Breeders' Cup Turf Victor Yibir Bounces Back in Style

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Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Yibir takes the Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket

Yibir  sent his career earnings sailing past the $4.2 million mark with a dominant victory in the July 7 Princess of Wales's Close Brothers Stakes (G2) at Newmarket, and the frequent flyer is set to earn another stamp in his passport with a grade 1 target in the United States next on his agenda.

Winner of last year's Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar, Godolphin's Yibir has been a beaten favorite in three runs this year but he always looked likely to pick up the leaders on this occasion as he made his move from the rear.

The 4-year-old Dubawi  gelding hit the line 2 1/4 lengths clear of Living Legend  in second with stablemate Global Storm  a further neck away in third.  

"If he's got pace to run at he's a different animal," said winning trainer Charlie Appleby. "He's a big unit and he needs a gallop. If you take a pull on him he starts to get a bit disorganized. It was a lovely ride from William Buick."

Yibir (William Buick) wins the Princess Of Wales&#39;s stakes<br><br />
Newmarket 7.7.22 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Yibir and William Buick at Newmarket

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The faster the ground the better for Yibir, one of the reasons why three of his last six runs have come in the U.S., and Appleby has already penciled in a trip to New York next month.

"Hopefully now we'll head to Saratoga for the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) and work away from there," said the trainer of the Aug. 27 race in upstate New York.

Appleby and Buick completed a double Thursday when Noble Dynasty returned from a 250-day absence to land the mile handicap.

Muscutt Celebrates With First Group Win

Just five days after his wedding, jockey Danny Muscutt enjoyed another landmark date when registering his first group win in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes (G3).

Many racegoers missed the first race of the July festival due to heavy traffic problems but those of the 10,500 crowd who made it in time for the second were treated to a grandstand finish in which Muscutt's mount Deauville Legend  prevailed.

The group 3 victory was a first of the season at that level for winning trainer James Ferguson, who was gaining some compensation for seeing the son of Sea The Stars  finish a close second in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot last month. 

Deauville Legend (Farside) beats Al Qareem (centre) and Walk Of Stars in the Bahrain Trophy<br><br />
Newmarket 7.7.22 Pic: Edward Whitaker
Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Deauville Legend beats Al Qareem (center) and Walk Of Stars in the Bahrain Trophy

Off a strong pace set by Al Qareem , Deauville Legend sat third before striking for home in the dip and doing just enough to deny the rallying front-runner and Walk of Stars  close home.

Muscutt said: "It's been a remarkable couple of days. First getting married and now registering my first group winner, and I'm delighted it's for James as he's been a big supporter of mine over the past couple of years."

As he is a gelding, Deauville Legend cannot follow the usual path from the July course to Doncaster for the St. Leger Stakes (G1), but is entered for the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York next month for which he was cut to 10-1 odds (from 14-1) by Paddy Power.