Yibir Takes Champion Turf Male Honors

Yibir  capped a sensational weekend for Godolphin when he rolled from the clouds down the Del Mar stretch and collared Broome in the final strides of the Nov. 6 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), giving the operation it's third winner in the 2021 World Championships. 

The 4-year-old son of Dubawi  becomes the first European-trained champion turf male since Cape Blanco  graced the title in 2011. Godolphin's last champion turf male recipient was Fantastic Light in 2001, who was proceeded by Daylami. 

Although twice a winner as a juvenile, trainer Charlie Appleby parlayed the One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Derby (G1) with the Godolphin homebred after he began his sophomore campaign with a third in the Bet365 Classic Trial Stakes (G3) at Sandown Park. Stretched out to 1 5/8 miles in his fourth start of 2021 in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes (G3), the rangy chestnut flourished over the route of ground and dashed to a 2 1/4-length victory. After a sixth on soft ground in a group 3 at Goodwood, Yibir wouldn't taste defeat again for the rest of the season, beginning his three-race win streak with a score in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York before setting his sights on North America.

Making his North American debut in the $1,000,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park, Yibir trailed near the back of the field early on and closed powerfully on his way to a 2 1/2-length score, leaving Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) hero Bolshoi Ballet  reeling far behind him. The gelding earned a commendable 116 Equibase Speed Figure for his effort. 

While the Jockey Club Derby was impressive, the gelding saved his best performance for last in the Breeders' Cup. Tackling a field that included the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner Tarnawa  and 2020 champion turf male Channel Maker , Yibir and jockey William Buick took full advantage of the pace meltdown on the front end, circling the field seven-wide around the turn and devouring the leaders late in a final time that set a new track record of 2:25.90 for 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar. 

"(Yibir has) an amazing turn of foot and I couldn't pull him up after the line," said Buick after the Breeders' Cup. "Amazing horse, and I think he did something today that not many horses can do, so all credit to him."

Yibir netted a 118 Equibase Speed Figure for his Breeders' Cup triumph. At the end of his 2021 campaign, the gelding had compiled a record of 8-4-1-1 and bankrolled more than $2.8 million.