Modern Games (IRE)

Modern Games won one of his first three starts in England, all at seven furlongs, but really started to come into his own in late summer and early fall.

The Dubawi colt won a handicap race in September 2021 at Doncaster by 3 ½ lengths before a 2 ½-length score three weeks later at Newmarket in the Group 3 Tattersalls Sommerville Stakes.

Trainer Charles Appleby decided to send the Godolphin homebred to the U.S. to participate in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 5 at Del Mar along with stablemate Albahr. In a shocking turn of event before the race, Albahr reared up in the starting gate and fell, getting trapped under the gate and forcing the rest of the field to be unloaded so they could get him to safety. Modern Games was one stall to his inside and came out the front of the starting gate for safety purposes, but he was inadvertently scratched from the race along with Albahr, who was not injured in the incident. However, veterinarians decided Modern Games was physically fit to race and track stewards allowed Modern Games to race for purse money only. Wouldn’t you know, he proved much the best in a dazzling runaway victory in the Juvenile Turf.