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 events 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.

Modern Games returned to Europe and began his 3-year-old campaign after a six-month layoff, doing so in winning fashion with a victory in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp in Paris on May 15, 2022, at his wheelhouse distance of one mile on the turf. After that, Modern Games attempted to stretchout but was unsuccessful in his next start on June 5 at Chantilly when he finished third at 1 5/16 miles in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club. He was also unsuccessful in his next start, which was a fifth-place finish at seven furlongs in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.

Modern Games squared off against Europe's top-rated horse on July 27 at Goodwood in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes but came up second-best that day in the heavyweight match-up against Baaeed at one mile.

Modern Games got back into the winner's circle, and in dynamic fashion, when he returned to North America for his next start in the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Ricoh Woodbine Mile. Modern Games was sent off as the heavy favorite in a field of 11 and did not disappoint, making a big closing move in the stretch to pass the field and draw off to a 5 1/4-length victory under jockey William Buick, paying $3.50 to win.  The Woodbine Mile was a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifying race, and with the victory, Modern Games earned a spot in the starting gate for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Keeping a busy schedule, Modern Games returned to Europe from Canada to run his next race on Champions day on Oct. 15 at Ascot in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He finished second in a nine-horse field in the QEII at Ascot, beaten 1 1/4 lengths at one mile.

Modern Games was back in North America again for his final race of 2022 for a run in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 5. Sent off as the heavy 6-5 favorite in a 14-horse field, Modern Games raced mid-pack and then moved out for a seven wide rally into the stretch. He tracked down the leaders and held off the other closers to draw off to a 3/4 of a length win in a time of 1:33.96 for the mile on firm turf.

Modern Games made his 4-year-old debut in the U.S. at Keeneland in the $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland, where he rallied from more than seven lengths back but had too much ground to make up late in a runner-up finish.