Godolphin's Charlie Appleby-trained Yibir, recently crowned the champion turf male of 2021 at the Eclipse Awards, is rounding into form nicely as he prepares for what could be an even more ambitious 2022.
First on the agenda is the $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1T) on the March 26 Dubai World Cup undercard, a race Appleby has won twice out of its past three editions. Like both of those winners, Hawkbill (2018) and Old Persian (2019), the homebred son of Dubawi is likely to subsequently cross the Atlantic again later this year.
"Yibir is in the process of being prepared for the Sheema Classic and he had a nice break after the Breeders' Cup for the winter," Appleby said. "He's back in full training and preparations are going well as we prepare for the big race. He is currently wintering in the UK and will travel to Dubai in the middle of March. From there on, we might have a look at something like the Man o' War (G1, May 14 at Belmont Park) for him.
"The main reason we train him in the UK this time of year is that he's quite a challenge to himself in his training," Appleby continued. "We thought it would be easier in the UK rather than enjoying the sunshine too much in the easier training in Dubai. He can be a bit of a handful, which we've seen in the past in his racing career."
A powerful winner of the $1 million Jockey Club Derby in September, the brother to triple group 1 winner and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) runner-up Wild Illusion did one better than his sister to take the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), padding a resume that also included the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2T) and Bahrain Trophy Stakes (G3T) in the UK.
The six-time winner from 12 starts and earner of $2,895,580 was part of an otherworldly weekend for Appleby and team at the Breeders' Cup that also included victories in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1T) by Space Blues and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) by Modern Games. While the former has been retired to Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland, the latter is preparing for the classics season in Europe from the same Moulton Paddocks as Yibir. Appleby has been impressed with his physical progression since Del Mar.
"Modern Games is quite a set Dubawi model," he said. "Like they usually do, he's strengthened during the winter coming into his 3-year-old season. He'll be prepared for one of the Guineas trials and then we'll decide where he's placed from there on, whether we look toward something like the French Guineas—where we stand at the moment—or elsewhere. My 3-year-olds will take the trials here in the spring and then we'll plan a bit more of a campaign out from there. He's in great shape and has come out of his Breeders' Cup victory in good order."
Appleby has a wealth of riches in the sophomore segment, also training reigning European champion 2-year-old and dual group 1 winner Native Trail and highly regarded Emirates Autumn Stakes (G3T) winner Coroebus. For context, Modern Games is rated 114, Native Trail 122, and Coroebus 115. Native Trail is being pointed to the April 13 Bet365 Craven Stakes (G3T) at Newmarket, while Coroebus eyes the April 17 Watership Down Stud Greenham Stakes (G3T) at Newbury.
