3 minute read
Godolphin trainer doubles up with Walton Street’s Canadian triumph.
Yibir was an emphatic winner of the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park as trainer Charlie Appleby secured a big-race double across the Atlantic.
Appleby also sent Walton Street to triumph with ease under Frankie Dettori in the Grade One Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine.
Within 10 minutes on Saturday night, the Newmarket trainer could also celebrate another success for last month's Great Voltigeur Stakes winner Yibir – who was two and a half lengths too good for his Belmont rivals.
It was not plain sailing throughout, however, as Godolphin's three-year-old – previously often free-going in his races – this time found himself slightly detached at the back of a seven-strong field and needing to be chased along at times by Jamie Spencer.
But wearing a hood as he had at York, Yibir then moved quickly into contention out wide in the straight and circled his opponents before stretching impressively clear.
His fellow 2-1 joint-favourite Bolshoi Ballet, trained by Aidan O'Brien, could not match that finishing kick and finished only a near six-length fourth.
The Jockey Club Derby is a 'win and you're in' qualifier for next month's Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar.
Chris Connett, representing Appleby and Godolphin, was delighted with the victory.
He told bloodhorse.com: "The purses here are phenomenal and hopefully in time they will become graded races.
"Charlie and the boss (Godolphin owner Sheikh Mohammed) are big advocates of taking on the best around the world, so if we can do our little part by coming over here, that's great.
"We have a great team, and everyone plays their part, and thankfully Sheikh Mohammed put it all in place – and we just try to make him proud.
"I hope we've done that today."
At Woodbine, Walton Street and Dettori were seamlessly superior.
They raced in a clear second behind pace-setter and eventual third Primo Touch, before leading two furlongs out and taking control to win by almost six lengths.
The 8-11 favourite was chased home by David Simcock's admirable nine-year-old runner-up Desert Encounter, who had won the past two editions of this race – which did not take place in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It was a first win at the top level for Walton Street, at the age of seven, and Dettori's fourth success in the Canadian International.
Appleby's assistant Alex Merriam said: "I think it worked out perfectly, how we thought it would.
"I thought he would go forward and slot in. Frankie has his game plan – and turning in, he always knew he was going to kick on, and he's gone and seen the race out nicely."
Later on the card, Dettori had to settle for third in the Grade One Woodbine Mile Stakes – on Chad Brown's Raging Bull, behind all-the-way winner Town Cruise, trained by Brandon Greer and ridden by Daisuke Fukumoto.