Godolphin's Eclipse Champion Male Turf Horse Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}–Modern Ideals {GB}, by New Approach {Ire}) will stand under the Darley banner at Dalham Hall Stud alongside his sire in Newmarket next season. A fee for the five-time top-level victor will be announced in due course.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, he won both the G3 Somerville S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at two. Sent to France at three, Modern Games duly nabbed the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and was third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, and second in the G1 Sussex S. two starts later. Returned to North America, the royal blue colourbearer added the GI Woodbine Mile S. and the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, with a runner-up performance in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in between. Kept in training at four, the 4-year-old ran second in the GI Mile S. at Keeneland before adding the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury in May. In his final start, he was fourth in the G1 Queen Anne S. to Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and was retired later this season with a record of 16-8-4-1 and earnings of $3,571,418.
Darley's Sam Bullard said, “The success of Dubawi as a sire of sires is now well known. How lucky we are to have such a sensational addition by the stallion, and one whose mother is also extraordinarily talented. He is a French Guineas winner, and his half-sister won the English Guineas. He won a Group 1 at two, remaining sound throughout, he finished with a Lockinge at four, and he has a magnificent mindset.
“He is now available to view, breeders should come and see him while in Newmarket and get involved.”
The chestnut is a half-brother to 2023 G1 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), as well as listed winner Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), who was runner-up in the G3 Diomed S. and G3 Sovereign S. His dam is a half-sister to G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere victor and sire Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), and the family also features dual Group 1 winner Act One (GB) (In The Wings {GB}).
🇬🇧 🗣️ 'He's going to be a great addition to the stallions ranks' #ModernGames: five-time G1 winner including two @BreedersCup 🏆
New to the @DarleyEurope roster for 2024💥 pic.twitter.com/6DYQ8Yb7tF
— Darley in Europe (@DarleyEurope) September 29, 2023
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