With The Moonlight doubles up with smooth G2 Balanchine success

With The Moonlight maintained her unbeaten start to 2023 and picked up a second G2 at Meydan, UAE, with a straightforward victory in the Balanchine on Friday, 24 February.

The Frankel homebred, who made a winning four-year-old return for Charlie Appleby earlier this month in the G2 Cape Verdi, raced in a length second as Lyrical Poetry made the running in the nine-furlong feature.

With The Moonlight moved up to dispute the lead two furlongs from home and asserted over a rallying Lyrical Poetry approaching the final furlong.

Last season’s G3 Saratoga Oaks winner went through the gears for William Buick in the closing stages to score by four and a half lengths, becoming the sixth Godolphin filly or mare to complete the Cape Verdi-Balanchine double in the process.

Charlie Appleby said: “With The Moonlight showed that she has progressed since the Cape Verdi and the step up in trip today suited her. We were delighted with her performance and the plan now is to head back to the United States for the G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April.”

William Buick added: “With The Moonlight came on for the Cape Verdi in every way. The nine furlongs suits her a little better than the mile and she is really getting the hang of it now

“She had a good year last year and she has started off this year pretty well. She has a good bit of class and does everything the right way. She is a real joy to deal with.”