Champion World Approval (Northern Afleet–Win Approval, by With Approval) has been retired from racing and will return to his birthplace, Live Oak Stud in Florida, where he will live in a paddock beside his dam and siblings, MGSW millionaires Revved Up (Sultry Song) and Za Approval (Ghostzapper). He is also a half-brother to fellow champion turf horse Miesque's Approval (Miesque's Son).
“How lucky we have been at Live Oak Stud/Plantation to have championed such a winning family,” said owner/breeder Charlotte Weber. “I am proud and privileged to have experienced this Sport of Kings with such outstanding racehorses and shall protect them as we grow older together.”
Trained by Mark Casse, the now-7-year-old gelding boasts a record of 27-12-2-4 and earnings of $3,062,363. Winner of the GIII American Derby and GII Saranac S. in 2016, the gray hit the board in a pair of Grade I events early in 2016 before breaking through at the highest level with a victory in Monmouth Park's GI United Nations S. that summer.
Kicking off 2017 with a pair of black-type scores, including the GII Longines Dixie S., World Approval suffered just won loss that season in the GI Woodford Reserve Manhattan S., but rebounded with strong victories in the GI Fourstardave H., GI Woodbine Mile and GI Breeders' Cup Mile. His exceptional season earned him the Eclipse Award for top male turf horse. The Florida-bred opened 2018 with a win in the GIII Tampa Bay S. and made his last racetrack appearance in the GII Wise Dan S. at Churchill Downs in June.
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