Godolphin’s Charlie Appleby-trained Poetic Charm towers over her fellow fillies and mares in this evening’s $250,000 Gr2 Balanchine and looks to emulate her overpowering four-length local debut in the Cape Verdi (Gr2) over 1600m last month.
The half-sister to Teofilo earned her second win over a mile in the process and will be attempting new territory when stepping up to 1800m for the first time in her career.
“She’s been doing well,” Appleby said.
“She hasn’t done much work since her win and has been taking it easy. We believed the mile to be her optimal trip, but she galloped out well in the Cape Verdi. Nine to 10 furlongs is unknown territory, so we will try and see what happens. Hopefully it will open up some options.”
A small field will go to post for the Balanchine, with Poetic Charm the highest-rated runner in the field with Cape Verdi runner-up Asoof and multiple Gr1 winner Furia Cruzada re-opposing. Victory on Thursday will have connections dreaming of bigger things to come, with turf riches luring the royally bred daughter of Dubai to return to Europe.
“The Balanchine field consists of the same horses she beat on her first outing here,” Appleby concluded. “We think she will do well. This is probably her last run here and then she will likely go back to Europe.”
