Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby had an octet of Oklahoma turf workers on Friday at Saratoga Race Course, most preparing for stakes action either in New York or elsewhere. Two international superstar jockeys were in action among the team, as well, on what was a busy morning on the green.

Chief among upcoming targets here for Appleby is the Grade 1, $500,000 FanDuel Fourstardave Handicap on August 10 with both Ottoman Fleet and Master of The Seas nominated. The Fourstardave offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

“We had Nations Pride leading Ottoman Fleet down there and obviously Nations Pride is in next week in the Arlington Million,” Appleby said. “I was delighted with him. He had William [Buick] on him there and looked really well. Ottoman Fleet had [six-time British champion jockey] Kieren Fallon on him and he looks in good order. He’s staying here for the Fourstardave. He looks in good nick at the moment.

“Master of The Seas, he didn’t come out to the turf today. He will go to the main track tomorrow,” Appleby added. “We’ll have a look at the pair of them, to be honest with you. Obviously, Master of The Seas will carry top weight around there, needless to say, and there are very much options for him here, possibly Canada or back for the [Coolmore Turf Mile at] Keeneland. He runs well fresh and we’ll run him when he’s happy. Ottoman Fleet is in great order and deserves another crack at a Grade 1, himself. He’s in such great form.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – JUL 19: The field for the Grade I TVG Diana Stakes heads down the stretch at Saratoga Race Course on July 19, 2014 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Eventual winner is Somali Lemonade (Luis Saez up), 2nd from right.

Master of The Seas, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, is unraced since winning the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in April and has been training regularly at Saratoga.

Winner of the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on this weekend two years ago and a three-time group/grade 1 winner in as many countries, Nations Pride had his fifth consecutive weekly recorded work since a good second to stablemate Measured Time in June’s Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan here.

Nations Pride, a homebred son of Teofilo, was timed in 52.52 for four furlongs and is headed to the 10-furlong Grade 1 Arlington Million on August 10 at Colonial Downs. The same time was assigned to Ottoman Fleet, fresh off a pair of graded stakes wins in Kentucky and set to cut back in distance to the Grade 1 Fourstardave on the same day.

Star of Mystery, fresh off a domination of 3-year-old males in the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation on July 14, will be running against solely fellow sophomore fillies for the first time this season in the Listed $150,000 Galway on August 10 here.

Musical Act, second behind stablemate Legend of Time in stakes company this winter and a disappointing fifth in April’s Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland, does not yet have a target. Musical Act finished up his four furlongs in 53.22, while the fleet-footed Star of Mystery drew alongside to stop the clock in 52.85.

“The first pairing going past us we had Musical Act giving Star of Mystery a lead around there,” Appleby continued. “[Star of Mystery] seems in good nick and she runs next week in the Galway. She’s in great order and it might be a quick turnaround, but she’s already here and she gains experience with another race. From there, we’ll probably head to Keeneland and have a prep hopefully into the Breeders’ Cup [Turf Sprint on November 2].”

One who surely does have a goal is perhaps the most promising member of the American wing of Appleby’s empire, aforementioned Manhattan victor Measured Time. A dual group/grade 1-winning half-brother to Rebel’s Romance, the son of Frankel is riding an inspired trajectory through a mere eight starts.

He worked four furlongs in tandem with Group 2 Dubai City of Gold winner Bold Act in 48.88. Bold Act was third in June’s Chorleywood at Churchill Downs and was having his first breeze since. The son of New Approach has no named target, yet.

Appleby said Measured Time is pointing to the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 24. The 12-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf in November at Del Mar.

“Measured Time was having his first bit of serious work back, going around there with Bold Act,” Appleby said. “He’s in good order. It was a simple piece of work there, but he looks in good nick. He will go straight to the Sword Dancer.”

Naval Power worked his four furlongs in 49.95 in tandem with talented Meydan winner Beautiful Love, who was given the same time. Beautiful Love was a good second to subsequent Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks winner Cinderella’s Dream in the Jumeirah Fillies Classic in February and has yet to make her U.S. bow.

“Naval Power did a bit of work there, his first work back [since finishing second in the G1 Turf Classic], and he’s going to go to Canada for the Woodbine Mile,” Appleby said. “To be honest, we had intended on going to the Wise Dan with him that Ottoman [Fleet] wound up winning. He had a bit of a setback there with his foot and, to be fair, we saw that Ottoman was in such good nick, so we just went on with him there and gave Naval Power some time. He runs well fresh, so we’ll go straight to Canada with him.

“Beautiful Love moved up alongside him well there and she runs next week in the [Grade 2, $200,000] Lake Placid [presented by Caesars Sportsbook on Aug. 17].”

Source: NYRA.com