Godolphin

Godolphin's €1.25-million Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Pretty Spirit {GB}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) backed up a debut fourth at Kempton last month to shed maiden status in Thursday's Watch On Racing TV EBF Novice Stakes at Haydock. The eventual winner trailed all four rivals through halfway in the one-mile contest. Coaxed closer in the straight, the 11-8 favourite quickened to the front approaching the furlong pole and was pushed out to assert by an ultimately comfortable two lengths from Sir Dinadan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Silver Peak, a...

Godolphin's Highland Falls (Curlin) outdueled favored Arthur's Ride (Tapit) and strode home an easy winner of the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sunday at Saratoga. The 4-year-old earned his first top-level victory, as well as an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, and gave jockey Flavien Prat his record-setting 13 graded win of the meeting. Arthur's Ride, coming off a win in the GI Whitney Stakes, rushed up and over from his outside post and had a clear advantage heading into the first turn through an opening quarter...

Brightwork (Outwork), who returned from a 10-month layoff to win the GIII Prioress Stakes at Saratoga Saturday, could make her next start in the GII Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 19, if all goes well, according to trainer John Ortiz. "We'll let her tell us where to go next," Ortiz said. "This is the biggest effort I've seen her lay out in the afternoon--she was running against 3-year-olds that have been running and I want to make sure she comes out of it in good shape and has enough...

The 2024 GI Spinaway Stakes was a tale of the haves and the have-nots. On one hand, there was just a single stakes winner in the field. But that runner, The Queens M G (Thousand Words), was looking to sweep the 2-year-old stakes on offer at Saratoga this season--a feat not commonly accomplished. Lined up to oppose her was a talented group of maiden winners led by 'TDN Rising Star' Quietside (Malibu Moon) and Godolphin homebred Immersive (Nyquist). And of the 11 fillies lined up seeking Grade I glory, only...

Godolphin repeated their feat of five years ago when signing for the €850,000 top lot at Friday's BBAG September Yearling Sale, surpassing the previous record fee of €820,000 they paid for a Sea The Stars (Ire) filly in 2019. It's a record that had been shared since 2020 when Dietrich and Annabel von Boetticher's Gestut Ammerland also forked out €820,000 for a full-sister to the 11-length Deutsches Derby winner and sire Sea The Moon (Ger), but now there is a new outright leader in the shape of the colt who...

4th-Presque Isle Downs, $30,450, Msw, 8-27, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f (AWT), 1:05.49, ft, neck. TESSITURA (f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro--Octave {MGISW, $1,660,934}, by Unbridled's Song), a bit flat- footed at the start, dropped back to last, and remained there as Courageous Ari (Courageous Cat) took the advantage through an opening quarter in :22.31. Seeming to remain unhurried despite the increasing pressure from her jockey Willie Martinez, the 7-2 chance was given a left-handed reminder turning for home as the 10-1 pacesetter seemed to be heading to victory. With several lengths to...

Dubai Millennium (GB) (Seeking the Gold), arguably the greatest horse to ever carry the Godolphin silks, has won a hotly contested three-week public vote for which 'Turn of the Century' horse should be inducted to the QIPCO Hall of Fame. In so doing, he was chosen over Daylami (Ire), Giant's Causeway and Montjeu (Ire). Dubai Millennium won nine of his 10 career trips to the post from 1998-2000, his only career defeat coming when failing to see out the 12-furlong trip in the Derby in 1999. He won his other...

Fifth Grade Field Trips return to Keeneland this week, with 2,100 students from public and private schools in Fayette County coming to the track this week to participate in a two-hour interactive tour designed to expand their knowledge of Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky. "Fifth Grade Field Trips offer students in the area a unique and exciting opportunity to engage with the rich history of Keeneland," Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. "These tours allow for hands-on experiences on our grounds that help showcase the diversity of careers...

A royally-bred son of Medaglia d'Oro, East Avenue lived up to the expectations of both his breeding and the wagering public Saturday to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star' to wear the Royal Blue for Godolphin. Backed down to 6-5 at post, East Avenue had things all his own way right from the opening strides and assumed command of the field while clearing down to the rail. The lead only grew as the fractions clicked off in :23.21 and :46.44 and, while Campaign Trail (Global Campaign) and Poppa Echo (Echo...

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack handicaps Saturday's five Grade I races at Saratoga, headed by the 155th renewal of the Travers. GI Sword Dancer (Race 9) - Can't envision a scenario where the Sword Dancer doesn't go through either of the Godolphin/Charlie Appleby runners Measured Time (GB) (#2) or Silver Knott (GB) (#4), who both enter off impressive graded wins over the Saratoga lawn. Silver Knott is already proven at this 1 1/2-mile trip and has never been in better form, and we still may not have seen the...

Godolphin took to X to announce 2023 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief--Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit) has been retired from racing. The social media post said, "Kentucky Oaks winner #PrettyMischievous arriving at her new home at #GainsboroughFarm today. Next stop, motherhood!" Last seen finishing fifth in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Aug. 3 at Del Mar, the Godolphin homebred had an abbreviated 4-year-old campaign after a return from her championship season. The 'TDN Rising Star' was spectacular at three, capturing the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Acorn...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a 1.2 million euro Arqana August graduate Silver Peak (Dubawi).   17.50 Kempton, Novice, £9,900, 2yo, 7fT SILVER PEAK (FR) (Dubawi {Ire}) was the second-highest-priced colt at Arqana Deauville August when selling to Godolphin for €1.25million and Charlie Appleby deems it time to unveil him at...