By Duane Fonseca
Modern Games stretched his love affair with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to two seasons and entered himself as the latest member of a select group to win two different races after winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on 5 November.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Dubawi colt had clinched the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar a year ago after being briefly declared a non-runner before the start. At Keeneland on Saturday, missing the break and encountering early traffic witnessed Modern Games, with British Champion Flat Jockey William Buick up, having to fight from eighth.
AGGRESSIVE ALL ALONG
The pair remained aggressive throughout, keeping up with the pace set by Smooth Like Strait. But as things quickened turning for home, Buick angled Modern Games out for a tilt at the prize and his partner shifted gears smoothly and quickly through the final furlong to win by three quarters of a length from Shirl’s Speight with Kinross back in third.
Winning trainer Appleby said: “Modern Games is ultra professional and runs with his heart on his sleeve every time. “He is one horse you would love to play poker with because he shows his hand every time. It was a fantastic ride by William and it’s great for the team, great for HH Sheikh Mohammed and great for Godolphin.
“Modern Games has been a fantastic horse to travel with. He won the French Guineas when he was very impressive, then we stepped him up in trip in the French Derby, where he ran so honestly to finish third. “He didn’t really stay so I dropped him back to 7f, which was the wrong thing to do.
He then ran a blinder in the Sussex behind Baaeed before winning in Canada. “Later in the season we rolled the dice at Champions Day on soft ground and he probably carried me over the line to win the UK trainers’ championship.
LOOKING FORWARD
“Next year, the Queen Anne is the obvious target. Modern Games is getting a 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 will look to bring him back here next year.” Buick said Modern Games showed enough resolve to fight back after missing the start and powered home in style for a big win.
Buick added: “Modern Games was really professional last year too. Today, he was foot perfect. He just came out of the gate a little slow and missed the break but once I had him running, he stayed true. He loves this ground. I thought he was the best horse in the race and I didn’t want to take too many chances.”
