin) and Laurel River (Into Mischief) will both stretch out to two turns for the Dirt Mile following eye-catching wins going seven furlongs in the GI Forego S. and GII Pat O'Brien S., respectively.

Classy 5-year-old mare War Like Goddess (English Channel) will take on males in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, including a powerful one-two punch from Godolphin's German MG1SW Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); last year's Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}); and 2021 Saudi Cup winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

A wide-open GI Breeders' Cup Mile pre-entered field of 18 includes: GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. winner Annapolis (War Front); streaking MG1SW Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}); last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}); G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. upsetter Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}); cross-entered G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp heroine Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}); comebacking MGISW Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}); 2020 Mile winner Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}); and last year's runner-up Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute).

Last out Chad Brown-trained GISWs In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) and European invaders Above the Curve (American Pharoah), Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among 15 pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Standouts on the 'Future Stars Friday' program include: GISWs Cave Rock (Arrogate), Forte (Violence) and Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile; and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies-bound Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) and And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate).

Friday's featured GI Breeders' Juvenile Turf has drawn 18 pre-entries, including the streaking Californian Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause), GII Pilgrim S. winner Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), GII Bourbon S. winner Andthewinneris (Oscar Performance) and European invaders Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf has 23 pre-entries, including GII Miss Grillo S. top three Pleasant Passage (More Than Ready), Free Look (Tapit) and Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}); GI Natalma S. upsetter Last Call (English Channel); GII JPMorgan Chase Jessamine S. winner Delight (Mendelssohn); and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never).

Unbeaten Iowa-bred Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca), pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and Juvenile, has a first preference in the former.

Headliners for the Juvenile Turf Sprint (26 pre-entries) include: G1SW The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), unbeaten Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) and Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), who could provide trainer Wesley Ward with a fourth straight win in the race. The Platinum Queen defeated older horses in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines at ParisLongchamp.

“Once again we could not be more proud with the outstanding quality of horses from around the world that have been pre-entered for this year's World Championships for a spectacular two days of racing with our host track partner Keeneland,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “We applaud the men and women across the globe who are preparing these magnificent Thoroughbreds for their ultimate tests of competition on Nov. 4-5. It is also important to recognize our breeders and nominators and their support and commitment in funding the purses and awards for the World Championships.”

Race Order and Wagering Menu Announced…

The official order of races and wagering menu for the 2022 Breeders' Cup were also announced Wednesday. There will be a total of 10 races (five Breeders' Cup races) on the first day of the Championships–“Future Stars Friday”–and 12 races on the Saturday program (nine Breeders' Cup races). The Friday program begins at 11:55 a.m. ET with five undercard races. Championship Saturday's first post is 10:30 a.m. ET and begins with two undercard races.

The 2022 wagering menu will include a Breeders' Cup All-Turf $3Pick 3 on Friday. The three races, in order, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Race 6), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Race 8), and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Race 10).

The Breeders' Cup All-Turf Pick 4 on Saturday is a $.50 minimum wager and will package four of the best turf races in the world together. The four races, in order, are the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Race 4), Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Race 6), Breeders' Cup Mile (Race 8), and the Breeders' Cup Turf (Race 10).

Championships Race Order (All Times Eastern)…

The first Championship race on “Future Stars Friday” will be the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (3:00 p.m.) followed by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (3:40 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (4:20 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (5:00 p.m.) and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (5:40 p.m.).

Championship Saturday begins with two undercard races followed by the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (11:50 a.m.), the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (12:29 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (1:10 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (1:50 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Sprint (2:30 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Mile (3:10 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Distaff (3:55 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Turf (4:40 p.m.) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (5:40 p.m.).

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