Master Of The Seas grasps G1 opportunity with Woodbine Mile demolition

Master Of The Seas gained a deserved first G1 victory as he routed the opposition in the Woodbine Mile at Woodbine, Canada, on Saturday, 16 September.

The 2021 2,000 Guineas runner-up, successful in G2 races at Meydan and Ascot already this season, was held up in last of the six runners by William Buick after breaking half a stride slow.

Switched off the rail at the halfway point, Master Of The Seas started to take closer order rounding the home turn and travelled ominously into the race passing the two-furlong pole.

Master Of The Seas powered through the gears a furlong and a half from home, with the Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old taking charge of the contest in a matter of strides.

The son of Dubawi streaked further clear inside the final furlong, hitting the line almost four lengths clear to provide his sire, trainer and jockey with a second successive Woodbine Mile following Modern Games in 2022.

Alex Merriam of Godolphin said: “Master Of The Seas settled nicely. He can be a bit keen in his races, but they went a nice, sensible, even gallop and William looked fairly confident from turning in. He has been a quality horse and deserved a G1 – he has gone very close – and it’s nice for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, Charlie, and the whole team.

“He has won very easily and probably deserves a crack at the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but we will see what Charlie wants to do.”

William Buick added: “Master Of The Seas has a great turn of foot and really showed what he is capable of. He is not always the easiest horse to handle, he is quite hot, so the team at home have done a great job with him. I was conscious of not getting there too early on Master Of The Seas but he just took off and was much the best horse in the race.

“He is a very different horse to Modern Games, they are both good horses in their own right, but Modern Games had a different temperament. Master Of The Seas can take a bit of managing but has all the talent in the world. When things go right for him, he does what he did tonight.”