Good Cheer, Sovereignty, Ruling Court and Desert Flower made it an outstanding weekend for Godolphin as the quartet completed an unprecedented clean sweep of the Classics at Newmarket and Churchill Downs.
A momentous few days on both sides of the Atlantic started with the Brad Cox-trained Good Cheer scoring emphatically in Friday’s Gr1 Kentucky Oaks, handing Godolphin a second win in the Classic following Pretty Mischievous in 2023.
Jockey William Buick and the Godolphin team (Pic – Godolphin)
Sovereignty delivered a first Gr1 Kentucky Derby success for the royal blue silks 24 hours later – realising a long-held ambition for His Highness Shiekh Mohammed and Godolphin.
It proved fitting that Sovereignty is trained by Bill Mott, who saddled Cigar to win the inaugural Dubai World Cup back in 1996 and oversaw the glittering career of 2023 US Horse Of The Year Cody’s Wish.
Godolphin becomes the first owner since Calumet Farms in 1952 to win both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in the same year, with both winners bred by Godolphin in Kentucky.
At Newmarket, Ruling Court provided a sixth Godolphin victory in the G1 2,000 Guineas on Saturday as he beat Field Of Gold, with Shadow Of Light and Tornado Alert also running fine races in behind.
Desert Flower made it a memorable weekend as she made all in Sunday’s Gr1 1,000 Guineas, a fifth win in the fillies’ Classic for Godolphin.
Both Charlie Appleby-trained horses were ridden by William Buick, and the duo become the first jockey/trainer combination for 20 years to win both the 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas in the same weekend.
The chance to create more history now beckons for Godolphin’s Classic crop over the coming weeks and months, starting with the intriguing possibility of potential Triple Crown bids in both the USA and the UK.
