Dubawi's Modern Games Makes All At Newmarket

Stepping off a 3 1/2-length Doncaster nursery handicap victory earlier this month, Godolphin's 2-year-old colt Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was in command throughout Thursday's G3 Tattersalls S. at Newmarket and registered another clear-cut success at the expense of Coolmore and Westerberg's French raider Trident (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in his fifth consecutive start at the seven-furlong distance. He had earlier backed up a July 1 debut fifth at Haydock with a July 24 breakthrough score at Newmarket's Summer course and posted an Aug. 8 conditions second to the reopposing Cresta (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) at Leicester in his penultimate outing. The homebred chestnut was swiftly into stride and gained an overall lead on the far side as the six-runner field, reduced from seven by the late scratching of Shadwell's Ribhi (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), split into three distinct groups of two. Coming under pressure when threatened approaching the quarter-mile pole, the 3-1 second choice refused to relinquish his advantage and was ridden out up the hill to comfortably hold the Andre Fabre-trained even-money chalk by 2 1/2 lengths for a career high.

“He's not a big, imposing horse by any stretch and Lorna, who rides him at home, said it would take a good one to beat him,” revealed trainer Charlie Appleby after adding yet more fuel to the juvenile tank. “He did a bit of work on Saturday and, while he didn't surprise us, he worked particularly well. That was always the plan to go out there and make it and get them to come at us. It was a great ride by William [Buick] and it paid off.”

Looking ahead to future engagements, the Moulton Paddocks conditioner added, “He's a neat, little horse and maybe we'll have a look at the Breeders' Cup. He's got plenty of experience under his belt now and I wouldn't quite think of him as a [G1] Dewhurst horse. If you were to put him and [G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. winner] Native Trail together at home, it wouldn't be much of a competition. It would be a shame to run the two of them in the Dewhurst and, if Native Trail wasn't around, we all know this race today is a springboard to a Dewhurst. We've [also] got Albahr for the Breeders' Cup as well and they're two hard-knocking sons of Dubawi who can go to the Breeders' Cup and might just run well over there.”

Modern Games, the fourth of six foals, is one of three scorers and the leading performer produced by a half-sister to G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Ultra (Ire) (Manduro {Ger}), G3 Prix Minerve victrix Synopsis (Ire) (In the Wings {GB}) and the dual stakes-placed Epic Similie (GB) (Lomitas {GB}), herself the dam of G2 July S. and G3 Sirenia S. runner-up Figure of Speech (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). His dam Modern Ideals (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) is also kin to the dam of last term's Listed Prix Pelleas second Lackeen (GB) (Shamardal). Descendants of his MGSW third dam Proskona (Mr. Prospector), herself a half-sister to MG1SP sire Keos (Riverman) and G3 Prix Chloe-winning blue hen Korveya (Riverman), include MG1SW sire Act One (GB) (In the Wings {GB}), G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains third Gharir (Ire) (Machiavellian), G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Summer Symphony (Ire) (Caerleon) and GI Belmont Oaks Invitational third Summer Solo (Arch). The April-foaled homebred chestnut is a half-brother to a yearling filly by Exceed and Excel (Aus) and a weanling filly by Mastercraftsman (Ire).

Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
TATTERSALLS S. (REGISTERED AS THE SOMERVILLE TATTERSALL S.)-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 9-23, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:23.62, gd.
1–MODERN GAMES (IRE), 126, c, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Modern Ideals (GB), by New Approach (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
3rd Dam: Proskona, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $75,348. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Trident (Fr), 126, c, 2, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Mezzo Mezzo (Fr), by Mount Nelson (GB). (€140,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-David Smaga & Mme Marie-Benedicte Fougy-Smaga (FR); T-Andre Fabre. £12,900.
3–Harrow (Ire), 126, c, 2, El Kabeir–School Run (Ire), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (65,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 85,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Highclere Thoroughbred Racing (Wisteria); B-School Run Bloodstock (IRE); T-Andrew Balding. £6,456.
Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 3.00, 1.00, 5.50.
Also Ran: Cresta (Fr), Ring of Beara (Fr), Claim The Crown (Ire). Scratched: Ribhi (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.