International Horse Profile: Military Code

Scouting Report for Military Code

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby is batting a thousand in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, winning with his lone starter, Mischief Magic (2022). While Mischief Magic was a six-furlong type shortening up at Keeneland, Military Code has spent nearly all of his time at five furlongs. 

By the same sire as Brussels, Wootton Bassett, the homebred is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Wishfully, who placed in a trio of stakes from seven to nine furlongs. This is the further family of Ghaiyyath and Zhukova. While his pedigree indicates that Military Code should need upwards of six furlongs, he flopped in his only try at that trip. 

Military Code was ready to start in April at Newmarket, where he graduated over five furlongs more readily than his 6-1 odds implied. Despite breaking awkwardly near the stands’ side, he recovered well to track the pace and drive clear.

That put him squarely on the Royal Ascot path, and Military Code tuned up with a five-furlong novice win at Ascot. Odds-on against a field of newcomers, he broke a lot better and went to the lead. But Military Code had a battle on his hands, under the top weight of 136 pounds, and he showed fine resolve to fend them off in succession. He just held by a neck from Fitzella, who would go on to win the Princess Margaret (G3) and place in the Prix du Calvados (G2). 

Off that effort, it made sense to step Military Code up to six furlongs for the Coventry (G2), but he threw in a clunker. The 7-1 chance raced off the pace, in the vicinity of the winner Gstaad, until that rival angled over to the center of the track and took off. Military Code plugged away in the stands’ side group before wilting to 17th overall in the 20-horse field. It smacked of having an off day, more than a stamina issue. 
 

Nevertheless, the simplest solution was to return to five furlongs, and Military Code responded with a near-miss in the Dragon S. at Sandown. Restrained near the rear, he appeared to advance on his own volition, and jockey William Buick waited as long as he could before asking him to draw away. He did, only to have the filly Staya finish faster and beat him by a head. Staya, who had been an eye-catching fifth in the Queen Mary (G2), subsequently placed in the Princess Margaret and Lowther (G2). 

Next seen in the Molecomb (G3) at Glorious Goodwood, Military Code ran his worst race at the five-furlong distance. He wasn’t helped by racing on the stands’ side with one other rival, detached from the main group on the other part of the course, and he checked in seventh of eight. 

Military Code put that disappointment behind him with another near-miss in the Roses S. during York’s Ebor Festival. Once again, he was denied by a femme fatale, this time front-running Revival Power. Military Code was a bit lackadaisical at the start, but as he did at Sandown, he smoothly improved into a contending position. Accosting Revival Power late, he appeared to get the upper hand as they rushed, only to let the filly battle back at the line. 

A rematch was on tap in the Flying Childers (G2) until Military Code was withdrawn on account of the softish ground at Doncaster. Revival Power upheld their form by wiring the Flying Childers. Although Military Code hasn’t run since the Aug. 23 Roses, past winners of this race have come off similar breaks. Both were Wesley Ward pupils, Golden Pal (2020) and Twilight Gleaming (2021), but Appleby can have him ready to fire, too. 

Judging by Military Code’s close reverses at Sandown and York, he has a short-lived move. Perhaps the turn at Del Mar can change the dynamic and help him time his run just right.