Master of The Seas Another Godolphin Romper In the Woodbine Mile

Twelve months after Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) made light work of the race, Godolphin's Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) proved an equally decisive winner of the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick. With the victory, the homebred has earned a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in early November, a race won last year by Modern Games.

Drawn the inside gate in a field of just six horses, the 2-5 jolly wasn't the best away and settled at the tail of the field as My Sea Cottage (Ire) (Shalaa {Ire})–one of three starters to carry the hot pink colors of Gary Barber–speared through to take up the running after about a furlong. Master of the Seas raced against the rail early on, but came off the fence and into the clear as they hit the turn, and he had improved to fourth while building up a full head of steam as the field reached the long Woodbine straight. Accelerating nicely approaching the final furlong, Master of the Seas let down beautifully to take it by a convincing 3 3/4 lengths. 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) just won a photo for second from longshot Lucky Score (Lookin At Lucky).

Narrowly beaten into second by Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in 2021, Master of the Seas won the G3 Earl of Sefton S. in a single start at four, but has had a more complete season in 2023. The bay wintered in Dubai, winning the G2 Zabeel Mile Jan 20 and was a close third in the G1 Jebel Hatta S. Mar. 4 before finishing well down the field in the G1 Dubai Turf three weeks later. Given plenty of time to regroup, he was exiting a four-length success in the G2 Summer Mile at Ascot July 15.

“He usually breaks pretty fast, for one reason or another he didn't today,” noted Buick. “But there weren't many runners and the pace was even. It's a big, fair track and he's a horse with a turn of foot, so it was kind of my job to navigate a trouble-free passage. He is pretty high maintenance, but everyone at home has done a great job with him. I thought today he was much more the finished article. When he won at Ascot last time, you sort of sensed he was showing his best and getting back to his best form.”

Pedigree Notes:

Master of The Seas is the 56th worldwide Grade I/Group 1 winner for the legendary Dubawi and the 83 G1/GISW produced by a daughter of Danehill.

Master of The Seas is the latest Godolphin/Charlie Appleby success story at Woodbine and is not the first from this family to win on this program. His G3 UAE Oaks-winning half-sister Falls of Lora is not only the dam of Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a treble Group 1 winner in Australia for James Cummings, but also of Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), impressive winner of the 2021 Summer S.

Firth of Lorne's last listed produce is the 3-year-old filly Sithchean (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the long odds-on winner of a novice over the Chelmsford all-weather on her lone racetrack appearance to date Mar. 2.

 

Saturday, Woodbine, Canada
RICOH WOODBINE MILE S.-GI, C$1,022,000, Woodbine, 9-16, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:33.79, gd.
1–MASTER OF THE SEAS (IRE), 124, 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)
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin, LLC (IRE); T-Charles Appleby; J-William Buick. C$600,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & G1SP-Eng, GSW & G1SP-UAE, 14-7-2-2, $984,457. *1/2 to Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}), SW & G1SP-Eng, $217,472; Falls of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), GSW-UAE, SW-Eng, $246,417; and Etive (Elusive Quality), SW-Ger, MSP-Fr, $126,693. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shirl's Speight, 124, h, 6, Speightstown–Perfect Shirl, by Perfect Soul (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Charles E. Fipke; B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Roger L. Attfield. C$200,000.
3–Lucky Score, 124, g, 5, Lookin At Lucky–Miss Matzo, by Royal Academy. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP;
$35,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN). O-Pantofel Stable, LLC, Wachtel Stable and Barber, Gary; B-James Everatt, Janeane Everatt & Arika Everatt-Meeuse (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$132,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, NK, 4HF. Odds: 0.40, 4.15, 19.45.
Also Ran: War Bomber (Ire), Ice Chocolat (Brz), My Sea Cottage (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV.

 

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Woodbine Releases 2023 Stakes Schedule

Woodbine Entertainment unveiled the stakes schedule Monday for the 2023 Thoroughbred racing season at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The program will offer more than $17 million in purses, including 39 graded stakes, five Grade I events and two $1 million classics, The King's Plate and Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

“Highlighted by the return of the Canadian International, and the first running of The King's Plate in 70 years, this year's stakes program at Woodbine will be as exciting as ever,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment.

The 164th running of The King's Plate is schedule for Sunday, August 20 to launch the OLG Canadian Triple Crown. The $400,000 Prince of Wales will be run Tuesday, September 12 at Fort Erie Race Track, while the $400,000 Breeders' S. will be contested Sunday, October 1.

The GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile is accompanied by the $500,000 GI Johnnie Walker Natalma S. and $500,000 GI Summer S. Saturday, September 16. The trio of Grade I events are all part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series.

The biggest addition to the 2023 stakes schedule is the return of the Grade I Canadian International. The race will have its 84th running Sunday, October 8 at a new distance of a mile and a quarter over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The GI E.P. Taylor will also be contested on October 8.

The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser will launch the Canadian Triple Tiara Sunday, July 23. To view the entire 2023 Thoroughbred stakes schedule, click here.

The 2023 season at Woodbine Racetrack opens Saturday, April 22 and runs through Sunday, December 10.

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Modern Games ‘Miles’ the Best at Woodbine

When last seen on these shores, Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire) (c, 3, Dubawi {Ire}–Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) was embroiled in the controversy of all controversies, when erroneously scratched, then allowed to run–albeit for purse money only–in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, which he duly won. The homebred is likely back on his way to the Breeders' Cup after pummeling overmatched rivals by five lengths in Saturday's GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile, for which Modern Games earns an all-expenses-paid trip to Keeneland.

Allowed to drift back to sit worse than midfield as Get Smokin (Got Stormy) set a strong tempo in advance of War Bomber (Ire) (War Front), the chestnut still found himself in the latter half of the field, in some traffic and very much on hold as they raced into the final three-eighths of a mile. Waiting for the precise moment to pull the trigger, William Buick set Modern Games alight once heads were turned for home, beating GI Maker's Mark Mile winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) to a spot while angling out and around  fellow European raider Finest Sound (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Once into the clear, Modern Games let down beautifully and motored through the final couple of furlongs to score decisively. Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) was along late to take a photo for second over Finest Sound. Modern Games is the first 3-year-old to win the Woodbine Mile.

Winner of this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) in his first post-Breeders' Cup appearance in May, Modern Games failed to see out the extended 10-furlong trip when beaten 5 1/4 lengths into third by the exciting Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club June 5. Fractionally disappointing when fifth as the 8-5 favorite in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville July 10, Modern Games ran Europe's top horse Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to 1 3/4 lengths when last seen in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 27.

Pedigree Notes:

Modern Games is one of four winners from five to the races for his dam, also responsible for this year's Listed Royal Windsor S. winner Modern News (GB) (Shamardal) and Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), second in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot before taking out the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. during Newmarket's July meeting. Modern Games was produced by a half-sister to G1SW Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}) and Synopsis (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}) and his deeper female family also includes Bosra Sham and Hector Protector. Modern Ideals is the dam of a yearling filly by Mastercraftsman (Ire).

Saturday, Woodbine
RICOH WOODBINE MILE S.-GI, C$1,017,200, Woodbine, 9-17, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:32.77, fm.
1–MODERN GAMES (IRE), 123, c, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
                3rd Dam: Proskona, by Mr. Prospector
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles Appleby; J-William T. Buick.
C$600,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SW-Fr, GISW-USA, 11-6-2-1, $1,858,773. *1/2 to
Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), GSW-Eng, $119,745;
Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), SW & MGSP-Eng, SP-UAE,
$201,610. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ivar (Brz), 122, h, 6, Agnes Gold (Jpn)–May Be Now, by
Smart Strike. O-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC & Stud R D I, LLC.;
B-Stud Rio Dois Irmaos (BRZ); T-Paulo H. Lobo. C$200,000.
3–Finest Sound (Ire), 122, g, 5, Exceed And Excel
(Aus)–Amplifier (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed
Obaid Al Maktoum (Ire); T-Simon Crisford. C$110,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 0.75, 2.80, 25.70.
Also Ran: Shirl's Speight, Town Cruise, Mighty Heart, Wakanaka (Ire), March to the Arch, War Bomber (Ire), Get Smokin, Homer Screen (Brz).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Town Cruise Upsets Woodbine Mile, Earns Spot In BC Mile

Town Cruise made it look easy in his upset win in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, taking the field gate to wire to earn a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile. Over the familiar turf of Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, the 6-year-old gelding followed up his runner-up showing in the G2 King Edward Stakes with a victory for co-breeder/trainer/owner Brandon Greer.

Breaking from the first post, jockey Daisuke Fukumoto hustled Town Cruise out to the lead in the race's opening strides, with Duke of Hazzard and Change of Control settling in second and third. Through opening fractions of :24.01 and :47.10, Town Cruise stretched his lead out to two lengths, running easily on the lead. Into the stretch, the field bunched up behind Town Cruise; Avie's Flatter tried to challenge in the stretch, but the Ontario bred was too much for him. After leading at every call, Town Cruise hit the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front, with Space Traveller and Raging Bull coming on late to finish second and third.

The final time for the G1 Woodbine Mile was 1:35.41. Find this race's chart here.

Town Cruise paid $19.30, $10.10, and $6.10. Space Traveller paid $10.20 and $6.30. Raging Bull paid $3.70.

As a part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, the winner of the Woodbine Mile receives a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Co-bred by trainer Greer and his father Terrance, Town Cruise is by Town Prize out of the Candy Ride mare Candy Cruise. The Woodbine Mile is Town Cruise's third win in four starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 14 starts and career earnings of $700,106.

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