Godolphin

Two years ago, Godolphin came into the Kentucky Oaks with a serious threat in Wet Paint (Blame). The homebred was undefeated as a 3-year-old and looked every bit the part in the days leading up to the big event. She went off as the 8-5 favorite, but when the fillies hit the wire it was the other Godolphin runner, Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), who delivered the win. At 10-1 odds, she handed her connections of Godolphin, trainer Brendan Walsh and jockey Tyler Gaffalione their first Oaks victory. This year, Godolphin...

Journalism (Curlin) was tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after drawing in a good spot in post position eight for next Saturday's 151st running of the GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will be at the controls. The GI Santa Anita Derby winner, an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling graduate, is campaigned in partnership by Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert LaPenta and Lessees Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor. He is trained by Michael McCarthy. "No complaints,"...

9th-KEE, $140K, OC100K/N3X, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 4:38 p.m. ET. UNMATCHED WISDOM (Cairo Prince) posted a 98 Beyer figure after a muddy debut score during the Belmont At The Big meet last summer and was promptly pinned with a 'TDN Rising Star.' The colt's year also included a win in the Curlin Stakes at the Spa in mid-July. Finishing off the board in both the GI DK Travers and in the GI Pennsylvania Derby, now the Klaravich-owned dark bay is set to make his 4-year-old debut. Out of unraced dam Glide...

History was made at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale when the first ever millionaire lot was sold in the Doncaster sale ring through the Katie Walsh-consigned Mehmas (Ire) colt who went the way of Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin for that record-breaking sum. The previous record for the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale had been held by the ill-fated Harry Angel (Ire) colt who sold to Michael O'Callaghan for £500,000 in 2023 while point-to-point graduate Regent's Stroll (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) was the most expensive horse ever sold in...

Despite a frustrating conclusion to 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense)'s 4-year-old season last year, trainer Brad Cox never lost any confidence in the Godolphin homebred. "Look, we've always thought he was a Grade I talent," Cox said in these pages earlier this week. You can certainly see why now. Pounded late into 7-5 favoritism, First Mission sat the trip of the race beneath Flavien Prat in Saturday's $1.25-million GII Oaklawn Handicap and powered clear to a two-length victory over the in-form Banishing (Ghostzapper). The final time of 1:49.09...

The all-weather season drew to a close on Good Friday, April 18, with Tony Carroll named the All-Weather Champion Trainer for the first time. Carroll, who finished second to Mick Appleby last season, saddled 57 winners, 11 clear of his nearest rival, James Owen. "For me personally, it is a great achievement and I am very proud of it," said Carroll. "A big thank you to the team at home--Titch, Mary, and everybody else involved. They are people that never go racing and are never seen, but they are the...

Godolphin's Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro), the likely favorite for the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, turned in her most serious work to date Thursday morning at Churchill Downs with a five-furlong breeze in a sharp :59.40, the fastest of 10 at the distance. The undefeated filly hit the track at 7:15 a.m. EST wearing her usual set of blinkers and partnered with trainer Brad Cox's longtime exercise rider Edvin Vargas. She began her workout at the 4 1/2-furlong pole and broke off about two lengths behind stablemate and maiden Saucier (City...

1st-Newmarket, £10,000, Novice, 4-17, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.08, gd. MILITARY CODE (GB) (c, 2, Wootton Bassett {GB}--Wishfully {Ire} {SP-Fr, MSP-Ger}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}), sent off at 6-1, tracked the early pace before being committed against the rail approaching two out. Soon in front, the newcomer asserted to beat fellow newcomer Moonfall (Ire) (Starman {GB}) by 1 1/2 lengths, with a telling 3 3/4-length gap back to the Brocklesby third Exclamation (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). "We came here with a bit of confidence, as he'd done some nice work with a small...

Last year's unbeaten champion 2-year-old filly Immersive (Nyquist) is back in training with Brad Cox at Churchill Downs. It was announced earlier this year that the Godolphin homebred would be given some time off due to bone bruising. "Immersive is back in the barn, training and moving fantastic," Cox said. "Looking forward to getting her back later in the season." Immersive capped a four-for-four season with a dominating victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar Nov. 1. Her resume also includes wins in the GI Spinaway...

NEWMARKET, UK -- Beyond the action on the racecourse at Newmarket this week, there are plenty of pointers to the first two Classics of the season to be found in the mornings and Charlie Appleby took to the Rowley Mile early on Wednesday with a team which included his two best juveniles of last year. Desert Flower (Ire), the unbeaten G1 Fillies' Mile winner, was by far the most visually impressive of the Godolphin workers as she powered through the dip and up the hill under William Buick. Her efforts...

Legendary handler Willie Browne lit the touch paper for a barnstorming Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale by netting a cool 1.4 million gns from Godolphin for an Acclamation (GB) colt that he sourced for just €70,000 the previous autumn. That sale was the headline act on a day where 15 horses sold for 200,000gns or more and all of the key figures were dramatically up on last year's corresponding day of trade. Arguably the most encouraging metric to jump was the clearance rate, up 18% on last year to 84%. The...

One of the choicest-bred horses running on the opening day of Newmarket's Craven meeting, Godolphin's Victory Queen (GB) (Kingman {GB}) made her class tell first time in the fillies' mile maiden. Sent off at 10-3, the Charlie Appleby-trained half-sister to the 2,000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes hero Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) raced freely towards the front end from the outset. Committed by William Buick running down into the dip, the homebred asserted to score by a fast-diminishing half-length margin from Zgharta (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}). "It's her first...