Godolphin

The death of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has been described as "a hammer blow of epic proportions" as those who worked closely with the owner-breeder come to terms with his unexpected passing. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, a cousin of the Ruler of Dubai and Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammned bin Rashid Al Maktoum, died in Dubai on Monday. He is believed to have been in his mid-70s. Liam O'Rourke, director of studs, stallions and breeding for the Godolphin and Darley operation, has for many years overseen the broodmare band of Sheikh...

Horse of the Year candidate and MGISW Sovereignty (Into Mischief) will return to racing in 2026. The news was confirmed by Godolphin's Michael Banahan in an interview Saturday with FanDuel TV. Questioned about the stable's star runner, Banahan told FanDuel's Caton Bredar that Sovereignty was "doing great". "He's up in Kentucky at the moment," Banahan said. "He's at Keeneland. He's galloping--doing fine. We'll probably get him down here to Payson [Park] early in the new year and get him [trainer] Bill [Mott]. Hopefully we'll have as a good a year...

In a race initially billed as a showdown between this year's GI Pegasus World Cup winner White Abarrio (Race Day) and the up-and-coming 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Knightsbridge (Nyquist), Saturday's GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes turned into a parade for the latter as the Godolphin homebred took advantage of an overmatched field to earn his first graded stakes win. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had been clear earlier in the week that White Abarrio was not 100% to start Saturday and, once that rail-drawn runner was officially scratched Friday, Knightsbridge...

Montador (Nyquist) shot to the front with about a furlong to travel and powered home to defeat stablemate Juris Doctor (Constitution) for a first black-type success in Saturday's age-restricted Woodchopper Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Taken back off the early gallop, Montador raced two deep and with cover down the backstretch. Pulled out into the three path leaving the three-eighths, the homebred went on the attack three off the inside with a furlong to travel and quickly put the race to bed. Juris Doctor traveled into the race looking very...

Pyromancer (Jpn) (Pyro) extended his career record to three wins from as many starts with a narrow victory in Wednesday's $458,745 Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse, earning 20 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby in the process. Content to stalk the early pace just outside of Idaten Shacho (Goldencents), the 13-10 second pick had favored and previously unbeaten Best Green (Jpn) (Smart Falcon {Jpn}) just off his flank and was outmoved by the 9-10 chalk nearing the straight. Boxing on gamely from between horses, Pyromancer...

As the betting suggested, Kempton's mile novice on Wednesday evening was not supposed to present a serious test to Godolphin's Nation's Hope (Ghaiyyath) and that proved to be the case. Sent off at 1-16 having earned TDN Rising Star status on debut over this course and distance last month, the half-brother to the stable's multiple Grade I-winning Nations Pride (Teofilo) was put on the front end by James Doyle with none of his four peers able to stride on. Stretching clear from two out, the Charlie Appleby trainee put six lengths between...

Shifting his tack to Churchill Downs for the 26-day Fall Meet, Irad Ortiz Jr. rounded out the session with 46 wins, including two landed on Sunday's closing day. The mark represented the most wins at the meeting since Julien Leparoux won 63 races "It's been very successful since moving to Kentucky," Ortiz Jr. said. "It's been great to be able to ride for so many new owners and trainers. I'm very thankful for everyone who's helped us get to where we are." Represented by Steve Rushing, Ortiz' most notable wins...

3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:56 p.m. The second of two 'Stars of Tomorrow' days at Churchill Downs features a card loaded with promise. In a battle of homebred heavyweights, POWERED BY FAMILY (Quality Road) debuts for St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds. Out of GI Personal Ensign winner Icon Project, who RNA'd at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 1,450,000gns in 2015, the filly is a half to GSW Fashion Business (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Out of a Grade I winner herself, Icon Project is a half-sister to...

Ain't she a beaut, Clark? A fantastic field of nine, led by 3-1 morning-line favorite and G1 Dubai World Cup hero Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), will line up for the GII Clark S. at Churchill Downs on Black Friday. The Wathnan Racing colorbearer defeated last year's re-opposing Clark winner Rattle N Roll (Connect) by a length in the GIII Hagyard Fayette S. at Keeneland last out Oct. 25. "We were really proud of Hit Show's effort in the Fayette," trainer Brad Cox said. "He hasn't missed a beat since...

Amplify Horse Racing, the national organization connecting youth to the Thoroughbred industry, closed out its 2025 season  of outreach with a busy week in November. Amplify began the week by welcoming over 75 students and 4-H leaders from 11 different states participating in the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup to a Thoroughbred Industry Discovery Day at Keeneland. Students heard from industry professionals about racehorse training and equine safety, explored the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, and joined a lunchtime career activity that connected them directly with mentors and employers in...

Uncorking a ferocious rally in the lane, Giocoso (Not This Time) became racing's newest millionaire after claiming the GIII Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs. Coming into the race with a win at the graded level under his belt--three back in the Aug. 9 GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs--and hovering just beneath the seven-figure mark in earnings, the son of red hot Not This Time had spent his last three races on the board. He was game as they come Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs when he begrudgingly yielded...

Nope. Just can't figure it out. Why on earth, at the end of another grueling sales cycle, would so many Americans scrape together the last of their resources, in energy and funds, and get on a plane for one final auction in France? Setting aside, that is, the langoustines and truffles; the calvados and cider; the designer boutiques; the Christmas lights that transform an elegant summer resort into a filmset apt for a French remake of It's A Wonderful Life; the medieval villages huddled, in the early dusk of midwinter,...