Trainer Charlie Appleby sent three horses to Woodbine for grade 1 assignments over the weekend, and each of them, with Frankie Dettori up, came out on top in their respective race.
Albahr completed a Godolphin sweep of the top-level juvenile races Sept. 19, taking the CA$404,400 (US$316,618) Summer Stakes (G1T). One race earlier, stablemate Wild Beauty captured the Natalma Stakes (G1T) for fillies, and the day before, Walton Street took the Pattison Canadian International (G1T).
The Woodbine victories were in addition to Yibir's score in the Sept. 18 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park, where Jamie Spencer was up. Appleby's other North American runner over the weekend was Creative Flair, who finished fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational with Spencer aboard.
"That's really what it's all about, winning these big races around the world," said assistant trainer Alex Merriam, while paying tribute to the Godolphin patriarch Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. "So just like him it's for Charlie and all the team. It's been a great effort."
In winning the Summer Stakes, Albahr extended his win streak to four. Last out, the Dubawi gelding captured the Aug. 20 Longines Irish Champions Weekend EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury in his first try against black-type company.
Albahr, the 3-5 favorite in the Summer, hopped at the start and was seventh of nine as the first quarter-mile went it :23.95. First Empire showed the way up front and continued to lead through a half-mile in :47.93. His margin was cut down to a head by the time he ran six furlongs in 1:12.17.
Dettori took Albahr two wide through the turn and swung his mount out as the field entered the stretch. Albahr then closed, rallied past his rivals, and won by 2 1/4 lengths under a brisk hand ride. The final time for the mile on turf course rated good was 1:35.77.
Grafton Street, trained by Mark Casse for Mrs. John Magnier, closed behind the winner to finish second 1 1/2 lengths over Godolphin's Degree of Risk, who is trained by Eoin Harty.
Albahr has now won four of five career starts, with a third on debut, to earn $235,181. The Summer victory earned him a berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Nov. 5 at Del Mar as Sunday's race was part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
"Albahr had been in decent form, he's tough," said Merriam, adding that the Godolphin runners will be returning to England before decisions on the Breeders' Cup or any other engagements are finalized.
Dettori believes that both of Sunday's rookie winners would be suited to the southern California oval.
"(Wild Beauty is) tough," he said. "She'll take everything at Del Mar, the tight turns.
"He's got a tendency to go left as well, so he'll be suited for Del Mar. For the filly, she needs more luck, because as you see she wasn't that fast with those, but they were both great today, and have both earned their shots."
Albahr was bred in Great Britain by Godolphin out of the group 3-winning Street Cry mare Falls of Lora, whose son Cascadian (New Approach) won the Star Doncaster Mile (G1) in April. Since Albahr, Falls of Lora has produced a yearling New Approach colt and a weanling Too Darn Hot filly.
