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All roads to the Breeders' Cup for Yibir after Princess of Wales's Stakes victory

Charlie Appleby is already aiming Yibir at the Breeders' Cup after the globetrotting four-year-old landed the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket's July Festival.

The four-time winner last season, including the Breeders' Cup Turf, has had a dissapointing 2022 so far, but got back to winning ways at Newmarket with his first victory of the campaign.

It was Appleby's second win in the race in the last six years and the winner was trimmed into 9/2 from 6/1 to defend his Breeders' Cup Turf Crown at Keeneland later in the season.

James Doyle set a perfect aboard stablemate Global Force, and Yibir had optimum conditions and a target to aim at. The Dubawi gelding was able to get into a welcome rhythm and although pushed along two furlongs from home, William Buick wound his mount up to hit top gear at the right time and made his attack to strike inside the final furlong.

Rowley Mile winner Living Legend bounced back to form with a brave effort to keep on for second once headed by the victor, while similar applies to the pace-setting Global Storm, who held on to the final spot on the podium.
Appleby said: "Shane Fetherstonhaugh who rides has been on about him for the last 10 days saying he is as good as we have had him. He looked a picture in the paddock today and has been moving so well at home.
"William just said that when he has a pace to run at he is a different animal.
"People on the outside may have been scratching their heads wondering what has been going on, but he needs a gallop. He's a big unit and if you take a pull on him he just gets a bit disorganised and then it takes him a little while to get warmed up.
"Hopefully now we'll head to Saratoga for the Sword Dancer. All roads are leading to the Breeders' Cup, but it's at Keeneland this year and it can come up soft there. One thing he does like is to hear his feet rattle so if it came up a bit slow we might have to think about it, but it's great he's got his head back in front."

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