Maker’s Mark Mile (Grade 1)

THINGS are quieter stateside with the Kentucky Derby and the big Churchill Downs meeting on the horizon. There were still two Grade 1 contests at Keeneland last weekend with European interest in both by way of the Charlie Appleby/Godolphin runners.

Master Of The Seas was making his fourth straight appearance on the North American continent in last Friday’s Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile, and the gelded son of Dubawi had little difficulty in taking his third Grade 1 win on the continent to add to his previous victories in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile around a narrow loss to Up To the Mark in the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile. Appleby saddled the one/two with Naval Power taking second.

Master Of The Seas raced behind pacesetting Emmanuel, through an opening quarter in 24.38secs on ground officially listed as yielding.

To the inside of 2022 Maker’s Mark winner Shirl’s Speight, Master Of The Seas travelled strongly on the turn as they swung six across the course, but Master Of The Seas’ challenge inside the pacesetter early in the straight sent him clear.

Naval Power was a bit slow away, but came home well for second. Integration was a never-nearer third.

“When he’s done as much winning as he has over here on quick ground, you’re always slightly dubious when the ground is as testing as it is out there today,” said winning trainer Charlie Appleby.

“What I liked about it is that they got into a nice rhythm around there. Naval Power unfortunately was a bit slow from the gate. William got in a lovely (position), once they came off the turn, all William needed was that gap to be able to give him the signal to pick up.”

Master Of The Seas won the Craven Stakes this week three years ago at Newmarket before going down to a nose defeat to Poetic Flare in the 2000 Guineas a few weeks later.

Appleby said that both Master Of The Seas and Naval Power would remain in the US, with the former likely for the Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard and will summer in Saratoga, part of a US team of 10 or 12 horses this season.

Jenny Wiley

Appleby also saddled the favourite in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on Saturday but the Frankel filly English Rose came up short against a Chad Brown runner partnered by none other than Frankie Dettori.

The five-year-old French import Beaute Cachee (by Literato) was not the Chad Brown number one as Brown scored his sixth win in the race.

The winner was a 25/1 shot and led gate-to-wire around a turf course upsetting Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational winner Didia and more fancied stablemate Gina Romantica, winning by a length and a half.

“It’s a big tick-off of the things I needed to do,” said Dettori, “So I’m glad it’s gone.”

Apple Blossom Handicap (Grade 1)

THOUGH campaigned at top level, the five-year-old Bob Baffert-trained mare Adare Manor had only one Grade 1 ro her name but she added to that in very impressive fashion in a front-running victory in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn.

The imposing Uncle Mo mare was running for only the third time in 16 career starts outside of California but there was confidence in the Michael Lund Petersen-owned filly in a field that included Grade 1 winner and 2023 Kentucky Oaks favourite Wet Paint for Godolphin.

From the stalls under jockey Juan Hernandez, she never looked in doubt in the $1.25 million test for older females and powered away in the mile and half a furlong contest to win by five and a half lengths.

Godolphin’s Wet Paint failed to make an impact in her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, finishing sixth of nine.