By Duane Fonseca
Godolphin led a slew of victories for Gulf connections on the final day of this year’s Breeders Cup World Championships schedule with Rebel’s Romance and Modern Games bringing the royal blue silks of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum a double, Shadwell enjoying a winner with their America based star Malathaat and Juddmonte making their presence felt through Elite Power.
The highlight of this year’s programme, however, the Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic was won by none other than John Saddler’s heavy favourite Flightline, who was ridden by Flavien Prat to another dominant eight and a quarter length victory ahead of Olympiad, with Taiba a further half length back in third.
Both Godolphin winners were trained by Charlie Appleby and Rebel’s Romance continued his love affair with turf as he stretched his perfect record on the surface to five, while completing a Group/Grade 1 hat-trick with a resounding win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Winner of last year’s Group 2 UAE Derby, the 4yo Dubawi gelding was shifted to turf this year and nicked the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin and Preis von Europa at Cologne and Hoppegarten prior to his arrival at Keeneland, where he ran in the command of James Doyle.
Doyle and Rebel’s Romance found themselves at the rear of the field but began their march down the back straight with Doyle bringing his partner to the front with a sweeping move down the middle as he readily stretched fully to win by two and a quarter lengths from Stone Age, who was a further three quarters ahead of War Like Goddess. Rebel’s Romance joined previous Godolphin winners Fantastic Light, Talismanic and Yibir on the race’s honour roll.
Appleby said: “I am delighted to finish the meeting off with a winner. From the whole team’s point of view, it’s great to have James [Doyle] get a first Breeders’ Cup win and I’m delighted for him. It’s been a great meeting.”
James Doyle said: “It was a tremendous performance from Rebel’s Romance and being back on fast ground suited him. He can be a quirky horse in the preliminaries, but he was good today.”
Appleby, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on the opening day with Mischief Magic, also trained Modern Games, who built on last year’s win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and returned to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Missing the break and encountering early traffic, witnessed Modern Games, with William Buick up, having to fight from eighth, but on turning for home he was angled out by William Buick and went quickly through the final furlong to win by three quarters of a length from Shirl’s Speight with Kinross back in third.
Appleby said: “Modern Games is ultra-professional and runs with his heart on his sleeve every time.”
Godolphin enjoyed another success on the opening day with Cody’s Wish in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
Meanwhile, Malathaat won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff in a three-horse photo finish, the 2021 Kentucky Oaks winning daughter of Curlin nosing out Blue Stripe and Clairiere at the wire.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, she was ridden by John Velazquez.
Juddmonte’s Bill Mott-trained Elite Power romped home under Irad Ortiz Jr. to win the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint ahead of C Z Rocket with favourite Jackie’s Warrior taking third.
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