Another Meydan Group win for With The Moonlight
Frankel filly With The Moonlight collected her second Group win in as many starts at Meydan on Friday (24th February).
Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 25th February 2023:
The Godolphin homebred handled the 1800 metre trip of the Gr.2 Balanchine Stakes without incident. Tugging a bit from the bell, the four-year-old
shadowed front-running Lyrical Poetry throughout the backstraight. Pilot William Buick had his hands full, but once noses pointed toward home, With The Moonlight churned up to Lyrical Poetry's hindquarters and was sitting on go. Edging up to even terms with 500 metres still to travel, the Charlie Appleby-trained filly found more and strode away to win impressively by four and a half lengths over a stubborn Lyrical Poetry.
Listed-placed at two, With The Moonlight was first or second in four of her five 2022 starts, including when playing the bridesmaid to McKulick (Frankel) in the Gr.1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes in July. She got the better of that rival in the Gr.3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes upstate at Saratoga a month later, and found only Haughty too good in the Gr.2 Lake Placid Stakes at the Spa on 20th August. Back in the winner's circle in the Gr.2 Cape Verdi going a mile at Meydan on 3rd February, she is likely to once again pack her bags for an American summer campaign.
"She came on for the Cape Verdi in every way and the nine furlongs [1800 metres] suits her better than the mile," said Buick.
"She's really getting the hang of it now. She has a good bit of class and does everything the right way."