Modern Games trainer Charlie Appleby and owner/breeder Godolphin added another Classic success as he turned in an impressive win in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (G1) May 15 at Longchamp Racecourse.
The 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) winner made the perfect return to action under William Buick and stormed clear of his rivals in the closing stages to record a dominant success over 66-1 outsider Texas.
The 7-4 favorite's success was vindication for Buick, who was narrowly overturned by the fellow Appleby-trained Coroebus in the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1) at Newmarket last month aboard Native Trail, while Tribalist also hit the frame for Godolphin in third.
Appleby said: "I said to William go and try to make it and if someone takes it off you, then fine. He hit the stalls so quickly he almost stumbled coming out of them... He's a professional horse and I'm delighted with that performance, this was always our plan to come here. His class has shown."
The son of Dubawi was cut to 2-1 from 7-2 for the 1 5/16-mile Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1), and Appleby could send him to Chantilly next month to keep his star 3-year-olds apart.
"I've always had it in the back of my mind that this horse may get a little bit further and I'd like to think he'd be a French Derby type, but I'm not saying for sure," Appleby said. "It'd be nice to try and keep Coroebus, Native Trail, and this lad apart, but it's nice to be able to have them to plan with."
Buick was more confident in sending Modern Games to Chantilly, with the jockey saying it would be the next obvious target.
"He had a good draw, which counts for a lot in this race especially, and he showed he's trained on," Buick said. "He's a horse that goes through his gears and keeps on finding all the way to the line.
"It's hard to say if he'll stay, but you don't find out until you try. There are bits and bobs in his pedigree that suggest he would stay and you'd certainly have to have a crack. It's the logical step."
Modern Games has earned $595,348 in two seasons with Appleby. In seven starts he has a record of 5-1-0, failing to hit the board only in his career debut. He finished his juvenile year with a win in the Tattersalls Somerville Stakes (G3) and the Breeders' Cup victory in November in America.
