Newbury Saturday - Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (Group 1)

MODERN Games (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) landed the Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on Saturday with a burst of late speed that set him apart from his rivals.

The four-year-old has landed races at the top level in the US and France and was gaining a first Group 1 on home soil by beating the gallant Chindit (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) by a length and a half after the runner-up had briefly looked to have slipped the field.

Held up in rear by William Buick, Modern Games conceded first run to Chindit, and it looked as if Buick might have allowed the runner-up too much rope, but the acceleration he showed inside the last furlong showed just why his jockey appeared unperturbed.

This was undoubtedly a top-class effort from the 3/1 favourite, all despite Chindit making a lunge with his teeth for Buick’s hand as the winner came past.

Berkshire Shadow fared best of the rest in third, a length behind Chindit, with My Prospero one-paced in fourth and Mutasaabeq disappointing.

Hat-trick in mind

Modern Games has won at the Breeders’ Cup for the past two seasons, and Appleby has a hat-trick bid in mind for the son of Dubawi, but Ascot comes next, as he explained.

“The Queen Anne is next for Modern Games,” said the winning handler. “It was our plan and people may have raised their eyebrows as to why we went to America [for the Maker’s Mark Mile in April, where he finished second], but I was delighted when I saw him in the paddock today.

“I’m delighted for all of the team, but also for the horse, because he deserves to win a Group 1 in England and he will go down to date as one of the best sons of Dubawi there has been. He will be going to the breeding sheds at the end of the year when we have pulled the pin on his career.”

Smart sprinter

The Listed Carnarvon Stakes was won by Julie Camacho’s Shaquille (James Doyle), who made all the running and, despite hanging left in the closing stages, always had too many guns for runner-up Desert Cop (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy), who was his main pursuer throughout the six-furlong contest.

The margin was two lengths, with the winner returned at 10/3. The 8/11 favourite Noble Style never looked like getting involved having been held up but stayed on late for a share of third.