Lockinge goes bite down to the wire as Modern Games avoids nibble to land feature
The fast finishing Modern Games managed to avoid a nibble from rival Chindit as he landed the feature Group 1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Godolphin star is no stranger to success at the top table, having won three times at the top level in North America and another in France, and was good value for a first domestic Group 1 triumph.
After finishing second on his seasonal reappearance at Kenneland in Kentucky last month, jockey William Buick gave the four-year-old plenty of time to find his feet on his first UK outing since last October and the Richard Hannon-trained Chindit, who set off as a 22/1 outsider, threatened to cause an upset as he led heading into the final furlong.
However Modern Games soon showed why he is a dual Breeders’ Cup winner, making it look relatively easy as he went up through the gears before crossing the line a length-and-a-half clear of the spirited Chindit.
Chindit clearly didn’t take too kindly to being passed inside the final half a furlong, extending his neck to his right and attempting to bite Modern Games, eventually grazing the hand of Buick.
Jockey Pat Dobbs did an admirable job of keeping control of his mount, who stuck to his task well and finished second while Andrew Balding’s Berkshire Shadow put in a solid performance to finish third.
Berkshire Shadow, who was unfancied at 33/1, ran well for Kingsclere handler Balding, although never looked like he had the turn of foot to challenge the leaders.
Meanwhile, Mutasaabeq set off as 4/1 second favourite for Lambourn’s Charlie Hills.
The five-year-old, who won back-to-back races at Newmarket before lining up at Newbury, set the early pace and led on the far side before running out of steam inside the final furlong, finishing fifth.
There was another infamous biting incident in the Lockinge 21 years ago, when runner-up Noverre lashed out at French-trained winner Keltos, and earlier this month Havana Goldrush hit out at eventual winner Eye Of the Water at Bath.
Buick, who was seen with blood seeping from his hand after the race, admitted he’d never experienced an incident like it while hailing multi-national sensation Modern Games as a “superstar”.
“That’s never happened to me, not that I can think of and certainly not in a race of that nature,” he told ITV Racing.
“Luckily nothing bad came of it but it’s just one of those things that you don’t expect.
“This horse is a real superstar, he’s so consistent and he’s just a joy to have anything to do with.
“He’s there when you need him, he’s done it now in England, France and America a couple of times.
“He’s a top class miler.”