By Sam Turner -
William Buick labeled Master Of The Seas “a very good miler” after partnering the son of Dubawi to a smooth comeback success in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland.
The six-year-old was running for the first time since his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last November and displayed no signs of ring rustiness as he settled nicely in rear before quickening smartly 200m from home to score readily from stablemate Naval Power who ran on to take the runners-up berth under Tyler Gaffalione, two-and-a-quarter lengths adrift.
Success in the 1600m feature was a third at the top level for Master Of The Seas who coped well with the softer conditions at Keeneland and now looks likely to pursue further prizes in America in the fortcoming months.
“HE IS A VERY GOOD MILER”
A delighted Appleby said: “Master Of The Seas showed his versatility today. When he has done so much winning on quick ground, you are always slightly dubious when it’s as testing as it was today, although he has got form on slower surfaces.
“Naval Power was a bit slow from the gate and we felt that he would potentially be a horse who could go forward and ensure a decent gallop, but there was a nice gallop on.
“William (Buick) got Master Of The Seas into a nice position and, once they came off the turn, all he needed was that gap to give the horse the signal to pick up.
“William and Tyler gave their horses great rides and both Master Of The Seas and Naval Power hopefully have nice seasons here in America. Master Of The Seas might go to Churchill Downs for the G1 Turf Classic on Derby Day, while Naval Power might head to Aqueduct for the G2 Fort Marcy. Then they will ship to Saratoga for the summer there.”
Buick added: “Master Of The Seas has learnt to relax in any spot in a race over the past two or three years and his trips to America and Canada have really made a man of him. Once the gates open, he is the kind of horse that you can put anywhere you want and he is always going to have that finishing kick.
“He is so good on fast ground that we weren’t quite sure about the soft today, but he handled it well and picked up like he would on a quicker surface. He is a very good miler.”
CYLINDER RETIRES ON A HIGH
Australian speedster Cylinder, the 2024 G1 Newmarket Handicap winner and the highest-rated sprinter of his generation, has retired fit and well to join the Darley roster for 2024.
A multiple G2-winning two-year-old, a runner-up in the G1 Golden Slipper, Cylinder returned at three to win the G3 Vain Stakes, the G2 Run To The Rose before a dominant win in the G1 Newmarket Handicap down the Flemington straight defeating Imperatriz.
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