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Modern Games (foaled 17 April 2019) is a retired champion
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...
. Bred in
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
and trained in
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, he was one of the best two-year-olds in the world in 2021 when he won four of his six races including the Somerville Tattersall Stakes in England and the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of one mile. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-end championship for North ...
in the United States. As a three-year-old he was victorious in the Group 1
Poule d'Essai des Poulains Molof (Ampas, Poule, Powle-Ma) is a poorly documented Papuan languages, Papuan language spoken by about 200 people in :id:Molof, Senggi, Keerom, Molof village, Senggi District, Keerom Regency. Classification Stephen Wurm, Wurm (1975) placed it a ...
and Grade I Woodbine Mile and
Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a conditions races, Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a sod, grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World C ...
, earning him honors as Champion Turf Male of 2022. He finished his racing career with eight victories, winning five Group/Grade One events and either winning or placing in ten graded races.


Background

Modern Games is a chestnut colt with a white
star A star is a luminous spheroid of plasma (physics), plasma held together by Self-gravitation, self-gravity. The List of nearest stars and brown dwarfs, nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night sk ...
and three white
socks A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the feet and often covering the ankle or some part of the Calf (leg), calf. Some types of shoes or boots are typically worn over socks. In ancient times, socks were made from leather or matted animal hair. ...
bred and owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation. He was sent into training with Charlie Appleby at Godolphin's British base in
Newmarket, Suffolk Newmarket is a market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk (district), West Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, 14 miles west of Bury St Edmunds and 14 miles northeast of Cambridge. In 2021, it had a population of 16,772. It is a global ...
. He was from the twelfth crop of foals sired by
Dubawi Dubawi (foaled 7 February 2002) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse. He has proven himself a top-class sire (horse), sire. Background Dubawi is a bay horse with no white markings bred in Ireland by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Moham ...
, whose wins included the
Irish 2,000 Guineas The Irish 2,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it ...
and the
Prix Jacques Le Marois The Prix Jacques Le Marois is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbred colts and fillies aged three years or older. It is run in August each year at Deauville over a distance of ...
. At stud, Dubawi has been a highly successful breeding stallion, siring major winners such as Ghaiyyath, Too Darn Hot,
Al Kazeem Al Kazeem (foaled 15 April 2008) is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He showed promise as a two-year-old in 2010 and became a consistently successful performer in the following year. In 2012 he won the Jockey Club Stakes on his seasonal debut b ...
,
Makfi Makfi (foaled 4 March 2007) is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 2010 he won the 2000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois. Background Makfi's sire is Irish 2,000 Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Dubawi. ...
,
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, Lucky Nine and Night of Thunder. Modern Games's dam Modern Ideals showed no racing ability but was a half-sister to the
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère The Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, formerly the Grand Critérium, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of ...
winner Ultra. She was a great-granddaughter of Konafa who finished second in the
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
and was the female-line ancestor of Bosra Sham, Hector Protector and Golden Sixty.


Racing career


2021: two-year-old season

Modern Games began his racing career in a novice race (for horses with no more than two previous wins) over a distance of about seven
furlongs A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 feet, 220 yards, 40  rods, 10 chains, or approximately 201 metres. It is no ...
on good ground at
Haydock Park Haydock Park Racecourse is a racecourse in Merseyside, North West England. The racecourse is set in an area of parkland bounded by the towns of Haydock to the west, Ashton-in-Makerfield to the north, Golborne to the east and Newton-le-Willows ...
on 1 July when he started at odds of 5/1 and came home fifth behind Mr McCann, beaten eleven lengths by the winner. Later that month he started favourite for a
maiden race In horse racing, a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the s ...
over the same distance at
Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in Newmarket, Suffolk, Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses: the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of ...
. Ridden as on his debut by James Doyle he was in contention from the start, took the lead approaching the last quarter mile and won "comfortably" by two lengths from the
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's colt Saga. In his four subsequent races in 2021, Modern Games was ridden by
William Buick William Buick (born 22 July 1988) is a Norwegian-born British flat jockey. He shared the champion apprentice jockey title in 2008 with David Probert and won the Lester Award for Apprentice Jockey of the Year in 2007 and 2008. From 2010 to 2 ...
. At
Leicester Racecourse Leicester Racecourse is a horse racing course in Oadby, Leicestershire, about three miles south of Leicester city centre. History of horse racing in Leicester The earliest evidence suggests that racing took place at Abbey Meadow, Leicester ...
on 8 August the colt started odds-on favourite for a novice race but was beaten three quarters of a length by the previously unraced Cresta, to whom he was conceding nine pounds in weight. A month later Modern Games was assigned a weight of 131 pounds for a nursery (a handicap race for two-year-olds) over seven furlongs at
Doncaster Racecourse Doncaster Racecourse (also known as the Town Moor course) is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's List of British flat horse races#Group 1, 36 annual Group One, Group 1 flat races, the St Leger ...
and won "readily" by three and a half lengths from Sed Maarib after taking the lead two furlongs out. On 23 September Modern Games was stepped up in class to contest the
Group 3 Group 3 may refer to: * Group 3 element, chemical element classification * Group 3 (motorsport), FIA classification of cars used in auto racing and rallying * Group 3, the third tier of races in worldwide Thoroughbred horse racing * Group 3 image ...
Somerville Tattersall Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket and started 3/1 second choice in the betting behind the French-trained Trident (runner-up in the
Prix Morny The Prix Morny is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,200 metres (about 6 furlongs), and it is schedule ...
). Modern Games took the lead soon after the start and shook off the challenge from Trident before drawing away in the closing stages to win by two and a half lengths. After the race Appleby commented "He's not a big, imposing horse by any stretch of the imagination, but he worked particularly well on Saturday and our plan was to go and make it, and make them come at us... He's a neat, little horse... maybe we'll look at something like the Breeders' Cup because he's got natural pace and plenty of experience under his belt." As Appleby had predicted Modern Games was sent to the United States to contest the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of one mile. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-end championship for North ...
over eight furlongs at
Del Mar Racetrack The Del Mar Fairgrounds is an event venue in Del Mar, California. It hosts the annual San Diego County Fair. The venue sits on a property along the Pacific Ocean coastline. It includes the Del Mar Racetrack, built in 1936 by the Del Mar Thoroug ...
on 5 November, when he was joined by his stablemate Albahr (the winner of the Summer Stakes). The other contenders included Dubawi Legend (runner-up in the
Dewhurst Stakes The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mi ...
), Glounthaune (
Killavullan Stakes The Killavullan Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to ta ...
), Tiz The Bomb ( Bourbon Stakes), Coinage (
With Anticipation Stakes The With Anticipation Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of miles on the turf track scheduled annually in end of August or early September at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New Yor ...
) and Slipstream (
Belmont Futurity Stakes The Futurity Stakes, commonly referred to as the Belmont Futurity, is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid-September or October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, United States. Open to two-year-old horses, it is raced on turf ...
). As the horses were being loaded into the starting stalls Albahr reared up and fell backwards, and Modern Games in the adjacent stall was released from the front of the gate. It was announced that Modern Games had been withdrawn but after a correction he was allowed to take part, although he was treated as a non-runner for betting purposes. Modern Games settled in mid-division and was then switched to the outside as he began to make progress on the final turn. He produced a sustained run in the straight, overtook the
Mark Casse Mark E. Casse (born February 14, 1961) is a Thoroughbred racehorse trainer whose most notable horses include 2015 American champion turf mare Tepin and Canadian Horses of the Year Sealy Hill (2007), Uncaptured (2012), Lexie Lou (2014), Catc ...
-trained Grafton Street 100 yards from the finish and won "readily" by a length and a half from Tiz The Bomb. Some of the crowd booed the result as their bets on the winner had been made invalid by the events before the start. Charlie Appleby commented "We understand that people who wagered on the race or had to change their wager would be upset... the horse came into the race with a lovely profile. He was a progressive 2-year-old, and he's really pleased us since he's been here. And so we were confident coming into the race that we were going to be a big player anyway."


2022: three-year-old season

After a 190-day break Modern Games on May 15 started his three-year-old campaign as the 2/1 favorite in the Group 1
Poule d'Essai des Poulains Molof (Ampas, Poule, Powle-Ma) is a poorly documented Papuan languages, Papuan language spoken by about 200 people in :id:Molof, Senggi, Keerom, Molof village, Senggi District, Keerom Regency. Classification Stephen Wurm, Wurm (1975) placed it a ...
at Longchamp in Paris, France. Modern Games made the perfect return to action with regular jockey William Buick aboard and strongly finished past his rivals in the closing yards to defeat 66/1 longshot Texas to add another
Classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...
success. Trainer Charlie Appleby said after the race, "I said to William go and try to make it and if someone takes it off you, then fine. He hit the stalls so quickly he almost stumbled coming out of them... He's a professional horse and I'm delighted with that performance, this was always our plan to come here. His class has shown." Appleby indicated that Modern Games would start in the French Derby in his next start bur was not sure if the horse would handle the added distance. In the Group 1
Prix du Jockey Club The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Chantilly ov ...
(French Derby), Modern Games was made the 9/4 favorite but was no match for Vadeni finishing over 5 lengths behind the winner. Modern Games set a torrid pace but found the added distance of 2100 metres slightly beyond him and he finishing third. On 10 July Modern Games was entered in the Group 1
Prix Jean Prat The Prix Jean Prat is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 1,400 metres (about 7 furlongs), and it is s ...
at
Deauville Racecourse Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques is a race track for thoroughbred horse racing located in Deauville in the Calvados département, in the Normandy ''région'' of France. Originally called Hippodrome de la Touques, it was named for the Touques River ...
, an event over 1400 metres (nearly 7 furlongs). Starting as the 7/4 favorite Modern Games was in the leading pair, and was poised with over 400 metres to run, kept on with the same pace final 200 metres, and was overtaken in the last 100 metres to finish fifth, about a length and a half behind Tenebrism. On 27 July Modern Games returned to England to face Baaeed in the Group 1
Sussex Stakes The Sussex Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), a ...
at
Goodwood Racecourse Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House. It hosts the annual Glorious Goodwood meeting in l ...
over a mile. Modern Games was in touch with the leaders, pushed along over two furlong to run. Ridden by regular rider William Buick he pressed the leaders inside the final furlong moving into second place in the final sixteenth but was no match for undefeated Baaeed, beaten by
length Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with Dimension (physical quantity), dimension distance. In most systems of measurement a Base unit (measurement), base unit for length is chosen, ...
s. In his next start Modern Games traveled to Canada where on September 17 he started in the Woodbine Mile. Starting at the odds of 3/4 odds-on it appeared jockey William Buick might have to work to get the favorite home. Racing well back in the 11-horse field and two wide, Modern Games took a wide swing into the stretch to find daylight. Getting the split Modern Games quickly put distance on the field, he sprinted away to win by lengths in a time of 1:32.77 on firm turf course. On November 5, Modern Games ran in the
Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a conditions races, Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a sod, grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World C ...
at
Keeneland Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for ...
. Starting at odds of about 11/8 favourite. Jumping awkwardly out of the starting gate Modern Games was pinched back behind horses into the run for the first turn. Jockey William Buick tucked Modern Games into path two in eighth position as 2021 Mile runner-up Smooth Like Strait assumed his customary role as front-runner, narrowly leading Irish-bred Pogo through splits of :23, :46.81, and 1:10.96. As the horses entered the straight run Modern Games bore down on the leaders from the middle of the track as Pogo took over the lead from a tiring Smooth Like Strait. By the eighth pole. Modern Games swept by a game Ivar and held sway over the late-closing 55/1 longshot Shirl's Speight and Kinross. After his three-quarter-length victory, he became the first horse to complete the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of one mile. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-end championship for North ...
Mile The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a imperial unit, British imperial unit and United States customary unit of length; both are based on the older English unit of Unit of length, le ...
double.


2023: four-year-old season

Modern Games finished second in the Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at
Keeneland Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for ...
before going to
Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse and events venue in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury, Berkshire, Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps. It hosts one of Great Britain's List of ...
, where he took his fifth Group I victory in the
Lockinge Stakes The Lockinge Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) at New ...
. His final career start was in the
Queen Anne Stakes The Queen Anne Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and is scheduled to take p ...
at
Royal Ascot Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...
, where he finished fourth.


Retirement

On 15 August 2023, Godolphin announced that Modern Games had been retired. Stud plans for the 2024 breeding season have yet to be announced.


Statistics

''Legend:''

''Notes:''
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Modern Games was the post-time favourite.


Pedigree

*Modern Games is
inbred Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders an ...
4 × 4 to Mr. Prospector, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.


References

{{Reflist 2019 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Thoroughbred family 22-b Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winners American Grade 1 Stakes winners Breeders' Cup Mile winners