Godolphin rolls into Breeders' Cup with top contenders
Led by three recent North American stakes winners, Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing plans to send six horses to Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.
Trainer Charlie Appleby said Thursday that Godolphin will be represented with two runners in the BC Turf, Juvenile Turf, and Mile.
Yibir, winner of the Jockey Club Derby on Sept. 18 at Belmont Park in his U.S. debut, and Walton Street, who won the Grade 1 Canadian International on Sept. 18 at Woodbine in his first start on this continent, will run in the BC Turf at 1 1/2 miles.
Albahr, winner of the Grade 1 Summer Stakes on Sept. 19 at Woodbine, and Modern Games, winner of the Group 3 Somerville Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse, in England, give Godolphin two recent stakes winners for the Juvenile Turf.
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Space Blues is rated as the leading contender for the Mile on the basis of a win in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at seven furlongs at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on Oct. 3. Master of The Seas, second by a nose in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May on good-to-firm turf, will get firm conditions at Del Mar. Master of The Seas was seventh in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at a mile on good-to-soft turf on Oct. 16 at Ascot.
The powerful stable does not plan to send the 2-year-old filly Wild Beauty for the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Wild Beauty won the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on Sept. 19 at Woodbine.
Yibir earned a fees-paid berth with his win at Belmont Park, the gelding’s fifth win in 11 starts. Yibir won the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at 1 1/2 miles for 3-year-olds on Aug. 18 at York Racecourse in his most recent start in England.
Appleby said the trip to New York was invaluable experience for Yibir.
“He’s traveled and he has some good form in Europe and what he did at Belmont,” Appleby said.
Walton Street, 7, has won 7 of 19 starts and is in the midst of his best year, having won 3 of 5 starts. In the Canadian International, Walton Street stalked the pace and pulled clear to win by 5 3/4 lengths as the 4-5 favorite. He earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure, the top number on turf in North America this year.
“He’s doing well,” Appleby said. “We’re not expecting to find a lot of improvement at his age. He sees the trip well.
“He ticks all the boxes for a horse to be competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.”
Godolphin Racing had a successful Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in 2017. Appleby won the Filly and Mare Turf with Wuheida, while Talismanic won the BC Turf for French trainer Andre Fabre.